Connecting Communities Conference 2024

Local Community Services Association (LCSA) is the peak body and membership organisaion for neighbourhood & community centres and other place-based, locally-governed community organisations in New South Wales (NSW).

About the Conference

The LCSA Conference 2024 - also referred to as the "Connecting Communities Conference" - provides a unique opportunity for our members and the community sector to come together over a couple days to engage in training, support, networking, professional development and social interaction.

The conference program will focus on the strengths and opportunities of investing in local and statewide social infrastructure, as well as the value of maintaining a commitment to community development principles. The Hon. Kate Washington, Minister for Families and Communities, Minister for Disability Inclusion and Member for Port Stephens will officially open the conference, followed by a keynote presentation from Robert Fitzgerald AM, Age Discrimination Commissioner. The rest of the program includes a panel discussion, two more keynotes and a diverse range of concurrent workshops, which will leave delegates inspired and with relevant and practical takeaways to implement into their work. The conference will also incorporate LCSA's 50-year anniversary celebrations!

NOTE: The Connecting Communities Conference is an in-person event only and is being held at the Aerial UTS Function Centre (aerialutsfunctioncentre.com.au). There is no option to register or attend this year's event virtually.

Visit the Connecting Communities Conference website to keep up to date with conference information and announcements - www.connectingcommunities.org.au

Who should attend

The LCSA Conference 2024 is aimed at neighbourhood & community centre managers, staff, volunteers and board members, along with funding body representatives and those working in the social and community sector.

Program Outline

Monday (1:00 PM - 4:30 PM)

• Masterclasses (Concurrent Sessions - choose one when registering)
  • Masterclass 1: Community Development in Taiwan
    Facilitator: Dr. Yi-Yi Chen, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Social Work, National Taiwan University) and Dr. Ying-Hao Huang (Associate Professor, Department of Indigenous Affairs & Development, Undergraduate Program of Indigenous Social Work)

  About this session: This Masterclass will be hosted by two leading community development practitioners and academics from Taiwan. Dr. Yi-Yi Chen will present on the role of a community development approach to address homelessness in Taipei and Dr. Ying-hao Huang will draw on his first-hand experience of working with Taiwanese First Nations people in their journey to self-determination in his presentation.

  • Masterclass 2: International Standards in Community Development

  Facilitator: Michelle Dunscombe (International Association for Community Development)

  About this session: In this Masterclass, Michelle will share how the International Standards in Community Development can be used as a guide to help collectively identify the destination (outcomes) and shape the journey (process). They can also be used to critically reflect on both the journey and the destination - In other words, they can be used to plan, implement and review action and support learning from the process. As such they can be used by all community development practitioners in many ways to:

  • build shared awareness and understanding of what community development is
  • promote the values upon which community development is based
  • enhance practice
  • inform theory and policy
  • shape academic and practice-based learning
    
  • Masterclass 3: Are you ready? Grant Writing Workshop (Limited to 50 people)

  Facilitator: Non Profit Training (nonprofittraining.com.au)

  About this session: This workshop will build your confidence in applying for grants and broaden your outlook about which grant opportunities exist. It will focus on providing you with a framework to get ready to confidently apply for grant opportunities; breaking down the grant application jargon and reducing the time it takes to write applications.

Tuesday (9:00 AM - 5:00 PM)

• Official Acknowledgement, Welcome and Conference Opening
• Keynote Presentations
  • Kate Washington
  • Robert Fitzgerald
  • Can Yasmut
  • Nevo Zisin
• Panel Discussion
• Concurrent Workshops

Tuesday (6:30 PM - 9:30 PM)

• Conference Dinner & Entertainment
  

Ticket Options

Conference Registration ticket options available for LCSA Members and Non-Members include:

• Full Conference
• Masterclass only
• Single Day Pass
• Dinner only

If you are registering more than one person from your organisation, discounts apply for the 2nd and every subsequent delegate thereafter. Please make sure you have the details of all delegates ready to enter their personal information such as contact detail, dietary and accessibility requirements.

Early Bird registration available until COB 5 July 2024.  

Accommodation

Delegates are encouraged to make their own accommodation arrangements. We are working with a range of nearby hotel providers to secure some special conference room rates.

More information

Full details about speakers and the program stay tuned to the  Connecting Communities Conference website.

For more information about the venue, visit: aerialutsfunctioncentre.com.au