Selection of presentations

>> Innovative engagement as social innovation – Mark Creyton (PDF, 539KB) Mark opens the Innovate Symposium by considering the context for thinking about new forms of engagement. He presents a set of ideas and methods to exploring different approaches to how we consider our work with and in communities.

>> A Tale of Two Icebergs – Jenny Cameron (PDF, 1.63MB) Jenny considers the links between climate change and our current approach to economics and paid work. She explores different elements of well-being at both a personal and planetary level. She looks at the work in community gardens as an example of alternative ways of working and being.

>> A guide to being creatively engaged – Tal Fitzpatrick (PDF, 1.5MB) Tal lists her eight rules for creative engagement followed by an exploration of different art projects used to engage, challenge and bring joy to communities.

>> Leadership by Design Workshop – Oksana Zelenko and Mark Creyton (PDF, 2.07MB) This workshop provided participants with the chance to re-conceptualise their practices in working with community leaders. A framework of participatory design (which emphasises agency, dialogue and reciprocity) is used to engage participants in this process of examining models of leadership.

>> Stories of impact. Personnal practice in transforming barriers. – Gendrie Klein-Breteler (PDF, 216KB) Gendrie shares stories of her work with Good Shepherd in working with and in communities. Inspiring stories of people and practices.

Editorial

The first Innovate Symposium was held 18+19 August, an initiative of Volunteering Qld and our partner Good Shepherd Australia and New Zealand . The aim of the symposium was to tackle some critical questions in the fields of engagement and community development. These included:

• How to engage and work with communities in creating social change
• Innovative practices and alternative discourses that explore the possibility of meaningfully engaging community
• New platforms for socially just and effective work through arts practice, community education and digital technologies.

The result was a tremendously exciting two days of creative ideas, new processes and moving stories. The symposium also allowed participants the opportunity to make new connections and networks.

There was an eclectic mix of people and approaches, but some common themes emerged during the two days, such as:

• We were reminded of the importance of using creativity and creative arts practices when working with communities. This may offer alternative ways of thinking, help overcome traditional forms of disconnection and barriers, and to simply provide joy and inspiration in people’s lives.
• The idea of working in the edge was central to many people’s practice; identifying that much of our work is with those in the margins, and that our work often challenges traditional ways of thinking and acting. There was a deal of debate around whether we continue to build, enhance and replicate new approaches in the edge or whether we focus our efforts on integrating these within, and challenge the core.
• New forms of media and new ways to share ideas and practices were explored with many new possibilities for collaboration. Collaborations could be between researchers and practitioners, artists and community development practitioners, or different organisations working together. Many will be using digital technologies both as communication and practice tools.
• The importance of values, narrative and place emerged as critical to our work. For many people, this was the highlight of the conference. We were all reminded of the importance of working locally, starting small, being smart and strategic, to tell stories and to approach our work with concise values and process.

Over the next twelve months, we’ll further develop these ideas, capturing the new collaborations and stories while building the networks. Innovate Two is coming – so stay tuned!