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The West Deserves the Best

The West Deserves the Best: Why does it always get less?

Our work on Better Buses over the years has very clearly shown that transport justice is deeply intertwined with access to services, cost of living, safety, health, education, accessibility, gender justice, racial justice, climate and many other community priorities. We hope to bring together a range of diverse stakeholders to work together and tell this story, and demonstrate how better access to public transport improves outcomes across the board and elevates the wellbeing of communities. 

Agenda for the day: 

10am: Registration, stalls and theme building
10.30am: Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony with Bunurong Traditional Custodian and Heritage Advisor Uncle Robert Ogden
11am: Panel discussion featuring:
- Lilliana Smith, Board member of Aboriginal Wellness Foundation
- Melissa Hardham, CEO of WestJustice
- Jaksha Shah, Member of Mt Atkinson Advocacy Group
- Dr John Stone, Honorary fellow in Transport Planning at University of Melbourne 
12pm: LUNCH (free - w vegan, halal and GF options available)
12:30pm: Breakout rooms x 3
1.30pm: Creative breakout rooms x 3
2pm: Sharing back and closing remarks, finishing at 3pm

Activities:
- Face painting 
- Kids corner
- Vids corner (come and tell your story!) 
- Kookaburra Markets out the back!

Our aims for the day: 

  • Build solidarity amongst individuals and groups whose work often happens in siloes
  • Develop shared asks ahead of the 2026 Victorian state election 
  • Share stories through video storytelling on social media 
  • Compile information from the day into a report to be shared with decision makers 
Accessibility info: 

-Accessible car spaces are available (please let us know if this is something you will require)
-Wheelchair friendly (no stairs) 
-There are 2 accessible toilets (one in the foyer, one in community room 1) 
-The space has adequate ventillation with windows and air conditioning 
-There will be a quite space/ sensory room available for use on the day 
-There is no hearing loop. The panel discussion space will have multiple speakers, captions on any video materials, and saved seating in the front rows for people with disabilities/ access requirements
-Please let us know if you require an AUSLAN interpreter 

Language:

Our promo materials will be translated in Punjabi and Hindi, and we will have one Punjabi + Hindi speaker present on the day to facilitate discussions in these languages. We are working towards securing interpreters in more community languages, as well as Auslan (if need identified). Please feel free to inform us if you have any local recommendations, or any questions/concerns.

Getting there:

From Werribee Train station: 
-Take the 170 bus from the Manly St interchange to Kookaburra Ave/ Derrimut Rd (4 min/ 5 stops). From there is it 650m walk/ roll to the centre. This bus runs every 20 minutes and is a wheelchair accessible service. There is a footpath from the bus interchange to the centre 
OR
-Take the 161 bus from the Manly St interchange to Nightingale Dr/ Kookaburra Ave (18 min/ 23 stops). This bus stops directly out the front of the centre. This bus runs every 40 minutes and is a wheelchair accessible service. 
From Tarneit Train station: 
-Take the 180 bus towards Werribee station to Cassowary Ave/ Tarneit Rd (16 min/ 20 stops), then cross the road and walk 2 minutes to Bower Dr/ Cassowary ave and change to the 161 bus towards Hoppers Crossing Station, to Nightingale Dr/Kookaburra Ave (6 min/ 7 stops). This bus stops directly out the front of the centre. 
OR
-Take the 170 bus towards Hoppers Crossing station to Kookaburra Ave/Derrimut Rd (15 min/ 14 stops). From there is it 650m walk/ roll to the centre. This bus runs every 20 minutes and is a wheelchair accessible service. There is a footpath from the bus interchange to the centre 
Tea, Coffee and lunch will be provided, please let us know any dietary requirements ahead of time 
PLEASE NOTE: Event time subject to change
This event will take place on the lands of the Bunurong people of the Kulin Nation. We pay respects to their elders past, and present, and to all true custodians across the Kulin nation. We pay deep respect and gratitude to the care for land, sea and sky Country that First peoples have done since time immemorial. We acknowledge the enduring songlines that interweave through the transport networks built across so-called Melbourne, and pay respects to those who have travelled along them over time. Sovereignty never ceded. Always was, always will be, Aboriginal land. 
WHEN
March 28, 2026 at 10:00 - 3pm
WHERE
Wyndham Park Community Centre
55-57 Kookaburra Ave
Bunurong Country
Werribee, VIC 3030
Australia
Google map and directions
CONTACT
Elyse Cunningham ·
153 RSVPS
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