You are invited to a Youthworks College Special Event
'Partnering Well: Families, Faith, Disability and Neurodivergence'
Facilitator - Dr Louise Gosbell
This event will bring families of children with disability or neurodivergent children and church leaders into the same room, to listen, learn, and grow together.
We will have the chance to hear from parents and leaders on how families and churches can partner well to create places of belonging for children with disability and neurodivergent children, and their families.
Come and hear some short practical talks and take part in some hands-on activities designed to build real understanding and strong partnerships.
Date: Tuesday 6 October
Time: 5:00pm - 8:30pm
Venue: TC Hammond Room - Moore College - 1 King St Newtown
Format:
In person
5:00pm - Doors open
5:30-6:30pm - First session – presentations
6:30-7:15pm - Dinner
7:15-8:30pm - Second session - panel & workshop
About our guest speakers
Bec Baines
Bec works for Youthworks in the Ministry Support Team as the Accessibility Ministry Advisor. She brings to the role lifelong experience of disability with herself, family, workplace, and ministry. Bec has a desire to see churches be a place where people with disability are welcomed and belong and is keen to help churches achieve that. Bec also serves on the committee for Jesus Club and is on the board for the 139 Collective.
Matt Bartlett
Matt has served in youth and children’s ministry for more than 25 years and currently works as a youth ministry advisor with Youthworks. Matt and his wife Gemma are the parents of 3 amazing children. Matt has been on a real-life journey discovering what it takes to love, lead and father his own neurodivergent children.
Louise Gosbell
Louise is a writer, speaker and researcher in disability theology. She lives with an acquired disability, is the parent of a young person with disability, and is a long-time disability advocate and researcher. She served as the Sydney Coordinator for CBM Australia’s Luke 14 program for over 15 years training churches in disability inclusion. She has presented extensively on disability in Christian contexts in both Australia and overseas, and has numerous publications on disability and the Bible and church practice.
Ruby Gosbell
Ruby is a junior graphic designer and describes herself as someone whose art is shaped by colouring outside the lines. Ruby will present on her panel with her mum Louise, sharing about her experiences of growing up in the church as a neurodivergent young person. Ruby was recently shortlisted for an women’s international design award.
Luke Graham
Luke is an assistant minister at St Paul's Canterbury & St Matt's Ashbury, where he oversees the kids, youth and evening service ministries. As a Junior Leader he was tasked with looking after a child with an intellectual disability during kids church and was unsatisfied when he was told to 'distract him so that the rest of the kids could learn' - he's been passionate about disability ministry ever since. He can't stop singing, so in his spare time you'll find him writing silly songs for his nephews/nieces, running a gospel choir and dancing in his kitchen
Elliott Ku
Elliot Ku is involved in both local church ministry and theological education. As a parent of a child with a disability, he has witnessed the dissonance of people with disability being affirmed as precious, while also being marginalised in communities of faith. He is currently writing a dissertation on the intersection between disability and missiology, and he is convinced that people with disability ought not to merely be passive recipients of mission; they also play a vital and critical role in seeing the Gospel go deep and wide. Therefore, Elliot is passionate about seeing Christians encouraged and equipped to embrace people with disability as treasured members of the church.
Kate Morris
Kate is a writer, speaker, podcast host, and Honorary Research Fellow at Mary Andrews College. She has lived experience as a mother of neurodivergent children and combines her background in education, biblical studies, and children’s ministry with further study in neurodivergence to equip families and churches with practical, Bible-shaped resources. Articles and resources: anextraordinarynormal.substack.com; Podcast: Neurodivergence, Family & Faith