BELONGING - Community Centres SA Conference Report
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Community Centres SA
Strengthening Local Communities
BELONGING
Community Centres SA
Conference Report
November 2016
#belonging2016
A MESSAGE FROM THANKS TO
OUR CEO OUR SPONSORS
A huge thank you to our sponsors: Credit Union SA; UnitingCare Wesley Bowden; CBB
the not4profit people; Guild Insurance and HESTA.
It is through this support that we can produce such a high quality event that provides
a range of learning and networking opportunities which contribute to the development
and empowerment of local communities in South Australia.
Community Centres SA looks forward to continuing to work with our sponsors in the
future.
Silver sponsors Conference Lunch Hosts
Credit Union SA Guild
This conference snapshot helps us
to reflect on what we learned, shared
and developed during our 2 day
‘Strengthening Local Communities…..
Belonging’ conference held at the
Morphettville Racecourse from 27 – 28
October 2016. UCWB HESTA
Experiencing belonging – knowing where
and with whom you belong is one of the
most basic human needs. Throughout
the conference presenters challenged us
to question what it means to Belong and
the impact of not Belonging.
The theme was examined in detail by
all speakers including Senator Penny
Wong talking about the transformative Exhibition Cocktail Evening Supported by
power of education, Warren Mundine Partner
AO asking for a change the language
from welfare to what it is…poverty and
CBB the not4profit people Williams Technology
the Hon Kelly Vincent MLC talking about
the soft bigotry of low expectations and
questioning ‘who isn’t in the room and
why might that be?
The feedback we have received
during and after the conference has
been terrific and also given valuable
suggestions for 2017. Overall people
were impressed by the quality and
diversity of speakers, appreciated the
venue and, as always, welcomed the
opportunity to network, catch up with
longtime friends as well as to meet
new people. Many commented on the
useful tips and tools they were taking WELCOME TO COUNTRY
away to put into practice in their own
We thank Uncle Lewis Yerloburka
organisation.
O’Brien, Kaurna Elder, for his
We often hear that our conference is Welcome to Country. Uncle Lewis
unique and firmly believe that comes is widely regarded as a leader of
from the people who participate and reconciliation and custodian of
contribute with such enthusiasm and Kaurna culture.
generosity of spirit. Sincere thank you
to everyone involved in the success of
‘Belonging’.
Gill McFadyen
Chief Executive Officer
Community Centres SA
KEYNOTE HIGHLIGHTS Senator Penny Wong, Labor Senator for South Australia: Official Opening Senator Penny Wong spoke of her journey as an eight year old, travelling with her family from Malaysia to Australia. She shared with us her story of settling in Adelaide and her family’s humble story of belonging. She highlighted the transformative power of education relating it back to her own family experience and how true social cohesion and belonging can only come through the community. We appreciated Senator Wong staying on to present the Honorary Membership Award to Glenys Lehmann. We sincerely thank Senator Penny Wong for generously providing her time and opening the 2016 ‘Belonging’ Conference. Presenter: Nyunggai Warren Mundine AO Warren Mundine spoke about the changing world we live in and what it means to our sense of connection and belonging. Jobs that are here today will be gone tomorrow; the family’s role as the backbone of society is changing; urbanisation is proceeding at a rapid pace. Mundine discussed how people are feeling left out of the mainstream political discourse and quoted American politician Thomas Phillip ‘Tip’ O’Neill Jr, who famously said ‘All politics are local’ to remind us that humans operate at an intimate level. He also said that it’s how we listen to one another and the conversations we have as individuals, and as a society, that keep us connected and ensure that no one is left behind. Belonging begins ‘At Home’ Presenter: Stewart Bogle Stewart presented on connectedness and how people are disconnected from place and family. Working with Aboriginal communities, he moved from a ‘fix-it’ to a ‘my mob’ relational approach, shifting the paradigm from helping to understanding shared stories. There are multiple nations but a ‘5 stones’ framework is relevant across country. Land is the centre point with language, kinship, law and ceremony all interconnected and balanced. The model is universal and human and is relevant to all cultures, although the terms used may change e.g. place being central, with language, relationships, values and tradition being interconnected and balanced. He discussed the way back in a world which is becoming more disintegrated. Re-integration begins by being at home within yourself wherever you are and finding your place with self, family and community. Belonging - what the flock is it all about? Presenter: Sandra Robinson, CEO Together SA What are the essential aspects to belonging? Food, safety, mateship and connection. Sandra poignantly pointed out that birds collectively see and respond as one and can be key to understanding collective impact. Sandra observed that we are involved in following and leading within our communities but we need to ‘Connect to Achieve’ and drove home that we, as Community Centres, have the power to drive collective impact and foster belonging and inclusion for all. This presentation smoothly led into a hands on ‘Turning the Curve’ workshop.
MORE HIGHLIGHTS... M.A.D. for Peace Network Presenter: Gill Hicks As a victim of the London terrorist bombings in 2005, it would have been easy for Gill to hate and blame but she maintains that ‘peace is not the soft option’ and has spent the years since the bombing working towards peace. In her inspiring presentation, Gill highlighted the importance of empathy and asked delegates ‘How do we go about building empathetic communities?’ In 2008 Gill walked from Leeds to London on her new legs, encouraging discussion between a divided community. This walk emphasised the importance of belonging and commonality in achieving peace. In conclusion Gill commented that there are 7.5 billion people in our world however we as individuals are the only one who holds the key. Seeds of Affinity Presenter: Linda Fisk Linda from Seeds of Affinity had the audience emotionally captivated as she told the story of her incarceration and the sense of exclusion she felt once released from prison . This caused her, and causes many others, to re-offend leading to further incarceration. As a result of feeling excluded from society, Linda worked with her parole officer and began assembling toiletry packs (these items are not provided by correctional services) for other incarcerated women and Seeds of Affinity was born. Women need confidence, to feel they are accepted and to feel a sense of ‘belonging’ and these feelings empower women to restart their lives. Seeds assists women to gain these feelings. Seeds aims to better the lives of women in prison and assist those leaving the correctional system to feel as though they belong in the wider community. Women participate in Seeds making toiletries which develops employment skills and they have the opportunity to undertake study which supports them to have a sense of ‘belonging’ in the mainstream community. Linda and the Seeds community are able to foster a sense of community that previously incarcerated people cannot find elsewhere. Linda urged our sector to look at how they can engage with women coming out of prison and cited ‘Belonging’ for these women would be, “in a perfect world every community centre in South Australia would be inclusive and value everyone”. Seeds is also a strong advocate for women in prison as there is a huge disparity between services and programs in men’s prisons compared to women’s prisons which needs to be addressed. Stories of Belonging, Panel Discussion Panelists: Arman Abrahimzadeh, The Hon Kelly Vincent MLC, Manal Younus and Tony Moore Arman highlighted the importance of belonging when his mother fled with her 3 children from abuse perpetrated by her husband. Homeless and scared, this isolation and lack of belonging for Arman and his family meant danger. They were able to find belonging and safety in Adelaide’s domestic violence services but Arman expressed the notion that ‘not belonging=danger’ is an important one for all delegates. One of the biggest messages from the panel discussion was that representation is key to belonging. Kelly Vincent introduced this idea by telling the story of her first day at school; her mother was nervous about how Kelly would(n’t) fit in but when she saw a picture of a girl in a wheelchair in the classroom she recogised that she would be okay. Kelly urged us to ask ‘who’s not in the room and why may that be?’ - whether it be through mobility issues and physical access to the room or lack of representation and sense of belonging. Manal highlighted the importance of community centres in fostering cultural inclusion and continued Kelly’s message of representation being key to belonging. Manal explained that she has been involved in community events for a long time but it wasn’t until she noticed people like her in power, facilitating the events, that she started really enjoying them. Manal’s take home message was that when people take ownership of spaces and places it’s because they feel like they belong and community centres can be key to that. Once again, this message of representation was strengthened by Tony Moore’s story of belonging. As a child, Tony’s family was socially and economically disadvantaged and he found both belonging and escape in the local gangs. School created an escape from the gangs, but it was an “all white school” and so Tony was isolated for his different coloured skin. Tony’s search for belonging took him down many different paths including the military and eventually to Australia. Tony says he is ‘accepted in the basketball court but not necessarily the boardroom’ because this is where society sees him better represented. Nevertheless, this acceptance on the basketball court prompted Tony to found Hoops for Life, a program built on the back of basketball that helps socially and economically disadvantaged children and their families.
OUR PLACE....STORIES OF BELONGING EXHIBITION
AND LAUNCH OF RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN
Our Place....Stories of Belonging Launch of Community Centres SA
Exhibition Reconciliation Action Plan
The Our Place…Stories of Belonging exhibition was We were delighted that Uncle Lewis Yerloburka
presented by Community Centres SA, partnering with CBB O’Brien launched our Reconciliation Action Plan
the not4profit people. Many thanks to Katrine Hildyard MP, 2016 – 2018, joining our Chairperson Andrew Keightley
State Member for Reynell, for opening the exhibition. The and Reconciliation Project Officer, Parry Agius, who
exhibition focused on how culture, belief and perceptions gave an overview of its development and our ongoing
influence or challenge who we are, what we think and commitment. Many comments were made about the
what it means to belong or not belong in our community. stunning artwork by Samantha Snow, Indigenous artist
A big thank you goes to the ten member organisations at Marra Dreaming.
that showcased individual, group or community stories
of belonging through a number of mediums. Aberfoyle
Community Centre, Camden Community Centre,
Community House Port Lincoln, Grenville Community
Connections Hub, Onkaparinga Community and
Neighbourhood Centres, Overseas Chinese Association of
SA, Pooraka Farm Community Centre, Robertstown War
Memorial Community Centre, The Junction Community
Centre and Wandana Community Centre all provided
us with an entertaining and informative evening while
the Silverbeats Rock Choir generously gave their time to
perform for us and got the exhibition off to a rocking good
start!
HONORARY MEMBER AWARD
Award Winner: Glennys Lehmann
Glennys has had over 30 years involvement in Midway Road Community House, first as a
committee member and over 25 years as the coordinator. Over the years this gentle but
fierce advocate for the community house and her community has campaigned to keep the
house open through a time when the building was sold and through funding cuts.
She has consistently supported the peak body through, for example, active involvement
in regional meetings and our annual conference, providing case studies, hosting visits
from politicians and departmental staff, being one of the first centres to get involved in the
Service Excellence project and being a key contributor to our ‘Don’t Go Breaking our Heart
Campaign’.
But most important is the work she does with and for her community. Her nominator for
this award said ‘Glennys is an amazing person who takes many people other people reject
to care for them and give them a hand up. She fights for those that don’t have the strength
or skills to fight for themselves and has helped many families in domestic violence
situations as well as accepting children in the Vacation Care Program who may
Glennys Lehmann with Senator Penny Wong
be excluded from other programs’.
HOW DID SOCIAL MEDIA
WE DO? UPDATE
At Community Centres SA we love to Sandra Robinson told a personal
get feedback and greatly appreciate the story of a community centre #belonging2016
time and thoughtfulness of delegates
making a massive difference to Twitter
in responding to our online survey. 138
surveys were distributed with her life. The emotion of the story
•Lucas de Boer - ‘Powerful and
56 responses…a 41% return rate. made a massive impact, and personal narrative from @SJR_TSA at
reinforced the responsibility that #belonging2016 - living the RBA idea
Overall satisfaction: community centres have to the that story behind the data makes the best
93% satisfied/very satisfied with the community. advocacy’
conference.
• Caitlyn Georgeson - ‘@KellyMLC: There
The remaining respondents indicated are not those in our communities who
that they were neither satisfied or So many inspiring stories. Why? are truly voiceless, there are only those to
dissatisfied. Because it helped me see that anything whom we are yet to listen’
is possible. I really came away feeling
Delegates provided a wealth of informa- •Karen Barratt- ‘Don’t do things for people.
that ‘I can’ achieve anything I set my
tion through comments, just a few of Let them be done by people’ Manal Younis
which are below, to help guide and devel- mind to. #belonging2016 @CommCentresSA
op our 2016 conference. ......Thank you!
• Caitlyn Georgeson - @SenatorWong
It was great to see the increase in use Felt energised and reinvigorated opening the @CommCentresSA Conference
of social media especially Facebook and by the theme the speakers and - highlighting the transformative power of
Twitter. networking - felt like I belonged! education #Belonging2016
• MarionLIFE Community - ‘Look at
All sessions were valuable I was very satisfied with the each other as human beings first.’ Gill
and together provided a conference as I thought most Hicks @MADforpeace #Belonging2016
wealth of ideas, knowledge of the selected speakers spoke #UnconditionalLove
and insight into the theme about relevant day to day Facebook
of belonging. issues that I come across in my
• Youth in Salisbury - Rebekah Rogers
workplace. The speakers gave from Recognise Youth speaking amazingly
me tools and strategies to help well at Community Centres SA conference
So many incredible and varied and support others. - speaking about the need to change
speakers. The ones that stuck in my
the constitution to recognise our first
mind the most were Gill Hicks for her australians.#youthvoice #belonging2016
courage and perspective, Barossa
Co-op for their efforts in growing •Freeling Hub - We are attending the
Community Centres SA annual conference
a prospering community, Warren When we belong, today. ‘Strengthening Local Communities
Mundine for his insight and humour
and Neill Duncan for an incredible
we’re not actively - Belonging’. The theme is Belonging -
belonging is fundamental to our being,
story of a community pulling together aware we are shaping who we are and who we become,
to help a stranger. belonging, but to our family, cultural group, neighbourhood
and to the wider community. Belonging
I found the conference to be so when we don’t brings feelings of inclusion, identity and
uplifting and it gave me new belong, we know. security and enhances our wellbeing. We
energy to continue the fight are looking forward to being inspired today,
to create unity within our
The Hon Kelly renew our commitment for creating an
community Vincent MLC environment where everyone experiences
Belonging through our services at The
Freeling Hub. #belonging2016
While Government policies on
education, healthcare or social
welfare might provide the structural
Follow us on Twitter
and economic opportunities for CommCentresSA
engagement and belonging, true
social inclusion can only ever be
achieved by the community.
Find us on Facebook
Senator Penny Wong. Community Centres SA Inc.
AGM AND
WHITE RIBBON BREAKFAST
Community Centres SA’s Annual General Meeting was held as a White Ribbon Breakfast fundraiser with over 60 people
attending including guests Mr Steven Marshall, Leader of the Opposition, Dr Duncan McFetridge, Shadow Minister for
Communities and Social Inclusion and special guest Atena Abrahimzadeh, co-founder of the Zahra Foundation. The audience
was privileged to hear Atena speak about her personal experiences with domestic violence and the significant impact it had on
her and her family which resulted in the formation of the Zahra Foundation. The Zahra Foundation supports women and children
who are victims of domestic violence and works to empower women to stand on their own feet through education and skill
development that builds financial empowerment. Community Centres SA also took this opportunity to launch our Strategic Plan
2016-2021 and our Member Survey Report.
Atena Abrahimzadeh presenting at the White Ribbon Breakfast Andrew Keightley with Dr Duncan McFetridge
WHO OUR DELEGATES REPRESENTED...
Aberfoyle Community Centre Elizabeth Rise Community Centre, City One 2 One Tailored Business Services
ac.care - Mount Gambier of Playford Overseas Chinese Association of SA Inc
ac.care - Waikerie Encounter Centre Paralowie R-12 Community Centre
Adelaide South West Community Centre Enfield Community Centre Pooraka Farm Community Centre
Alexandrina Connect Inc Flinders University Port Adelaide Football Club
Anglicare Willochra Gawler Community House Port Pirie Community Centre
Box Factory Community Centre Glandore Community Centre Reedbeds Community Centre
Burnside Community Centre Grenville Hub Reynella Neighbourhood Centre
Camden Community Centre Guild Insurance Robertstown War Memorial Community
Centacare Catholic Family Services Hackham West Community Centre Centre
Christie Downs Community House Hillcrest Community Centre Seaford Community Centre
City of Holdfast Bay Junction Australia South Australian Council for Adult
Kilburn Community Centre Literacy
City of Marion
Lake Windemere B-7 School Children’s Southern Volunteering
City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters
Centre Strath Neighbourhood Centre Inc
City of Onkaparinga
MarionLIFE Community Services Survivors of Torture & Trauma Assistance
City of Playford & Rehabilitation Service
Mid Murray Support Services
City of Salisbury Taikurrendi Children and Family Centre
Midway Road Community House Inc
Community Centres SA The Hut Community Centre
Milang Old School House Community
Community House Port Lincoln Centre The Junction Community Centre
Cooinda Neighbourhood Centre Mount Barker Community Centre The Mawson Centre
Coromandel Community Centre Movers and Shakers Twelve25 Salisbury Youth Enterprise
Department for Communities and Social Multicultural Communities Council of Centre
Inclusion SA UnitingCare Wesley Bowden
DOME NACYS Volunteering SA & NT Inc
Eastwood Community Centre Inc Neporendi Aboriginal Forum Inc Wandana Community Centre
Elizabeth Community Connections Northern Area Community & Youth Woodcroft Morphett Vale
Project Inc Services Neighbourhood Centre
THANKS TO ALL THANKS TO SPECIAL GUESTS
PARTICIPANTS Many thanks to Senator Penny Wong, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate,
for opening our conference. Mr Steve Marshall, Leader of the Opposition and Dr
Thanks to everyone who attended our Duncan McFetridge, Shadow Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, for
conference as without each and every one attending our AGM and Katrine Hildyard MP, State Member for Reynell, for open-
of you it would not have been the huge ing the ‘Our Place...Stories of Belonging Exhibition’ on the Thursday night.
success that it was!
We hope that you were enthused by the
impressive group of inspirational and
knowledgeable keynote speakers and
workshop presenters. We also hope that
by coming together to share and learn
with other community workers and leaders
you returned back to your organisation
re-energised and motivated.
Left to right:
It was a true celebration of our sector! Rille Walshe OAM, Heather Hewitt, Katrine Hildyard MP, Andrew Keightley and Gill McFadyen
THANKS TO OUR
FANTASTIC PRESENTERS
Thanks a million to all our presenters who gave their time and expertise, many on a pro-bono basis, and contributed to the
capacity-building of our sector.
Jenny McCormick, Movers and Shakers Sandra Robinson, Together SA
Nyunggai Warren Mundine AO Gill Hicks, M.A.D. for Peace Network
Stewart Bogle, Australians Together Neill Duncan, Saxophonist
Rebekka Rogers, RECOGNISE Youth Panelists: Arman Abrahimzadeh, The Hon Kelly
Vincent MLC, Manal Younus and Tony Moore
Max Folly, Black Empire Studios
Workshop Presenters: Cassandra Gibson-Pope,
Atena Abrahimzadeh, Zahra Foundation
Cathy O’Loughlin, Anne Nixon, Caitlyn Georgeson,
Liz Weaver, Tamarack Institute Linda Fisk, Alison Harker and Paul Mulroney
Paul Amos, The Co-op Barossa
Community Centres SA
Strengthening Local Communities
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