Our team is led by Dr Kathy Cologon, who is our Principal Consultant and Founder of Toward Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
Kathy loves to work with people who share her passion for inclusion. Kathy is warm, collaborative and has a deep understanding of equity, diversity and inclusion.
Kathy is nationally and internationally renowned for her work in Inclusive Education and Disability Studies. Kathy has published more than 40 papers, book chapters, and books. Her book Inclusive Education in the Early Years: Right from the Start, which was commissioned by Oxford University Press, has become a core component of education for inclusion across Australia and internationally.
Kathy has worked as a researcher and university teacher educator at Macquarie University for the past 14 years. Prior to this Kathy worked across various education settings for a decade. Kathy collaborates with families, teachers, allied professionals, policy makers, academics, and a range of other stakeholders to support inclusion within education and beyond.
The crux of what drives Kathy's research is a belief in the value of human beings in all our wonderful diversities and recognition that this has particular implications for the role of education and accessibility in our communities. Through her work, Kathy seeks to contribute to increased knowledge and understanding regarding how to provide effective opportunities to enable all people to flourish as valued community members. This requires challenging normative and deficit assumptions and engaging with practical issues relating to children's rights and social inclusion.
With extensive experience in the field prior to commencing her work in academia, followed by 14 years of educating teachers for inclusion, Kathy has a depth and breadth of understanding of the many facets of inclusive education. This continues to develop through her ongoing research and engagement with children, families, teachers and allied professionals.
Elizabeth Hitches
In both research and higher education teaching, Elizabeth strives to foster inclusive and equitable learning environments where everyone can reach their full academic and personal potential. Elizabeth is a sessional academic across a number of universities, teaching undergraduate and Master level higher education students in the areas of inclusive education, diversity, equity, and accessibility. She is also an organiser and regular facilitator of the Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Community of Practice at Griffith University, collaborating with higher education colleagues to increase understanding and practice of accessibility and inclusion. Elizabeth is a PhD candidate at the Institute for Social Science Research, University of Queensland, Australia, and a research officer and research assistant in both qualitative and quantitative research across various universities. Her research interests lie in inclusive education at a national and international level, as well as equity, achievement, and wellbeing for students with disability, chronic health conditions and/or accessibility requirements.
We acknowledge and honour the First Nations owners of the unceded land on which we live, work and learn. We pay our respects to the Elders, lores, customs, and creation spirits. This land always was and always will be Aboriginal land.
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