Debate to raise funds for children's clinic

Debate to raise funds for children's clinic

That a University Education Improves Your Performance is the topic of The Great Debate organised by the University of Queensland's Occupational Therapy Department at the Sheraton Hotel, Brisbane on May 14 at 7pm.

The debate is being held as a fundraiser for the Department's Children's Life Skills Clinic, a paediatric service to help Brisbane children aged from newborn to adolescents with developmental, learning, co-ordination or self care difficulties.

Occupational Therapy Department Head Professor Jenny Strong said the clinic aimed to help children with difficulties in everyday life to participate and achieve more fully at school, at home and in the community.

Clinic services include occupational therapy assessment, individual or group therapy, home programs, school visits, holiday programs, regular review appointments, parent information/education in-service and teacher education

"Guests attending The Great Debate will be treated to an entertaining evening with an interesting mix of debaters," Professor Strong said.

"The Great Debate will be moderated by Malcolm McComas, a key figure in the Australian debating scene."

The debaters include:

o University of Queensland medical graduate (1986) and novelist Nick Earls, whose third book, Head Games has been recently released, following earlier popular novels Zig Zag Street and Bachelor Kisses;
o 4QR drive program journalist Cathy Border;
o Queensland Supreme Court Judge Ros Atkinson;
o Second-year University of Queensland law student and moot debater Katina O'Gorman;
o Former Queensland Premier Mike Ahern; and
o Professor Strong.

Tickets at $50 each, including a cocktail function, are available from the University's Development Office, telephone 07 3221 6265.

Media: For further information, Professor Jenny Strong, telephone 07 3365 2652.