Ann Harding Conference Centre, Building 24, University of Canberra,
University Drive South, Bruce ACT 2617
Program Draft
Last updated: 4 August 2014
This year, the ACT Council of Social Service Inc. convenes our biennial conference.
Our theme is 'Designing Social Change: Beyond Talk, Taking Action'.
We are partnering with the University of Canberra to bring together people working in
the community sector as staff, volunteers or board members, activists, researchers and
policy makers to share their experiences and hear from one-another about how we can
better design infrastructure, services, advocacy campaigns, research and public policy
so they deliver positive social change.
Major Sponsor:
Other Valued Sponsors:
Program Draft
Last updated: 4 August 2014
Please note this is a draft program and is subject to change prior to the conference.
Pre-conference Event: Wednesday 6 August 2014
3.15pm5.00pm
NATSEM Annual Public Lecture:
Measuring the Progress of a Nation Beyond the Economic
The National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling (NATSEM) at the Institute for
Governance and Policy Analysis (IGPA) invites you to attend the second NATSEM Lecture series
with special guest Tim Costello, CEO of World Vision Australia.
This annual lecture series has been designed to facilitate critical discussion on important social
issues facing all Australians. In this year’s lecture, the issue of measuring progress beyond
economic progress (GDP) will be raised. Tim Costello will argue that there is life beyond
economic growth, and that we should gauge the progress of a nation using a combination of
economic, social and environmental indicators.
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Guest Speaker: Tim Costello, CEO of World Vision Australia
3.30pm – 4pm: Networking
4pm – 5pm: Lecture
Cost: Free
RSVP for free lecture: seminars@natsem.canberra.edu.au
Download the flyer: http://www.actcoss.org.au/flyer/conference2014/natsem-lecture-timcostello-6aug2014.pdf
Day 1: Thursday 7 August 2014
8.30am
Registration
9.00am
Welcome, including Welcome to Country
 Aunty Agnes Shea, Ngunnawal Elder
 Jenny Kitchin, President of the ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS)
 The Hon Andrew Leigh MP
9.20am
Panel Discussion: Community, Civil Society and Social Change
This year Australia is hosting the C20, a civil society forum that mirrors the G20 which focuses
on economic growth and cooperation. This role has prompted discussion about the definition
and role of civil society, now and into the future.
In this panel we have invited speakers to share their views on the following questions: What do
we mean by the term ‘community’? How do we build a strong community? Is community
different from civil society? What is the role of community in social change?
 Facilitator: Chris Kimball, ABC News
Speakers:
 Dr Cassandra Goldie, Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS)
 Sue Salthouse, Women With Disabilities ACT (WWDACT)
 Professor Robert Tanton, National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling (NATSEM),
University of Canberra
 Emeritus Professor Bob Douglas, Australia21 and SEE-Change
 Rod Little, ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body
10.50am
Morning Tea
11.10am
Co-Design Forum: What I know about Co-Design
‘Co-design’ is a buzz word in the ACT community sector and is being used in ACT Government
human service reform processes. This session provides different perspectives on what codesign is, what knowledge underpins co-design processes and where co-design has been put
into practice.
 Facilitator: Professor Mark Evans, Australia and New Zealand School of Government
(ANZSOG)
Speakers:
 Cate Shaw, ThinkPlace
 Ryan Hubbard, The Australian Centre for Social Innovation (TACSI)
 Dr John Butcher, Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG)
12.10pm
Lunch
1.00pm
Plenary Session: From Consultation to Co-Design in Comprehensive
Needs Assessments
Launch of Medicare Local Comprehensive Needs Assessment
Facilitated discussion on moving from consultation to co-design in undertaking future
Comprehensive Needs Assessments
 Facilitator: Ryan Hubbard, The Australian Centre for Social Innovation (TACSI)
ACT Medicare Local speakers:
 Leanne Wells, Chief Executive Officer
 Melissa Hobbs, Manager, Population Health
 Angelene True, Manager and Special Adviser, Service Development
2.45pm
Launch: Australian Government Digital Business Kit
Digital Business Kits are designed to address industry-specific gaps in digital knowledge and
support small to medium enterprises and not-for-profit organisations use innovative digital
platforms to engage with clients, market products and services, and enhance business
processes. Ten peak industry associations each received funding from the Department of
Communications to develop the kits.
The Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) has been working with Infoxchange to
develop Digital Business Kits specifically developed for the community sector.
Join us as we launch our first seven business kits, hosted on www.improveit.org, the website
designed as the IT hub for community sector organisations.
 MC: Rebecca Vassarotti, Australian Council of Social Service
Speaker:
 Marcus Harvey, Infoxchange
Special guest to launch the kits:
 Senator Zed Seselja
3.00pm
Afternoon Tea
3.15pm5.00pm
Design Workshops (concurrent)
Design Case Study:
Rebuilding the
Narrabundah Longstay
Park (NLP) - 2007 to 2014
Speakers:
 Peter Sutherland, Visiting
Fellow, ANU College of
Law and Legal Advisor to
the NLP Residents'
Committee (Chair)
 Peter Ellis, NLP
Residents' Committee
 Andrew Roylance,
Community Services
Directorate
 Leigh Watson, ACT
Shelter
 Sandy Westlin, NLP
Residents' Committee
 Lynette Marsh,
Environment and
Sustainable Development
Directorate
Designing Digital
Platforms: Developing an
IT plan and making the
most of high speed
broadband
 Facilitator: Rebecca
Vassarotti, Australian
Council of Social Service
Speakers:
 Marcus Harvey,
Infoxchange
Designing organisational
change processes that
enhance effectiveness and
sustain core purposes
 Facilitator: Wendy
Prowse, ACTCOSS
Speakers:
 Andrew Sykes, RSM Bird
Cameron
 Hugh Chalmers, Meyer
Vandenberg Lawyers
Do you have the right
governance and financial
management practices in
place to achieve and stay
aligned to your organisation’s
core purpose? Do you have
the right mix of skills,
experience and qualifications
required to operate efficiently
and instigate a culture of
change and adaptability?
This session will explore
issues and highlight
opportunities not-for-profit
organisations may face when
considering these questions.
Evening Program: Thursday 7 August 2014
5.30pm7.30pm
ACT Community Sector Awards & Networking Event
You are invited to the ACT Community Sector Awards and Networking Event. With renowned
social justice campaigner Dr Tom Calma AO as guest speaker, the presentation of seven
community awards, and a unique demonstration of the skills and vibrancy of the Canberra
community, this free event is one not to miss!
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Guest Speaker & Presenter: Dr Tom Calma AO, Chancellor, University of Canberra
Food: Canapés and drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic)
Cost: Free
RSVP for free Awards/Networking Event by 5pm 31 July 2014:
http://act-community-sector-awards-2014.eventbrite.com.au/
Major Sponsor: RSM Bird Cameron
Day 2: Friday 8 August 2014
8.30am
Registration
9.00am
Welcome to Day 2
9.20am
Panel & Reflections: Measuring Social Change
The need to measure social change is more important than ever. We live in a time of seemingly
constant reform and ever increasing expectations that we can do better with shrinking
resources. So what should we measure and how can we measure it?
This panel will include speakers who have been part of public policy debates on this issue, have
explored how information can be used, organised, provided and monitored regularly and have
considered what should be done when existing data doesn’t answer critical questions.
Speakers:
 Professor Mike Salvaris, Australian National Development Index (ANDI) and Deakin
University:
Measuring the kind of Australia we want
 Lyla Rogan, Consultant in Organisation Development for Social Change:
Measuring social change in ways that support accountability to service users and
communities
Reflective panel:
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Andrew Barr MLA, Deputy Chief Minister and Treasurer
Brendan Smyth MLA, Shadow Treasurer
Kim Sattler, Unions ACT
Sam Wong, Canberra Multicultural Community Forum
Katrina Fanning, Aboriginal Hostels Limited (AHL)
10.50am
Morning Tea
11.20am
Ideas Exchange Session A (concurrent)
Designing Better Systems
Redesigning Finances and the Market
Speakers:
Speakers:
 Simon Rosenberg and Mark Bartlett, ACT
Corrections Throughcare Program:
Developing Corrections Throughcare in
the ACT: High-risk co-design
 Justin Barrie & Mel Edwards, Design
Managers Australia:
Creating meaningful action through the
design of better systems
 Melanie Walker, Public Health Association
of Australia:
Establishment of the National Complex
Needs Alliance
 Stina Kerans, Integrated EcoVillages:
Social Sustainability – The 3 Principles
 Sally Cowling, UnitingCare Children,
Young People and Families:
Developing Australia’s first Social Benefit
Bond: The UnitingCare experience
 Peter Quarmby, Community21:
The power of crowd to democratize the
economy
 Greg Mahony, University of Canberra:
Practical issues of choice under the
National Disability Insurance Scheme
 Professor Sanford Schram, City University
of New York (via Skype):
The appeal and limitations of Social
Impact Bonds
12.45pm
Lunch
1.45pm
RECOGNISE Campaign Activation
RECOGNISE is the people’s movement to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
peoples in our Constitution. Tens of thousands of Australians from all walks of life have already
declared their support to recognise the first Australians in our founding document.
We want to see fairness and respect at the heart of our Constitution, and to remove
discrimination from it. Our goal is a more united nation. This is a chance for Australia to
acknowledge the first chapter of our national story, and to forge our future together – after so
many chapters apart.
This conference session is an opportunity for participants to hear about and join the
RECOGNISE campaign. Find out more about RECOGNISE: www.recognise.org.au
Speakers:
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Dr Chris Bourke MLA
Misha Schubert, RECOGNISE Campaign
Rod Little, ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body
Shane Rattenbury MLA, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs
2.45pm
Afternoon Tea
3.20pm
Ideas Exchange Session B (concurrent)
Creating and Using Data that Shapes
Social Change
Speakers:
 Bindi Kindermann, Australian Bureau of
Statistics:
Enhancing the evidence base available
from the Census to inform social and
economic policy and change
 Riyana Miranti, National Centre for Social
and Economic Modelling (NATSEM),
University of Canberra:
How do we use various database as a tool
for better targeting? Lessons learned from
Child and Youth Social Exclusion Index in
Australia
4.20pm
Closing Address
4.30pm
Close
Designing Advocacy Campaigns
Speakers:
 Caterina Giorgi, Foundation for Alcohol
Research and Education (FARE):
Campaigning for considered policy over
knee jerk reactions to prevent alcohol
violence
 Jodie Pipkorn, SEE-Change:
Taking community action to the next level
 Bill Bush, Families and Friends for Drug
Law Reform:
Drug Law Reform – Pushing uphill for 20
years
Keep up to date at the conference web page:
http://www.actcoss.org.au/secdevel/conference2014.html
Registration Details
Conference Registration Costs
1 Day Only
2 Days
ACTCOSS Members
$160
$320
UC staff/UC students
$160
$320
General
$180
$360
Register online through Eventbrite by 5pm, 31 July 2014:
http://designing-social-change-2014.eventbrite.com.au
Alternatively, please email conference@actcoss.org.au with your contact and invoicing
details, any access or dietary requirements, and the day(s) you will attend. We will
register you and send you an invoice.
FREE: NATSEM Annual Public Lecture: Measuring the Progress of a Nation Beyond
the Economic – 6 August 2014
RSVP: seminars@natsem.canberra.edu.au
FREE: ACT Community Sector Awards & Networking Event – 7 August 2014
RSVP through Eventbrite by 5pm, 31 July 2014:
http://act-community-sector-awards-2014.eventbrite.com.au/
Alternatively, please email conference@actcoss.org.au with your contact details and
any access or dietary requirements.
Sponsored Registrations: We are providing a number of sponsored conference
registrations. If you would like to apply for a sponsored place, please contact
conference@actcoss.org.au by 21 July 2014.
Refund Policy: Conference cancellations received on or before Wednesday 30 July
2014 will be accepted, however no refunds will be granted after Wednesday 30 July
2014. The registration fee will be refunded less a 5% administration fee and all refunds
will be remitted after the conference. Substitute participants welcome at no extra charge.
You will need to inform us of your substitute participant's name for registration purposes.
Venue Details
Location
Address: Ann Harding Conference Centre, Building 24, University of Canberra,
University Drive South, Bruce ACT 2617
Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/l9TC7
Campus Map (see building 24 for Ann Harding Conference Centre):
http://www.canberra.edu.au/maps/campus-map
Parking
Campus Parking Map (see the orange ‘e-Permit and casual’ areas):
http://www.canberra.edu.au/maps/car-parks
Accessible Parking & Entrances Map: http://www.canberra.edu.au/maps/disabilities
Parking Fees: http://www.canberra.edu.au/estate-management/parking/parkingfees/casual-parking-rates
Please note: The University of Canberra DOES NOT accept cash payments for
parking. All payments are with credit card at pay stations. Please see the above link for
more details about parking and payment methods.
Pick-up & Drop-off: There is a grace period in all of the 'e-Permit and casual' car
parks. Take a ticket on entry and as you exit, enter the ticket into the machine at the
boom gate. If you don't exceed the time limit (20 minutes), you will not be charged.
Buses
There is a bus stop on College Street, about a two minute walk directly south of the
Ann Harding Conference Centre.
Buses to the University of Canberra:
http://www.action.act.gov.au/timetables_and_maps/transport_access_guides
ACT Council of Social Service Inc. | Weston Community Hub, 1/6 Gritten St, Weston ACT 2611
Ph: 02 6202 7200 | Fax: 02 6288 0070 | actcoss@actcoss.org.au | www.actcoss.org.au
ACTCOSS is committed to reconciliation, acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land and pays respect to elders
past and present.