Urbis designed and implemented a strategic engagement framework and program of engagement activities to support the planning, design and implementation of two new inner-city secondary schools – the first new state secondary schools in Brisbane in over 50 years.

This was a new model. The catchment areas and access to “schools of choice” in the local areas were highly contested. There was a new model of academic partnerships with universities. The intent was to engage with service users and influencers to develop an education brief that stepped beyond business as usual.

We used focus groups, community information sessions and enquiry by design workshops to gain insights from:

  • Directly affected families and interested community members Political representatives from local and state
  • School staff
  • Internal departmental staff
  • University partners
  • Cross-government stakeholders
  • Educators from primary, secondary and tertiary sector

 

Urbis harnessed the expertise an innovation of the educators, school students and communities to inform the education brief and ultimately the design of the school.