Communities in Control

Disability rights activist and lawyer Fiona Smith presented at the 2005 Communities in Control Conference

“It took a pandemic for our State and Federal governments to admit that the JobSeeker payments weren’t enough to live off, that homelessness needed to be (and could be) tackled, and that the level of insecure work in this country is hitting crisis point. Despite this, every solution has focused on the short-term, with an expectation that everything will just go back to normal once the pandemic ends. But we don’t want to return to normal, we want change. Now is the time to have our voices heard. Now is the time to force our governments to do what i...

“It took a pandemic for our State and Federal governments to admit that the JobSeeker payments weren’t enough to live off, that homelessness needed to be (and could be) tackled, and that the level of insecure work in this country is hitting crisis point. Despite this, every solution has focused on the short-term, with an expectation that everything will just go back to normal once the pandemic ends. But we don’t want to return to normal, we want change. Now is the time to have our voices heard. Now is the time to force our governments to do what is right."

“You don’t wake up and find a Utopia fully realised and perfectly formed. It happens a little bit at a time, unevenly, erratically, but if we know how to look, we can see glimpses of it emerging all the time, everywhere. Utopia doesn’t happen by accident. It must be nudged into shape through the hard work of many people and the many institutions that make up our society. What can we do to help? In this keynote speech, Jess Scully will discuss how we can harness technology and imagination to reshape the world to build a fairer and more s...

“You don’t wake up and find a Utopia fully realised and perfectly formed. It happens a little bit at a time, unevenly, erratically, but if we know how to look, we can see glimpses of it emerging all the time, everywhere. Utopia doesn’t happen by accident. It must be nudged into shape through the hard work of many people and the many institutions that make up our society. What can we do to help? In this keynote speech, Jess Scully will discuss how we can harness technology and imagination to reshape the world to build a fairer and more sustainable future."

“If you take a look around the globe, you will find some remarkable success stories. Denmark will reach 100 per cent renewable electricity by 2030. Iceland has topped gender equality rankings for a decade and counting. Singaporean students beat almost all others in maths and reading. South Koreans will soon live longer than anyone else on Earth. What can we learn from these successes? And how can we apply these lessons at home to help shape a better future in our communities?"

“If you take a look around the globe, you will find some remarkable success stories. Denmark will reach 100 per cent renewable electricity by 2030. Iceland has topped gender equality rankings for a decade and counting. Singaporean students beat almost all others in maths and reading. South Koreans will soon live longer than anyone else on Earth. What can we learn from these successes? And how can we apply these lessons at home to help shape a better future in our communities?"

“Play is not just fun and games. Our deep drive to play has shaped our cultures and our philosophies, our working lives, and our civilizations since we first started playing. No part of human history is untouched by the way we play. In this session, Daniel Teitelbaum will convince you that our drive to play is at the heart of how we make meaning, is essential to our self-expression, can be a guide to our values, and creates our communities. "

“Play is not just fun and games. Our deep drive to play has shaped our cultures and our philosophies, our working lives, and our civilizations since we first started playing. No part of human history is untouched by the way we play. In this session, Daniel Teitelbaum will convince you that our drive to play is at the heart of how we make meaning, is essential to our self-expression, can be a guide to our values, and creates our communities. "

“Whether by intention or accident, economic ideas and analysis often diminish society’s expectations of what can be achieved. Such failings are not inherent to economics per se, rather they are the result of outdated economics dominating analysis and public discussion. The problematic nature of economic analysis must stop and make way for better theory and concepts to help us re-imagine what our economy and society could look like."

“Whether by intention or accident, economic ideas and analysis often diminish society’s expectations of what can be achieved. Such failings are not inherent to economics per se, rather they are the result of outdated economics dominating analysis and public discussion. The problematic nature of economic analysis must stop and make way for better theory and concepts to help us re-imagine what our economy and society could look like."

“How do we make taxation fair for single-parent households? How do we ensure that planning decisions consider the different ways in which women use our communities? How can we ensure that glass ceiling is not a barrier to the corner office? How can we ensure that we do not forgo the talents women have to offer as leaders in politics? Ramona Vijeyarasa will demonstrate that we can help correct gender inequality, through the law, by courageously stepping away from neutrality and using the law to help transform decades of discrimination"

“How do we make taxation fair for single-parent households? How do we ensure that planning decisions consider the different ways in which women use our communities? How can we ensure that glass ceiling is not a barrier to the corner office? How can we ensure that we do not forgo the talents women have to offer as leaders in politics? Ramona Vijeyarasa will demonstrate that we can help correct gender inequality, through the law, by courageously stepping away from neutrality and using the law to help transform decades of discrimination"

“Revolutions never start at the top. If we dare to dream of a more loving country – a kinder, more compassionate, more cooperative, more respectful, more inclusive, more egalitarian, more harmonious, less cynical country – there’s only one way to start turning that dream into a reality: each of us must live as if this is already that country. And there is no better time to start the revolution than now, when so many are struggling from the effects of drought, floods, bushfires and the pandemic. "

“Revolutions never start at the top. If we dare to dream of a more loving country – a kinder, more compassionate, more cooperative, more respectful, more inclusive, more egalitarian, more harmonious, less cynical country – there’s only one way to start turning that dream into a reality: each of us must live as if this is already that country. And there is no better time to start the revolution than now, when so many are struggling from the effects of drought, floods, bushfires and the pandemic. "

“Community sector workers usually start with the best of intentions but are too often met by outdated systems and poorly conceived rules and laws that prevent them from achieving the best results. There is no denying the sector is in need of a serious shake-up, but what does reform on this scale look like?"

“Community sector workers usually start with the best of intentions but are too often met by outdated systems and poorly conceived rules and laws that prevent them from achieving the best results. There is no denying the sector is in need of a serious shake-up, but what does reform on this scale look like?"

“After a surprise election victory in May 2019, Scott Morrison thanked the ‘quiet Australians’ for sticking by his side. Since then, it appears that our government is hell-bent on making the entire population quiet. Journalists are being pressured by the Australian Federal Police to cooperate or feel the force. There’s been talk of outlawing group boycotts. Children finding their political voice are being told to go back to school. When New South Wales and Queensland were on fire we were told that now is not the time to talk. But the community sector won’t be quiet Australians. We will continue t...

“After a surprise election victory in May 2019, Scott Morrison thanked the ‘quiet Australians’ for sticking by his side. Since then, it appears that our government is hell-bent on making the entire population quiet. Journalists are being pressured by the Australian Federal Police to cooperate or feel the force. There’s been talk of outlawing group boycotts. Children finding their political voice are being told to go back to school. When New South Wales and Queensland were on fire we were told that now is not the time to talk. But the community sector won’t be quiet Australians. We will continue to talk, and our voice will be heard."

“Cities and towns should be built for the communities that will inhabit them. There is a trove of data on the demographics of any given town, but do we spend enough time consulting this data, and the people the data represents, to give us a better understanding of what the community needs? It’s time to put people back at the centre of our urban environments."

“Cities and towns should be built for the communities that will inhabit them. There is a trove of data on the demographics of any given town, but do we spend enough time consulting this data, and the people the data represents, to give us a better understanding of what the community needs? It’s time to put people back at the centre of our urban environments."

“In Australia, policy agendas come, tip everything upside down, and then they go, swept away by the next fad. New Zealand has garnered world attention for its ‘Wellbeing Budget’ but Australia had a wellbeing framework a decade ago. It was quietly scrapped a few years ago and no-one noticed the difference. It looks like New Zealand is heading down a similar path. What can we do to overcome this churn-and-burn cycle of policy building? How do we escape the path of business-as-usual?"

“In Australia, policy agendas come, tip everything upside down, and then they go, swept away by the next fad. New Zealand has garnered world attention for its ‘Wellbeing Budget’ but Australia had a wellbeing framework a decade ago. It was quietly scrapped a few years ago and no-one noticed the difference. It looks like New Zealand is heading down a similar path. What can we do to overcome this churn-and-burn cycle of policy building? How do we escape the path of business-as-usual?"

“We hear a lot about the rising divides in economic opportunities and wealth in Australia: between country and city, young and old and the top 1% and ‘everyone else’. What do we know about rising inequality in our communities and what can we do about it?"

“We hear a lot about the rising divides in economic opportunities and wealth in Australia: between country and city, young and old and the top 1% and ‘everyone else’. What do we know about rising inequality in our communities and what can we do about it?"

“The Social Progress Index is used to measure how well the environmental and social needs of citizens are being met. Currently, Australia ranks 12th in the world. That’s great, but what exactly does it mean? How do you measure social progress? What are we learning from the results?"

“The Social Progress Index is used to measure how well the environmental and social needs of citizens are being met. Currently, Australia ranks 12th in the world. That’s great, but what exactly does it mean? How do you measure social progress? What are we learning from the results?"

“When we hear the word ‘infrastructure’ most of us automatically think of roads, railways and bridges. But we all know that it takes much more than that to build a community. As a society, we need to shift the conversation to ensure that social infrastructure is brought into the mix. If we fail, what chance do we have at building stronger communities within Australia?"

“When we hear the word ‘infrastructure’ most of us automatically think of roads, railways and bridges. But we all know that it takes much more than that to build a community. As a society, we need to shift the conversation to ensure that social infrastructure is brought into the mix. If we fail, what chance do we have at building stronger communities within Australia?"

“Working in the community sector can often be emotionally draining. How do community workers balance their life with the long hours and stresses of the job without breaking down? How do you keep it together when tackling some of society’s darkest issues? What is required to remain in control? Hear one woman’s story of rising and falling and rising again."

“Working in the community sector can often be emotionally draining. How do community workers balance their life with the long hours and stresses of the job without breaking down? How do you keep it together when tackling some of society’s darkest issues? What is required to remain in control? Hear one woman’s story of rising and falling and rising again."

“We all know that climate change is damaging our natural environment, but what impact is it having on our communities? A future defined by climate change will bring new issues and obstacles that the community sector will need to face and overcome. We have to. There is no Planet B."

“We all know that climate change is damaging our natural environment, but what impact is it having on our communities? A future defined by climate change will bring new issues and obstacles that the community sector will need to face and overcome. We have to. There is no Planet B."

“The world is a scary place. Or so our media would have us believe. Who controls the narrative we see on our television screens, or read online or in the paper? Why does it feel everything is going wrong? Governing for a population of alert and alarmed voters is vastly different to governing for a population of informed and engaged citizens. What needs to change in the system to ensure we are all informed on government policy, and engaged in the decision-making processes?"

Here's a special compilation of highlights from the 2019 Communities in Control conference, recorded by conference convenors Our Community and produced for radio, and reproduced here with permission, by Community Radio Network. In this package, we'll hear from Mariam Veiszadeh and David Manne.

Here's a special compilation of highlights from the 2019 Communities in Control conference, recorded by conference convenors Our Community and produced for radio, and reproduced here with permission, by Community Radio Network. In this package, we'll hear from Father Rod Bower and Professor Lea Waters.

Here's a special compilation of highlights from the 2019 Communities in Control conference, recorded by conference convenors Our Community and produced for radio, and reproduced here with permission, by Community Radio Network. In this package, we'll hear from Tracey Spicer, Helen Milroy and Shane Howard.

Here's a special compilation of highlights from the 2019 Communities in Control conference, recorded by conference convenors Our Community and produced for radio, and reproduced here with permission, by Community Radio Network. In this package, we'll hear from Tracey Spicer, Helen Milroy and Shane Howard.

"Strengths are more than just something that you are good at. Strengths have three elements: high performance, high energy and high use. Strengths are something you do well, do often and do with energy. Professor Lea Waters' presentation will help you identify and amplify your true strengths so that you can use them to maximise your abilities and improve your community."

"What does a just society look like? Many of us could probably give our own answer to that question. But how do we go about creating one? Here is where things get a bit more difficult. Father Rod Bower discusses the barriers preventing us from achieving an inclusive and respectful community, and offers insight on how these can be overcome."

"Sometimes it's a question of momentum: how can an organisation hold onto all the best elements of its culture in the midst of rapid growth? Other times, it's a question of direction: how can we pivot our enterprise culture so that it's more aligned with our strategy? If you want your people to be on board as the champions of your organisational culture, then they need to understand the science behind what drives collective behaviour."

"People with the most privilege often don't admit or aren't even aware they have it. But the inability to recognise personal privilege has serious consequences, acting as a roadblock to diversity. Is there a solution that will make people recognise their privilege and level the playing field?"

"How can we improve as a society if we avoid taboo topics of discussion? How can we improve as a society if our default is denial and disbelief? The wicked issues of our time will never go away until we as a society face them head on and pledge to address them. It's time to make some noise."

"Who builds stronger communities? The community! Sometimes the best advice you can get is from your peers: someone who's been there, done that, and knows what works. In this session you'll hear from a hand-picked selection of innovative community leaders who will showcase their lessons in building stronger communities."

"Strengths are more than just something that you are good at. Strengths have three elements: high performance, high energy and high use. Strengths are something you do well, do often and do with energy. Professor Lea Waters' presentation will help you identify and amplify your true strengths so that you can use them to maximise your abilities and improve your community."

"How can we improve as a society if we avoid taboo topics of discussion? How can we improve as a society if our default is denial and disbelief? The wicked issues of our time will never go away until we as a society face them head on and pledge to address them. It's time to make some noise."

"People with the most privilege often don't admit or aren't even aware they have it. But the inability to recognise personal privilege has serious consequences, acting as a roadblock to diversity. Is there a solution that will make people recognise their privilege and level the playing field?"