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– Program –

Monday 17 October

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8:45am - 9:30am

Conference Registration

Doors open for check-in (Sydney in-person attendees). The entrance to AYTP is located midway down Pier 2/3, Dawes Point. The Rebel Theatre and conference spaces are on Level 1 and are accessible by both stairs and lift.

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9:30am - 9:40am
Welcome to Country
Uncle Allen Madden – Gadigal Elder, Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council
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9:40am - 9:45am

Conference Welcome

Our Voice, Our Vision, Our Values: Evolving Our Sector
Joanna Quilty – CEO, NCOSS
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9:45am - 10:10am
VISION: Keynote Address
From Little Things: The Power of Community in Times Like These

Catherine McGowan AO – Independent Member of the Australian House of Representatives, 2013-2019

Presentation Description

Meaningful change takes place at grassroots level. This was exemplified when the community of Indi, VIC mobilised a grassroots election campaign in 2013, and against all odds, claimed victory. ‘The Indi Way’ has since been at the heart of Cathy’s work. In this session, Cathy offers practical examples of local communities working together to resolve issues, and to turn a collective vision into reality.

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10:10am - 10:25am
Questions for Cathy
Facilitated by MC, Dee Madigan
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10:25am - 11:20am
VISION: Panel Discussion
Advancing a Fairer Australia
Facilitator: Dee Madigan
Panellists:
  • Cathy McGowan AO
  • Mariam Veiszadeh – CEO, Media Diversity Australia
  • Sally AurischCEO, Blind Citizens Australia
  • Tu Le – Community Development Manager, Marrickville Legal Centre
  • Dr Paul Gray – Associate Professor, Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education & Research, University of Technology Sydney
  • Karlie Stewart – Lecturer, School of Social Work, University of Wollongong/Program Manager, Aboriginal Healing Program, Weave Youth and Community Services
Open forum – facilitated by Dee Madigan
Panel Description

How do we increase diversity and representation in our institutions to create a fairer Australia?

The panel will explore ways to create and advocate for greater diversity of representation in politics. How do we make this happen for our sector, as well as the institutions that influence people’s lives?

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11:20am - 11:40am
Morning Tea
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11:40am - 12:45pm
Addressing the Economic and Social Costs of the Pandemic and Natural Disasters

Dr Angela Jackson – Lead Economist, Impact Economics and Policy

Presentation Description

Based on the best available data, we know that that our communities will face new social and economic challenges because of the longer-term impact of the pandemic. Aftershock: Addressing the Economic and Social Costs of the Pandemic and Natural Disasters, is a recent report series prepared by Impact Economics and Policy for NCOSS and a coalition of peak bodies. It explores the impacts of the pandemic and natural disasters across several key domains of wellbeing: domestic violence, mental health, child welfare and development, and housing security.

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Panel Discussion with peak bodies

Facilitator: Dr Dee Madigan

Panellists:
  • John Engeler – CEO, Shelter NSW
  • Kim Stace – Sector Engagement Manager, Fams
  • Kate Munro – CEO, Youth Action
  • Can Yasmut – Executive Officer, Local Community Services Association
  • Giancarlo de Vera – Senior Manager of Policy, People with Disability Australia
  • Michelle Rogers – Programs Manager, Ngunya Jarjum Aboriginal Child and Family Network
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12:45pm - 1:45pm
Lunch and networking
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1:45pm - 2:00pm

Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP) and NCOSS-ATYP scholarship announcement

Joanna Quilty with Johanna Mulholland, ATYP Director, Strategic Initiatives

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2:00pm - 3:00pm
Vision & Voice
Listening to Local Voices and Doing What it Takes to Support Our Communities
Naomi Moran – Chair, First Nations Media Australia & General Manager, Koori Mail
Presentation Description

In the aftermath of the Lismore-Bundjalung Country flooding this year, the team at the Koori Mail stepped in to support the community when government agencies could not. Naomi says that “Indigenous people and communities have always been capable of self-determining what care for our people looks like during a crisis”. In this keynote address, Naomi will speak about listening to local voices and local knowledge, collaboration, resilience, and self-determination.

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Panel Discussion

Facilitator: Dee Madigan

Panellists:
  • Rosanna Barbero – CEO, Addison Road Community Centre
  • Pauline Cook – CEO, Monaro Family Support Service
  • Liz Mackinlay – CEO, Australian Business Volunteers
  • Naomi Moran – Chair, First Nations Media Australia & General Manager, Koori Mai
Panel Description

When systems buckle under enormous stress, time and again we have seen communities rise when institutions flounder . In this session, we learn from a candid conversation between Dee and a panel of brilliant thinkers and ‘doers’ on just what it takes to gain traction and respond with communities, in communities before, during and after crisis hits.

Sector organisations impacted by the Black Summer Bushfires, major flood events and COVID-19 will share stories and reflections on what works, what doesn’t and what we need to do next.

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3:00pm - 3:20pm
Afternoon tea
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3:20pm - 3:50pm
Value
Organisational and Sector Sustainability
Presentation Description

A core focus of the Social Sector Transformation Fund (SSTF), and the work that organisations have done in the last two years, has focussed on organisational sustainability.

What do we know now about our sustainability? What do we need to do next, and how can we organise to embed sustainability throughout the sector, its funding, and the way we deliver services? This session will explore what sustainability looks like for the sector, what we’ve learned about sustainability through the SSTF and what needs to happen to support organisations and our sector to be stable, strong and thriving into the future.

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Facilitator: Karen Bevan

Panellists:
  • Gloria Larman – CEO, Women’s Justice Network
  • Zac Carter  – Executive Officer, Manning Valley Indigenous Community Support Service
  • Katrina Ironside – Executive Director, Community Legal Centres NSW
  • John Robertson – CEO, Foodbank NSW and Chair, NCOSS
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3:50pm - 4:30pm

Audience Engagement Session

Increased Demand and Responding to the Social and Economic Challenges Facing Our Community

What bold actions are needed:

  • From organisations
  • From the sector as a whole
  • From government

To build a fairer, more inclusive NSW, and a sustainable, fit-for-purpose social services sector?

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4:30pm - 5:00pm
Closing Remarks
John Robertson –  CEO, Foodbank NSW and Chair, NCOSS
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6:00pm - 10:00pm
Pre-Dinner Drinks & Conference Dinner
MC & Host: Writer and comedian Jennifer Wong
The Theatre Bar at the End of the Wharf, Wharf 4/5, 15 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay
Join us for a shared 3 course dinner, drinks, entertainment & dancing!

Tuesday 18 October

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9:00am - 9.15am

Conference Registration

Doors open for check-in (Sydney in-person attendees)

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9:15am - 10:30am
VALUE: Keynote Address
Changing the Narrative – The Social Services Sector and Women’s Contribution
Richard Denniss – Chief Economist and former Executive Director, The Australia Institute
Presentation Description

Richard Denniss is known for his ability to translate economic gobbledygook into everyday language and has spoken with clarity about women’s economic security in the past. For this session, Richard crunches the numbers, and makes a candid case for changing the current economic narrative. Afterwards, Richard will be joined by a panel of sector representatives and experts, who will venture into the all-important question of- what society do we want to live in and how do pay for it?

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Panel Discussion

Addressing Workforce Challenges and Positioning Our Sector for the Future
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Panellists:
  • Esta Paschalidis-Chilas – CEO, Canterbury City Community Centre  
  • Kristy Masella – Managing Director, Aboriginal Employment Strategy
  • Micaela Cronin – CEO, Workforce Innovation and Development Institute
  • Robert Stirling – CEO, Network on Alcohol and other Drugs
Panel Description

Building on insights from Richard Denniss, a panel of sector thinkers will examine the workforce recruitment, retention and support challenges that we are confronting; identify the state and federal policy settings that will support our sector’s growth; and help us think through what organisations need to do to make their workplaces fit for purpose for the future.

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10:30am - 10:50am
Morning Tea
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10:50am - 11:10am
Interactive Session 
  • What are the challenges and opportunities for our sector workforce?
  • What do we need to do to attract, retain, sustain and get the best out of our workforce?

Sector Reflection:

  • What can we as an organisation do?
  • What can the sector, including peaks, do?
  • What do we need from government?
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11:10am - 12:00pm
VALUE
Collaboration, Simplification, Integration: Learnings from the Social Sector Transformation Fund (SSTF)
Panel Description

In November 2020, the NSW Government rolled out the $50 million Social Sector Transformation Fund (SSTF) program, primarily in response to COVID-19. It acknowledged  that the sector was hit hard by the pandemic, with surges in demand and increased costs.  The SSTF has provided a unique insight into our sector and how we are faring with a wide range of services and supports. In this session, a panel of SSTF support providers will share stories and case studies and some strategic lessons from their work with the sector.

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Facilitator: Dee Madigan

Panellists:
  • John Byrne – Project Manager SSTF, AbSec
  • Linda Watson – Director Learning & Development, Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies
  • Marcus Harvey – Manager Digital Transformation Hub, InfoXchange
  • Geraldine Menere – Head of Not-for-Profit Law, Justice Connect
  • Joanna Quilty – CEO, NCOSS
  • Renee Martin – Head of Engagement, Sefa
  • Jessica Ngui – Acting Head of Advisory Services & Program Manager, Social Impact Hub
  • Stephen Chanphakeo – Director of Strategy, Policy and Commissioning, NSW Communities and Justice
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12:00pm - 12:50pm
Lunch and networking
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12:50pm - 1:30pm
Technology Transformation and Sustainability
Panel Description

Technology has been a game changer for our sector during COVID-19, but still presents a challenge for organisations in terms of investment, development and sustainability. Meanwhile, the digital divide still means that when services go online, many vulnerable communities miss out. What have we learned from implementing the SSTF technology projects, and where can we go next? This panel will explore the possibilities for building on what we have learned through the SSTF investment and our experience during the pandemic.

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Facilitator: Dee Madigan

Panellists:
  • Matthew Keeley – Director, Youth Law Australia
  • El Gibbs – Award-winning writer and disability advocate
  • Nadene Lee CEO, Playgroup NSW
  • Marcus Harvey – Manager Digital Transformation Hub, InfoXchange
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1:30pm - 2:00pm
Reimagining our Sector: Developing an Agenda for Action

Dee Madigan and Joanna Quilty with audience participation

What’s next for our sector?

Together, we will design an action plan to build on the learning from the SSTF and our sector’s response to COVID, natural disaster, emergencies and the growing demand for our services.
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2:00pm - 2:10pm

Introducing Playback Theatre and the afternoon session

Dee Madigan

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2:10pm - 3:30pm
In Closing
 
Playing Back Our Stories

Playback Theatre Sydney
Using the rich tradition of authentic storytelling and improvisational theatre, Playback Theatre Sydney will lead us into articulating some compelling thoughts or ideas that may have taken root in the past two days. By spontaneously (and sometimes hilariously) ‘playing back’ stories to each other, we delve into the art of candid communication and connect more genuinely with one another.

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3:30pm - 4:00pm
Closing Remarks
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4:00pm - Close of Conference

This conference is hosted by the NSW Council of Social Service (NCOSS) and is supported by funding from the NSW government under the Social Sector Transformation Fund (SSTF) 2021-2022 grant program. NCOSS also gratefully acknowledges the support of HESTA Super Fund.