The Program
Who, where, what and when...
![](https://socialimpactintheregions.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/0B5A4929-1024x683.jpg)
Each of the three conference days incorporate a variety of opportunities to learn, connect and reflect on social impact in your own regional community. The program themes are:
Day 1: Investing in impact in regional Australia
Day 2: Empowering regional voices
Day 3: Understanding regional challenges
- 50+ Speakers
- Workshops
- Master Classes
- 4 Conference Streams
- Pitchfest
- Social Events
Day 1 - Wednesday, 4th September: Investing in regional impact
Registration from 8am conference will commence at 9am sharp
09:00
Welcome to Country
Uncle Fred Kelly
Welcome to the Macleay Valley
Mayor Leo Hauville
Official opening
Kerry Grace, #SIITR Founder
Investing in regional impact
Investing in regional impact
Philip Gaskin (US) Social Impact and Sustainability Strategist
The Regionalisation Ambition 2032
Liz Ritchie, CEO, Regional Australia Institute (RAI)
Social Enterprise Development Initiative (SEDI)
Social Enterprise Development Initiative (SEDI)
David Hetherington, CEO, Impact Investing Australia
Panel: investing in regional impact
Panel
Philip Gaskin, Social Impact and Sustainability Strategist
Liz Ritchie, CEO, Regional Australia Institute (RAI)
David Hetherington, CEO, Impact Investing Australia
Panel Host: Dr. Chad Renando (UniSQ and Ready Communities)
11:20
Morning Tea served from Country University Centre
12:00
Masterclasses
Empower Your Community: A Masterclass on building local ownership, funding and community-led development for a prosperous future.
Meaghan Burkett and Sam Doove, Ethical Fields, Dr. Dimity Podger, Regen Labs and Father Jesse Poole
Empower your community
Empower Your Community: A Masterclass on building local ownership, funding and community-led development for a prosperous future.
Speakers: Meaghan Burkett and Sam Doove, Ethical Fields and Dr. Dimity Podger, Regen Labs
Join Ethical Fields and Regen Labs for an empowering masterclass where you will discover how regions are leading the way in transforming their communities and local economies – build local finance, strengthen enterprises, grow local ownership and control, envision collectively, all while reinvesting the benefits back into their community.
This workshop introduces community economic techniques and tools, such as place based capital and regenerative finance, that support inclusive responses to pressing issues like housing, resilient food systems, infrastructure and service needs, small business viability, and transitioning to renewable and circular economies.
Explore practical ways to:
- Expand the roles you play to gain greater control and ownership over development, businesses, industries, and capital.
- Identify and create funding and finance sources to fuel your projects, businesses or development needs.
- Utilise community enterprises that deliver regenerative & community outcomes.
- Buy, own, and manage local assets, such as land, enterprises, buildings, and infrastructure, for regional development and community benefit.
- Invest in your community, including businesses, entrepreneurs, infrastructure, services and community organisations.
- Build financial reserves for emergencies, disasters, large infrastructure needs and your economic future.
- Build productive collaborations between community, local foundations and government players
Be inspired by success stories, gain practical tools, and network with like-minded individuals. Don’t miss this chance to enhance the possibilities and viability of your region.
Facilitator: Father Jesse Poole
Regional place-based program design
Jo Kelly, Learning the Macleay, Deb Samuels, FRRR, Dr. Chad Renando Uni SQ and Ready Communities and Jesse Taylor, Mission Australia Housing
Place-based program design
Place-based program design
Speakers: Jo Kelly, Learning the Macleay, Deb Samuels, FRRR, Dr. Chad Renando Uni SQ and Ready Communities and Jesse Taylor, Mission Australia Housing
Placemaking is a community-centred approach to designing and managing public spaces and initiatives enhancing community health, connection, and well-being. Through meaningful community engagement, placemaking empowers participants to leverage community strengths and values to evolve society.
Spanning theory to practical application, this masterclass focuses on unique aspects of intertwining placemaking in regional Australian communities. Participants will learn directly from regionally based place-practitioners diving into several programs including FRRR’s IRCF program, SPSP, Learning the Macleay and Ready Communities, Ready Macleay.
Facilitator: Jesse Taylor
Funding social impact
Jo Taylor, Siddle Foundation, Margot Beach, Dussledorp Foundation and Sally McGeoch, Westpac Foundation
Funding social impact
Funding Social Impact
Speakers: Jo Taylor, Siddle Foundation, Margot Beach, Dussledorp Foundation and Sally McGeoch, Westpac Foundation
The multifaceted interests and motivations driving philanthropy, alongside a lack of standardised practice pose challenges for community leaders who wish to access the resources available. We’ve got a range of philanthropic leaders who are willing to pull back the philanthropic “wizard of oz” curtain and who are keen to know more about regional opportunities and challenges.
Empowering regional voices
Anita Tang, advocacy advisor Emma Broomfield, Locale Learning and Anna McAfee, community strategist and educator
Empowering regional voices
Empowering regional voices
Speakers: Anita Tang, advocacy advisor Emma Broomfield, Locale Learning and Anna McAfee, community strategist and educator.
With many issues to solve in our regional communities how do you get cut-through on the things that matter in your community? Join this masterclass to learn how to raise the voice of your community through advocacy, campaigning, media and community engagement. The workshop will look through the lens of community engagement and also engaging a range of donors, politicians and media.
13:00
Break for Lunch
14:00
Masterclasses continued
Empower Your Community: A Masterclass on building local ownership, funding and community-led development for a prosperous future.
Meaghan Burkett and Sam Doove, Ethical Fields, Dr. Dimity Podger, Regen Labs and Father Jesse Poole
Empower your community
Empower Your Community: A Masterclass on building local ownership, funding and community-led development for a prosperous future.
Speakers: Meaghan Burkett and Sam Doove, Ethical Fields and Dr. Dimity Podger, Regen Labs
Join Ethical Fields and Regen Labs for an empowering masterclass where you will discover how regions are leading the way in transforming their communities and local economies – build local finance, strengthen enterprises, grow local ownership and control, envision collectively, all while reinvesting the benefits back into their community.
This workshop introduces community economic techniques and tools, such as place based capital and regenerative finance, that support inclusive responses to pressing issues like housing, resilient food systems, infrastructure and service needs, small business viability, and transitioning to renewable and circular economies.
Explore practical ways to:
- Expand the roles you play to gain greater control and ownership over development, businesses, industries, and capital.
- Identify and create funding and finance sources to fuel your projects, businesses or development needs.
- Utilise community enterprises that deliver regenerative & community outcomes.
- Buy, own, and manage local assets, such as land, enterprises, buildings, and infrastructure, for regional development and community benefit.
- Invest in your community, including businesses, entrepreneurs, infrastructure, services and community organisations.
- Build financial reserves for emergencies, disasters, large infrastructure needs and your economic future.
- Build productive collaborations between community, local foundations and government players
Be inspired by success stories, gain practical tools, and network with like-minded individuals. Don’t miss this chance to enhance the possibilities and viability of your region.
Facilitator: Father Jesse Poole
Regional place-based program design
Jo Kelly, Learning the Macleay, Deb Samuels, FRRR, Dr. Chad Renando Uni SQ and Ready Communities and Jesse Taylor, Mission Australia Housing
Place-based program design
Place-based program design
Speakers: Jo Kelly, Learning the Macleay, Deb Samuels, FRRR, Dr. Chad Renando Uni SQ and Ready Communities and Jesse Taylor, Mission Australia Housing
Placemaking is a community-centred approach to designing and managing public spaces and initiatives enhancing community health, connection, and well-being. Through meaningful community engagement, placemaking empowers participants to leverage community strengths and values to evolve society.
Spanning theory to practical application, this masterclass focuses on unique aspects of intertwining placemaking in regional Australian communities. Participants will learn directly from regionally based place-practitioners diving into several programs including FRRR’s IRCF program, SPSP, Learning the Macleay and Ready Communities, Ready Macleay.
Facilitator: Jesse Taylor
Funding social impact
Jo Taylor, Siddle Foundation, Margot Beach, Dussledorp Foundation and Sally McGeoch, Westpac Foundation
Funding social impact
Funding Social Impact
Speakers: Jo Taylor, Siddle Foundation, Margot Beach, Dussledorp Foundation and Sally McGeoch, Westpac Foundation
The multifaceted interests and motivations driving philanthropy, alongside a lack of standardised practice pose challenges for community leaders who wish to access the resources available. We’ve got a range of philanthropic leaders who are willing to pull back the philanthropic “wizard of oz” curtain and who are keen to know more about regional opportunities and challenges.
Empowering regional voices
Anita Tang, advocacy advisor Emma Broomfield, Locale Learning and Anna McAfee, community strategist and educator
Empowering regional voices
Empowering regional voices
Speakers: Anita Tang, advocacy advisor Emma Broomfield, Locale Learning and Anna McAfee, community strategist and educator.
With many issues to solve in our regional communities how do you get cut-through on the things that matter in your community? Join this masterclass to learn how to raise the voice of your community through advocacy, campaigning, media and community engagement. The workshop will look through the lens of community engagement and also engaging a range of donors, politicians and media.
15:45
Afternoon tea
16:15
Pitchfest
Our 2023 Pitchfest was a hit so we are going again in 2024.
This year 6 social impact practitioners will pitch for a prize pool. The event is fast, fun and informative for both the speakers and audience.
Pitchfest is supported by StartSomeGood and Alt Collective
17:45
Welcome event
Hosted in main conference space
Join us for canapes and a cool drink, network with colleagues and unpack day 1.
Sponsored by Misty Mountain Lifestyle Retreat
Day 2 - Thursday, 5th September: Amplifying regional voices
Registration from 8am conference will commence at 9am sharp
09:00
Welcome to Country
Welcome to Day 2
Kerry Grace, conference producer
Evolve Network CEO
Ready Communities co-founder
Evolve Network CEO
What is a ready community?
Learn how the Kempsey community have engaged to co-design and deliver Social Impact in the Regions
Dr. Chad Renando, Ready Communities Co-Founder and Jo Kelly Learning the Macleay Partnership Lead.
Hear from LCSA CEO, Can Yasmut on place-based design
Amplifying regional voices
The Hon. Fiona Nash, Commissioner for Regional Education
Grassroots community engagement
Phil Haines, Voices for Indi
Authentic place-based engagement
Adam West, Head of Business Services, Community Housing Industry Association of NSW (CHIA)
Panel: Amplifying regional voices
Amplifying Regional Voices
The Hon. Fiona Nash, Commissioner for Regional Education
Phil Haines, Voices for Indi
Adam West, Community Housing Industry Association of NSW (CHIA)
Panel Host: Lucy Brotherton, Community Capacity Building Lead – Social Investment, The City of Parramatta
11:20
Morning Tea served from Country University Centre
11:45
Breakout Session 1:
![](https://socialimpactintheregions.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/0B5A3706-768x512.jpg)
Our FIRST Breakout Session comprising of a range of workshops to choose from, including:
Practicing Conflict Curiosity: for creativity, diversity and impact
Beck Ronkson
Collaboration, Creativity and Conflict
Practicing Conflict Curiosity: for creativity, diversity and impact
Speaker: Beck Ronkson
You don’t want to open that can of worms.
And you may have good reason. However, if we want to truly harness our different skills, views and experiences to create better futures together, we need to be able to harness the learning that conflict brings. In this workshop we will practice the simple idea of conflict curiosity – using 4 principles to guide us to make the most of our differences for our purpose, bypassing the negative consequences (and exploding worm can) that avoiding conflict brings.
Collaboration for Impact: Regional collaborative governance models for community led systems change: What we’re learning
Laura Barnes and Sarah Callaghan (Collaboration for Impact)
Collaboration for Impact: regional collaborative governance models for community led systems change: what we’re learning
Collaboration for Impact: regional collaborative governance models for community led systems change: what we’re learning
Speakers: Laura Barnes and Sarah Callaghan
Collaborative governance is key for stewarding more equitable systems in ways that are led by community. In this session, CFI will share learnings about practices, challenges and innovations in collaborative governance across regional Australia.
The workshop will include and what we’re learning about addressing inequity through new forms of governance that build agency and accountability to community with a focus on First Nations peoples, before working with workshop participants to explore tools to support their regional governance design and practices.
Regional housing place-making innovation
Steve Neale (Community Housing Limited), Jamie Hutchinson (Community Housing Limited) and Adam West (CHIA NSW), Michelle Palmer (Housing in Place)
HOST: Jesse Taylor (Mission Australia)
Regional housing place-making innovation
Regional housing place-making innovation
Speakers: Steve Neale, Jamie Hutchinson, Adam West and Michelle Palmer. Host: Jesse Taylor
Learn about the latest trends, practices and the current state of regional housing through the lens of place-making innovation.
Regional Showcase
Jill Ashley: (ShoreTrack), Ann Goslett: (The SHIFT Project) and Brooke Maggs: (Liberty Women’s Domestic Violence Service)
Hosted by: Tom Allen (Impact Boom)
Regional Showcase
Regional Showcase
Speakers: Jill Ashley: ShoreTrack, Ann Goslett: The SHIFT Project and Brooke Maggs: Liberty Women’s Domestic Violence Service
Hear from three regionally based social entrepreneurs and learn about the wins and pitfalls they have experienced in running their social enterprise or social impact entity. Over this hour you will have the opportunity to learn about their entity, hear their story and align their learning with your own experiences. There will be plenty of time for Q&A.
Grant Writing
Natalie Bramble (iclick2learn)
13:00
Break for Lunch
14:30
Breakout Session 2:
![](https://socialimpactintheregions.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DSC04874-768x512.jpg)
Our SECOND Breakout Session comprising of a range of workshops to choose from, including:
Why are main streets important to regional social impact?
Ashley Watt (Why Leave Town)
Why are main streets important to regional social impact?
Why are main streets important to regional social impact?
Speakers: Ashley Watt
Ashley Watt the visionary behind Why Leave Town will discuss the importance of mainstreets in regional communities, and how his ‘shop local’ program, Why Leave Town can stimulate the local economy. Growing up in Narrabri Ashley established Why Leave Town with co-founder Justin Smith to meet a gap in the local market for local gift cards. Why Leave Town is operating in over 80 communities generating $26M in local spending.
Measuring your social impact
Eleanor Booth & Jenna McDonald (For-Purpose Evaluations)
Measuring your social impact
Measuring your social impact
Speakers: Eleanor Booth & Jenna McDonald
Want to clearly communicate the impact of your work using compelling evidence? Not sure where to start?
We all know that outcomes are the positive changes we see in our clients, their families, communities and sometimes even in ourselves. Outcomes measurement is simply the process of organising information we see, hear and feel that tells us the positive changes are happening.
Together we will explore creative approaches to outcomes measurement. You will gain practical tips to leverage the data you already collect, ensure the process doesn’t get in the way of good service delivery and communicate stories of change to your clients, teams and funders. We will cover three key ideas:
Outcomes measurement has the potential to enhance your practice and service
You already have what you need to get started
It takes courage to do this work!
Harnessing Personal Strengths for Community Empowerment and Growth
Michelle McFadyen
Harnessing Personal Strengths for Community Empowerment and Growth
Harnessing Personal Strengths for Community Empowerment and Growth
Speakers: Michelle McFadyen
Unlock the power within yourself and your community in this interactive and fun workshop. Michelle McFadyen knows what it means to have a strengths focus—from surviving a devastating earthquake in Nepal, spending a week alone in the bush with nothing but water, climbing Mt Kilimanjaro, walking the Kokoda Track six times, to trekking solo across an entire country. Her incredible experiences have taught her the immense impact of knowing and focusing on your strengths, leading to greater happiness, engagement, and success. With 25 years of wisdom and leadership as a CEO and Deputy in Local Governments, Michelle brings a wealth of knowledge to this session. Discover the incredible benefits of a strengths-based approach for you and your community. Through engaging activities and real-world insights, you’ll learn to identify and leverage personal strengths for greater social impact.
From Theory of Change to Community of Change
Can Yasmut, CEO of LCSA
From Theory of Change to Community of Change
From Theory of Change to Community of Change
Speakers: Can Yasmut, CEO of LCSA
Over the past decade, Can Yasmut, CEO of LCSA, has led with a focus on creating the conditions for community-led change. Drawing from the practices and insights of community development, particularly influenced by the practice of community innovation, Yasmut emphasizes that authentic community engagement is at the heart of sustainable transformation.
Key Concepts:
1. Authentic Community Engagement: True engagement requires working with people’s aspirations, inviting them into meaningful conversations, and listening deeply to the stories they share. This process helps uncover the underlying aspirations that the community itself can drive forward.
2. Community-Centered Consultation: Effective community consultation starts with the community at its core and must be free from pre-set agendas. This approach leads to an understanding of community rhythms which are led by community rather than organisational or political objectives.
3. Trust, Authority, and Accountability: Building trust, exercising authority with responsibility, and being accountable to the community are essential components. Yasmut believes that these elements—trust, authority, and authenticity—are crucial for fostering a community that leads its own change.
To achieve sustainable, community-led change, leaders must not only involve the community but also ensure that the process is genuinely collaborative, responsive, and driven by the community’s own aspirations.
Insights into Success, Stress and Self-care among social entrepreneurs: A balancing act
Dr. Aastha Malhotra (UniSQ) and Dr. Naomi Ryan (UniSQ)
15:45 - 16:30
Your Choice
Choose from one of the following activities:
- Fireside chat: Regional social and affordable housing with Maree McKenzie (Homes North), Liz Collyer (Homes NSW). Interactive session with leading housing industry experts about opportunities for regional housing and the future of housing.
- Speed networking with a range of social impact practitioners
- Local tour: Macleay Portraits with Ronnie Grammatica
18:00
Conference Gala Dinner
Join us for an exciting night filled with live entertainment, street food, fun with your colleagues and a carnival atmosphere.
Our 2024 conference dinner theme is “on the fringes”
22:30
Home time
Day 3 - Friday, 6th September: Understanding regional challenges
Registration from 830am, conference will commence at 910am sharp
09:10
Welcome to Country
Welcome to Day 3
Kerry Grace, conference producer
Evolve Network CEO
Ready Communities co-founder
Understanding regional challenges
Natalie Egleton, CEO Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR)
The Rural Manifesto
Mary-Ann Scully, Executive Director, Innovation and Service ACRE
Understanding place
Jamie Hutchinson, National Community Impact Manager, Community Housing Limited
Panel
Understanding regional challenges
Natalie Egleton, CEO Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR)
Mary-Ann Scully, Executive Director, Innovation and Service ACRE
Jamie Hutchinson, National Community Impact Manager, Community Housing Limited
Panel Host: Kylie Flament, Social Enterprise Council of NSW and ACT (SECNA)
11:20
Morning Tea served from Country University Centre
STREAM CONVERSATIONS
Time to talk about the greatest opportunities and challenges currently faced in your regional community. This session will be facilitated by the fabulous Taz and Em of Futures Isle. Taz and Em will also showcase the #SIITR24 Youth Ambassador program and be supported by our youth ambassadors as this session rolls out. The session will be recorded and will contribute to our national paper on Social Impact In The Regions.