#SIITR2025 in Review
Unleash your Superhero - SIITR25
- Date: 3 - 5 September 2025
- Host Community: Grafton, NSW
- The Venue: South Grafton RSL, Grafton Brewhouse, Grafton Cathedral
- Theme Day 1: Come as you are
- Theme Day 2: As you were
- Theme Day 3: As you want to be
- Conference theme: Unleash your superhero (thanks to Aunty Vicki Taylor)
Impact
Economic impacts:
- $389K generated in local (Clarence) economy
- 50% of delegates said they were likely or very likely to visit Kempsey again after the conference
- 219 attendees
- 96% of conference spend ($131,832) with SMEs based in regional communities
- 49% of conference spend directly in Grafton NSW
- 17% of conference spend with creative industries practitioners
Social impacts:
- Space activation: While we were excited to activate local host venues we were delighted to book out the main street of South Grafton purchasing every meal available in the street for our delegates who walked into town and spread throughout the street. South Grafton put on a spectacular show with live music, special market stands. All food providers signed up (at no fee) to the Jacacard – shop local program which partnered with Why Leave Town who facilitated shop local cards and the underpinning program which remains in town.
- Youth cohort including young people from NSW, QLD and ACT and 6 local school students attended
- Local performers: Local musicians greeted delegates each morning and we were escorted to the main street on day 2 by the ‘Hey Jane’ vocal group. Additional local performers at conference dinner.
- Local Social Impact Showcase: 7 Grafton based social impact practitioners pitched their entity to a variety of guests
- Local Impact Labs: 5 local impact labs showcasing a range of Grafton based social enterprise and social impact activities
- Ready Grafton program delivered from January 2025 and continues to October 2026
- 32 full bursaries provided (18 of these with the support of our bursary sponsors Westpac Foundation, FRRR, VFFF, Seaton Foundation and Siddle Family Foundation).
2025 Program
Take a look back at the jam-packed program from SIITR25 and find out what it was all about.Â
The Speakers
We had a high calibre of presenters at the inaugural event. Take a look back at the SIITR25 speakers.
The Performers
Social Impact in the Regions has a strong focus on the arts and we curate a program that both supports local creative industries practitioners and also enhances the delegate experience through the application of neoro-arts practice (transdisciplinary study of how the arts and aesthetic experiences measurably change the body, brain, and behavior and how this knowledge is translated into specific practices that advance health and wellbeing).
Artists showcased in 2025 included: Marc Daley, Pam Hata, Andrea M (visual artist), Bec Fire Fairy, Harry Angus and his incredible band, Connor (HooRai Balloons). We were also delighted to have Jay Black as our photographer and Peter Clarke as our videographer – both mainstays throughout all conferences. Artwork for our conference choose-your-own-adventure booklet was done by Ben Creighton. Our set designer for the superhero themed conference dinner was Grafton local Bec Yager.
Reports and Outcomes
Now in it’s second year the Ready Communities program led into SIITR25 focusing on six key areas: Mainstreet activation, food systems, youth, community engagement, lifelong learning and social enterprise. A full report will be produced as the Ready Communities White Paper and Impact Report in March 2026. You can view our 2025 White Paper and Impact Report here.
