#SIITR25 program

Who, where, what and when (2025)

Each of the three conference days incorporate a variety of opportunities to learn, connect and reflect on social impact in your own regional community. Our 2025 conference program is inspired by the Nirvana song “come as you are”.  The program themes are listed below:

Day 1: Come as you are

Is your regional community ready for what’s next? Are you? Benchmark your individual and collective readiness through plenaries, workshops, and Impact Labs exploring the five Readiness Indicators; Clarity, Capacity, Connection, Collaboration, and Advocacy.

Day 2: As you were

Wellbeing in regional communities often takes a back seat. Today we explore it from every angle: personal, cultural, financial, and systemic, grounded in Connection and Collaboration.

Day 3: As you want to be

Time to turn insight into action. Build a practical plan using the Readiness Indicators to guide your next steps. Connect with allies, investors, and ideas that will carry you forward.

Day 1 - Wednesday, 3rd September

Registration from 8am conference will commence at 9am sharp

08:45
Welcome to Country
Welcome to the Clarence Valley
Official opening
09:40
Why place matters
PANEL CONVERSATION

Join our panel for a robust conversation on PLACE and learn how current trends in this practice are relevant to your regional community.

Morning Tea
10:40​
The state of readiness - what our communities need now
PANEL CONVERSATION

Is your community ready for change? Are you? Consider the notion of readiness and apply this thinking at a micro and macro level as you think through what it could mean to you.

11:50
The state of readiness - what our communities need now
WORKSHOP: Demystifying the Impact Economy with Elise Parups

With $7 trillion in funds under management in Australia—but less than 3% of GDP going to impact investing—how are we using our capital to drive real change? Join Elise Parups for a one-hour sprint to unpack everything from philanthropy to impact-aligned capital with commercial returns and everything in-between. Demystify the jargon, identify networks and powerful influencers that shift capital for good and unlock your enterprise’s potential. In this workshop, you will explore options to uncover what kind of capital your venture needs, and how to navigate the financial ecosystem it at the right stage, at the right phase, for the right impact.

12:50
Break for Lunch - experience a range of local produce, get involved in the cooking process and hear from a wellness coach.
14:30
Impact labs

Hear from a range of host community (Grafton) practitioners and work through a facilitated process to explore real-life opportunities in the selected impact area.

Align this learning to your community.

Social enterprise development

Facilitated conversation on establishing a social enterprise in a regional community.

More Info

Main Street Activation

Learn about the South Grafton community and consider how you might activate your main streets.

More Info

Food

What do our local food systems look like? Is there more we can do to support local farmers? How can we create more opportunities to eat local produce?

More Info

Impact investment: Housing

This conversation will be facilitated by Jesse Taylor. Significant opportunities are brought about by public/private investment. Hear about how this could work in Grafton.

More Info

Youth Futures

Description TBC

More Info
16:00
Afternoon tea
16:30
SIITR National Pitchfest

The SIITR National Pitchfest is a popular feature of the annual SIITR event schedule.

Join our panel, 2023 winner Amanda Di Medici and our pitch-ees for this exciting event supported by StartSomeGood.

18:00
Welcome event
Hosted at the Grafton Cathedral

Join us for canapes and a cool drink, network with colleagues and unpack day one.

Day 1

Day 2 - Thursday, 4th September

Registration from 8am conference will commence at 9am sharp

09:00
Welcome to Day 2
Welcome to Day 2
Panel
PANEL: The work of healing

Holding ourselves and our communities. The role of healing in community work.

10:10
Morning Tea
11:00
Breakout Sessions (Round 1)
Learn from others who are working and investing in regional communities.

Developing Community Capital

Speaker: Meaghan Burkett - Ethical Fields

More Info

Navigating Systems

Speaker: Ryan Martin – Centre for Policy Development

More Info

Inclusive place-based design

Speakers: Coming soon...

More Info

Data decision making

Speaker: Teresa Bullock-Smith – REMPLAN

More Info

Podcasting for Impact – Telling Regional Stories with Purpose

Speaker: Liz Keen

More Info
12:30
Break for Lunch
13:45
Breakout Sessions (Round 2)
Learn from others who are working and investing in regional communities.

Impact Investment

Speakers: Coming soon

More Info

Authentic Youth-leadership opportunities in everyday community practice

Speakers: Coming soon

More Info

Using Artificial Intelligence to support your capacity to create local change

Speakers: Coming soon

More Info

Employment generating social enterprise

Speakers: Coming soon

More Info

Impact measurement

Speakers: Coming soon

More Info
15:00-1630
Interconnectedness
The interconnectivity of things

A fun activity helping us to consider how our ecosystems connect, what might be missing, the strength of our connections and all that lies between.

18:00
Conference Gala Dinner - The Hero's Journey, Unleash your Superpowers

Our 2025 dinner theme was chosen by last year’s best dressed Aunty Vicki Taylor. YOUR SUPERPOWERS.

You’ve carried communities. Held the line. Shown up when it mattered most. Now, it’s your turn. The Hero’s Journey: Unleash Your Superpowers is your invitation to step out of the everyday and into the extraordinary — for one unforgettable night of colour, courage, and connection. Come dressed as your superhero self. This is not optional — it’s part of the spell. Who will you be when you stop hiding your power? What happens when hundreds of heroes gather in one place, ready to remember who they are? Join us. Let go. Power up. And prepare for a night like no other.

22:30
Home time
Day 2

Day 3 - Friday, 5th September

Registration from 830am, conference will commence at 910am sharp

09:10
Welcome
Welcome to Day 3
Kerry Grace, Ready Communities
How do you want your community to be? Exploring readiness.
Activity 1: Clarity and Understanding
Activity 2: Connection and connectivity
Activity 3: Capability and capacity
Activity 4: Collaboration for purpose
Activity 5: Advocacy and promotion
10:30
Morning Tea

ACTION PLAN
Unpack your conference learning and create a plan to take back to your community.

12:30
Closing ceremony and lunch to go (optional additional networking follows)
Day 3

Our 2025
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We acknowledge and pay our respects to the Traditional Custodians and Elders past and present.

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