The Program - 2023
Who, where, what and when...
Schedule your days at #SocialImpactITR to make sure that you get the most of the program. There’s something for everyone so be sure not to miss out!
Day 1 - Wednesday, 6th September
from 10:00am
Arrival
Have a look around, grab some morning tea and get ready for your masterclass of choice.
11:00am-2:00pm
Including lunch
Masterclass
Your choice of topics:
Click items below for more info:
2pm
Introductions & Networking
Network with the masterclass presenters and other delegates, participate in the theme discussions, unpack your learning.
From 2pm and throughout conference
Setting the Scene
A robust conversation commences about some key regional challenges and opportunities. Access to full ticket and welcome event ticket holders.
Setting the scene is a conversation starter. The conversation on each theme will carry through the conference. Each of the conference themes is governed by a Theme Convenor who will gather thoughts, contacts, ideas and connections on their theme throughout the conference and support the conference advisory team to submit a paper to all levels of government at the conclusion of the conference.
Theme Convenors will ask you (1) what you are currently doing in your region to address your theme of interest (2) what is working for you and (3) what further support you need.
The conversations will continue throughout the event. Find the theme/s that interest you in their designated space throughout the conference venue from 2pm.
- Housing
- Youth futures
- Preparedness
- Impact via creativity
- Access and Equity
3:30pm
PITCH Practice:
Join our pitch team to learn more about pitching your project or social enterprise.
Do you have a ticket for the Welcome Event? Join us for Pitch Practice. In a 40 minute tutorial you will learn the fundamentals of pitching to potential investors, partners and even future board members. You never know who will be in the room… Register for access to this class here All participants will have the opportunity to do a professional 3 minute recording of their pitch which will be shared with the Social Impact in the Regions community until our 2024 event.
The 2023 Social Impact in the Regions Pitchfest is brought to you by 6 Degrees and the City of Coffs Harbour.
4:30pm
PITCH Event:
Join us to support the ten selected social impact practitioners as they pitch to a panel of mentors.
Help us to cheer on the 10 selected social impact practitioners as they pitch their enterprise, idea of project. Our panel of mentors including Lynn Anderson (Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation), Tom Dawkins (StartSomeGood and Jay Boolkin (Social Impact Hub).
Applications to pitch are essential, click on the link below to apply.
Applications now closed.
6:00pm
Cocktail Welcome Event
An official welcome from the organizers of @SocialImpactITR. Enjoy a cool drink or two accompanied by some light snacks and get to know the other attendees as well as those speaking at the event.Â
CONFERENCE DAY (Day 2) - Thursday, 7th September
Registration from 8:15am
Start at
9:00am
Morning Session
Welcome to Country
The impact context
Warm up panel – Social impact overview in the current context
Kylie Flament, SECNA; Jay Boolkin, Social Impact Hub
Who is creating impact? What is changing in Australia right now? Where do you fit?
Panel presentations
Rebel Black, Dr Gregory Smith OAM, Professor Jack Beetson
Giving, receiving and understanding social impact. Three inspiring and challenging stories you won’t want to miss.
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10:30am
Tea Break
Take a short break to enjoy a warm beverage of your choice as we prepare to meet up again in 30 minutes for your choice of Break-out sessions.
10:55
Morning session, ctd
Facilitated discussion: What is impact
Facilitator, Anita Tang
Join the panel in a robust conversation about what impact is in regional Australia in 2023.
DAVID MACKAY, Deputy Secretary Regions, Cities and Territories, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and the Arts
What is the Regional Investment Framework and what does it mean for regionally based impact practitioners?
11:45am
Break-out Session 1
Your choice of…
1. Regional Case Studies Featuring Professor Jack Beetson who will speak about his work in Brewarrina on the Literacy for Life program and Ryan Martin, Principal of Macleay Vocational College and Kinne Ring Centre Manager of Country University Centre (CUC) Macleay.
2. Place based design So, you want to create change in your community around a pressing challenge but how do you make sure your proposed solution is relevant to your community? And how do you know if the idea is working or not? Join Bree Katamangos from Mission Australia who will speak about her experiences in developing ground breaking programs for children and young people from the grassroots up in the Manning Valley. Andrew Davies will join Bree and speak about the success of the Becoming U Program in the Nambucca Valley.
3. Funding your social impact activities Where DOES the money come from? Tom Dawkins from StartSomeGood will guide you through a variety of funding models and assist you to choose the model – or combination of that is right for your idea, project or enterprise. Jo Taylor, philanthropic advisor will also join this presentation to give more insights about the world of philanthropy.
4. Tools to measure your impact Learn a range of impact measurement tools with Liv Parker who will present the Creative Recovery program with Dr. Emma Gentle, a response to the 2019/20 bushfires and Dr. Madeleine Lawler, PHD who will showcase a range of tools in impact measurement practice.
5. Building on your strengths Who are you as a social impact practitioner? Join Strengths expert, Nicole Weber and learn more about how you can draw on your strengths to support your community impact practice. High performance coach Blyde Neser will also join this session exploring authentic leadership and its role as a critical success factor for purpose driven organisations.
12:30pm
Lunch
You didn’t think we’d leave you hanging did you? At lunch you’ll have the opportunity to participate in a range of activities designed for every spectrum of the introvert / extravert scale. Grab your plate and picnic outdoors with new found conference friends, participate in wellness activities, find a quiet spot and journal your learning thus far, hang in the restaurant area on themed social impact tables, explore the conference exhibitors or just chill in one of the dedicated quiet spaces.
1:40pm
Break-out Session 2
Your choice of…
6. Regional Case Studies – Mitra Hussaini, champion of women’s rights and Maura Luxford of Ride4aCure. Two potent social impact practitioners whose life experiences inspired passion for their causes.
7. Where to start Join Social Enterprise veteran Mark Daniels from White Box Enterprises talking about setting up social enterprises, the challenges and opportunities. There will be ample time for QnA. If you are developing or growing a social enterprise don’t miss this opportunity to ask Mark your ‘where to next’ questions and learn through his extensive experience in the sector.
8. Debt for growth Sound counterintuitive? Manfred Bauer from SEFA will explain organisations can use debt as a means of growing your social enterprise activities. Not every opportunity for growth needs to come from grants or funding.
9. Understanding the problem you are addressing There are many ways to address social challenges. This workshop starts within exploring empathy and its application in practice with social impact practitioner Leanne Butterworth. The workshop then looks outwards to the systems, plans and structures that impact the problem. This section will be presented by Emma Broomfield of Locale Consulting who will assist you to look up, down and sideways to connect the dots.
10. Community engagement and Co-design
You want to create change but is the community jumping on board? Join Sam Alderton-Johnson from Impact Policy in a conversation about deep community engagement and why this matters.
(unfortunately Sam couldn’t join us and session 10 was delivered by Lily Norman as follows).
10. Boundaries, brave conversations and burnout, Lily Norman Why is self care NOT the answer to the burnout crisis? Why are we afraid to talk about struggle? Why is there never enough time / resources / money / energy? The things we are most afraid to talk about are the very things that we absolutely need to be talking about. Join us for a conversation that will strengthen our work practices, create robust teams and allow us longevity in the fields we love. Â
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2:35pm
Breakout Session 3
11. Regional Case Studies –  Kieren Dell Majestic Cinemas CEO, and social entrepreneur Stephanie Sims. Stephanie raised $2.4M to purchase and refurbish Sawtell Cinema now managed by Majestic Cinemas. How did this incredible community project happen? Join the session to learn more about public/private investment.
12. Where to start Join Social Enterprise veteran Mark Daniels from White Box Enterprises talking about setting up social enterprises, the challenges and opportunities. There will be ample time for QnA. If you are developing or growing a social enterprise don’t miss this opportunity to ask Mark your ‘where to next’ questions and learn through his extensive experience in the sector.
13. Debt for growth Sound counterintuitive? Manfred Bauer from SEFA will explain organisations can use debt as a means of growing your social enterprise activities. Not every opportunity for growth needs to come from grants or funding.
14. Understanding the problem you are addressing There are many ways to address social challenges. This workshop starts within exploring empathy and its application in practice with social impact practitioner Leanne Butterworth. The workshop then looks outwards to the systems, plans and structures that impact the problem. This section will be presented by Emma Broomfield of Locale Consulting who will assist you to look up, down and sideways to connect the dots.
15. Learning from the past, preparing for the future: Reflections on economic development in Aboriginal communities  Jo Kelly and Sue Seager from Learning the Macleay (a community-led collective impact and place-based initiative) will reflect on CDEP and it’s impact in the regions. Jo and Sue will work with the room to consider how the successes and failures of this program may influence future opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People across Australia.
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3:20pm
Afternoon Tea
Enjoy a cup of the good stuff and a light treat while you recoup and get ready to unwind and unpack in the break-out session which comes next.Â
3:40pm
Break-out Session 4
Did you ever attend a conference and forget everything you took in a few weeks after? Not this time. Social Impact in the Regions has allocated a timeslot for reflection, embedding learning and a bit of soul searching. You choose your methodology:
16. Guided conversation with Nicole Weber:Â Skilled facilitator Nicole Weber will take you on a journey to unpack your journey of the day assisting you to distill key points, draw out actions and give some critical thought to the things that are niggling you from your day of learning.
17. Art therapy with Marg Coutts Apply a creative process guided by Marg to unpack your learning of the day in a gentle, kind and creative way.
18. Philosopher’s Walk Join our philosopher’s walk process with a conference buddy who you’ll be paired with in the session (or a person of your choice). Gently walk through the grounds of Pacific Bay Resort following a set of questions and themes to guide you along the way.
4:30pm
Closing Ceremony
A short but powerful gathering to summarise and celebrate the learnings and vision of this conference and thank all our attendees and sponsors for their assistance in making this event happen.Â
5:15pm
Home/Quiet Time
Depending on your preference, this break is to allow attendees to relax, rejuvinate and get ready for the carnivale conference dinner which starts at 6:30pm.
(there will be private space for local people to get changed into their conference dinner outfits)
6:30pm
Conference Dinner 100s and 1000s party
Time to be wined, dined and allowed to unwind!
An evening of great food, entertainment and great company awaits as everyone gets a chance to mingle with new friends, acquaintances and potential business partners.
THEME ANNOUNCED:Â The theme of this year’s conference dinner is…
Hundreds and Thousands
Sprinkling the joy of connection, comedy and dance as we celebrate the hundreds and thousands we collectively impact in our regions. Dress in your most dazzling attire and prepare for an evening that will leave you with unforgettable memories of shared laughter, dance and vibrant connections.
Featuring Mastersonics
Day 3 - Friday, 8th September
10:00am - 1:00pm
Final Day
Your choice of one of the topics followed by delegates lunch.
LEANNE BUTTERWORTH, Empathy First | Theory of Change
What is a theory of change? How can this better enable your model for social impact?
Sefa TEAM | Growing your social enterpriseÂ
Join Manfred Bauer, Gabrielle King and Anna Robertson from Sefa (Social Enterprise Finance Australia) to go on a journey about growing your social enterprise using a range of finance tools. This masterclass is for existing entities who are looking for ways to grow and maintain their sustainability.
Click item below for more info:
Are you ready to amplify your social impact and become a driving force for positive change in our region? Whether you’re at the helm of a team or a sole operator, your leadership strengths are your compass to steering towards meaningful social change.
