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Towards Better is a social enterprise and a boutique training and community development consultancy based in Townsville, Queensland. We were founded in early 2020 and since then we have worked with thousands of people to create positive change in our communities through the inclusion of people with disabilities. We work with individuals, families, businesses, government entities, and organisations such as community groups, not-for-profits, and clubs to drive change around the inclusion of people with disabilities in everyday valued community life.
To discover, connect, and mobilize the assets, skills, and passions of individuals, communities, and businesses to create better communities through the inclusion of people with disabilities in valued social roles.
A world where all individuals are involved in ordinary community life and communities naturally step forward with authenticity to welcome their valued gifts, talents, and contributions.
Ricky is an American by Birth and resident of Townsville since 2015. First and foremost, Ricky is a proud husband, father, and active school parent.
As a family member of someone with a disability, and after years of working in segregated settings such as Disability Day programs, Aged Care, and Special Needs Recreation, Ricky saw first hand the experiences of ‘life wasting’ that people with disabilities had who were stuck in the ‘eternal client’ role, and trapped in ‘serviceland’. Ricky was a previous employee of Inclusion Works Townsville and following its closure in 2017 he had several other roles for large Not for Profits in Townsville. He founded the Certified Social Enterprise Towards Better in 2020 to ensure people with disabilities had more of the good things of life (Purpose, Belonging, Learning & Growth, Freely Given Relationships, Meaningful Work) by acquiring active, valued and meaningful roles in welcoming communities through Customised Employment, MicroEnterprise, Social Role Valorisation, and Asset Based Community Development Strategies.
Ricky is a Certified Trainer & Assessor, , an experienced Community Development practitioner, Neighborhood Organiser, and soon-to-be qualified teacher of Social Role Valorisation with additional experiences in Service Design & Evaluation, Impact Measurement & Social Enterprise.
In non working life, Ricky is a baseball player, jui jitsu practitioner, committee member, volunteer, Crossfit enthusiast, friend, brother, student and sports dad.
The thing that Ricky loves most about the work is how a valued role – created for someone others might never have considered – can spark change in everyone’s lives. It raises expectations, builds new relationships between people who were previously disconnected, and shifts perceptions to reveal, “we aren’t so different, you and I”.
Jo Lynam
Community Development & Worker/MicroEnterpriseConsultant
Jo has a deep passion, vast skillset, and extensive personal and professional experience and will be a great collaboration as a MicroEnterprise Consultant and part of the Towards Better team..
Jo says: One of the hardest things as a parent is to see your child rejected by society.
When my daughter was born with a disability, like many parents in a similar position I experienced society’s devalued ideas about my daughter and the box that she should stay in.
I am not sure why, but I had a very clear vision for my daughter. I wanted her to have the same opportunities as her brothers. I wanted her to have ‘A Good Life’. A good life will not be found in your bedroom, a good life is out in the community.
The community is a bit like a big club. If you want to ‘Belong’ you need to join the club, let it know what you have to offer. And very importantly, give the club something of yourself – your time, your money or your skills. Well, the community works in the same way.
Although my daughter does not read, write or have much verbal communication she has her own business that she works in 5 days a week. Working has afforded her the ‘Good Life’. Namely, a way to contribute, belong and matter. It has also given her opportunities to discover herself in a whole range of ways just like her brothers did when they began their working lives. Being seen as ‘valuable’ has provided her with a different lens to see herself through. This different way of seeing has given her the opportunity to explore lots of things, including travel.
Jo is very focused on one thing – The Good Life and helping to shape skills, gifts, talents and yes, obsessions into small local businesses. There are many benefits for a person with a disability having a small business. But I believe Autonomy is one of the most important reasons.
If you would like to have a cuppa and chat about how this might work for you I would love to hear from you.
Monica Piggott
Community Development Worker
Monica is a Community Development Worker at Towards Better, bringing rich personal and professional experience across disability, mental health, aged care, and retail. Known for her empathy, creativity, and strong communication skills, Monica builds genuine rapport—particularly with young people—and is passionate about helping individuals of all ages and abilities reach their goals and live as independently as possible.
Monica approaches her work with compassion, practicality, and a deep belief that everyone deserves a valued place in society. She’s committed to walking alongside people as they discover their strengths and navigate their own path forward. With a special interest in autism, Monica values learning from those who experience the world differently and sees great wisdom in diverse perspectives.
Beyond her role at Towards Better, Monica is a dedicated parent, long-time volunteer sports team manager, and former host to international students. In her personal time, she is an avid reader, craft hobbyist, and holistic health enthusiast who enjoys creating, connecting, and continually learning.
Kristy Hinton
Business Support Assistant
Kristy is the Business Support Assistant at Towards Better, providing vital support across invoicing, finance administration, marketing, systems, projects, and internal communications. With a strong focus on keeping things running smoothly, Kristy ensures the team is well-supported behind the scenes so they can focus on building more inclusive communities.
She brings a calm and organised presence to her work, along with a keen eye for detail and a collaborative spirit. Whether she’s streamlining admin processes, supporting communications, or jumping in to help with project logistics, Kristy plays a key role in the day-to-day life of Towards Better.
Outside of work, Kristy enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, birdwatching, gaming, and exploring the local area.
Amy Hitchins
Community Development Worker
Amy is a passionate community development practitioner committed to building inclusive communities where all people feel valued and connected. With a strong background in strengths-based, trauma-informed, and relationship-driven practice, Amy brings experience working alongside young people with intellectual and cognitive disabilities, particularly in employment-focused initiatives.
Most recently, Amy was a Community Development Worker and Group Facilitator with the DEFY Program—supporting young people to explore education and employment pathways while working across complex service systems. She has also held senior and project-based roles within the Community Living Program in Brisbane, where she coordinated supports, facilitated groups, and contributed to program design, reflection, and evaluation.
Amy holds a Bachelor of Welfare Studies from the University of Queensland and draws on her early training in public communication to strengthen advocacy and connection in her work. Curious and collaborative by nature, Amy is energised by the passions of others and believes deeply in the potential of people and communities to create change from within.
Outside of work, Amy enjoys bushwalking, cycling, yoga, and music—and once facilitated a musical theatre group in Brisbane, combining her love of the arts with community connection.
We are always looking for people who believe in this vision and live our values especially people with lived experience of disability, culturally and linguistically diverse individuals, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and other diverse groups.
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