This year I became an empty nester. Well, for four teary months anyway. The short version is this… By design the Ready Communities program and our national conference, Social Impact in the Regions is based in a different community each year. While the first two years were practically in my backyard: Coffs Harbour and Kempsey […]
What I learned about building community from the lady downstairs Read More
Know that feeling when you find a model that describes your practice? I recently had this experience when I stumbled upon ‘Harmonic Principles’ designed by IA Interior Architects (shared below). For some time now I’ve known my approach to designing events is not your bog standard practice – initially I thought it was just about
How producing a conference on my own dime changed my thoughts on speaker payments (and my behaviour as a speaker) Producing conferences and events is not a new thing for me, in fact, I pulled together my first band night which attracted several hundred people at the age of 18. Through the years I’ve been
Every week I meet people who are uncomfortable with something in their community. Most will do nothing about it (except whinge), some will get started and dip out when it gets too hard and others I watch in great delight as inch by inch, step by step they forge a pathway forward drowning out the
Do you really want to create change? Embrace what makes you potent. Read More
Of the 789,645 businesses based in regional Australia a whopping 97% are considered small, that is employing 0-19 people (ABS, 2023). When someone decides to establish a business in a regional area they do so knowing (or just about to find out) they will face a range of challenges that will at some point impact
The role of local procurement in building regional capability Read More
This time, a year ago I was preparing to hand over my regional leadership role, a role I’d held for seven years and could have easily continued for seven more. But I knew the time had come for change and, approaching my 50th birthday I also knew it was time to dig deeper into the
If you really want to create social change – do something Read More
Aunty Jo-Anne Kelly often speaks about weaving together elements of community to create change. Led by the people elements, drawing the strategies, programs and resources in place to create something lasting and reverent is what she aspires to, and works steadily towards every day. Weaving community may start with an engagement activity, or a consultation
Weaving community connection Read More
As I celebrate my 20th year in business #evolveis20 I’ve also dedicated some time to reflect on what it’s been like to live and work ‘in place’ (in the Mid North Coast of NSW) for two whole decades. The ‘work’ I’m referring to has lots of names from community and economic-development, regional development to place-based
Reflecting on 20 years in place: Where to begin? Read More
I first learned the term ‘social enterprise’ around 2009 when I was managing an Aboriginal Corporation and my funding partner had told me we had 24 months to make the entity sustainable. The entity was essentially a community centre i.e. an entity established to support the community and act as a conduit to valuable services
Why it’s time to invest in rural social enterprise eco-systems Read More
Of course there are some shining examples of thriving #mainstreets throughout regional Australia (#highlight them for me if you will in the comments), however, many of the regional town I visit are really struggling. Why? As Ready Communities co-founder Chad Renando and I have discovered as we’ve spent time in our pilot community, Kempsey NSW
Reimagining the role of our main streets. Commerce or connection? Read More