Place Matters

From Participation to Collective Action in Place

Friday 19 June
9:30am - 4:00pm
Digital Storytellers - Impact Story Lab, Sydney

Across the sector, place-based approaches are widely used - but often fall short in practice.

Engagement doesn’t always lead to meaningful participation.
Collaboration can stay at an organisational level.
And community energy is often consulted, but not sustained.

Place Matters explores how place-based and strengths-based approaches can move beyond consultation toward meaningful participation, collective action, and shared ownership in place - in ways that are practical, grounded, and achievable within real-world systems.

What participants will gain:

leave with practical ways to move beyond engagement into ongoing participation and collective action
learn tools to activate local strengths, assets, and relationships in their own context
build confidence to work with participation, stewardship, and leadership in place
work through real challenges and opportunities from their own practice
connect with like-minded practitioners and be part of an emerging community of practice

Who this is for

This session is for practitioners working across:

local government
NGOs/community organisations
social impact/social cohesion/regeneration
place-based + cross-sector initiatives
researchers/practitioners

Particularly relevant if you are:

moving beyond engagement toward meaningful participation and shared ownership
working across sectors and trying to connect people, efforts and systems in place
navigating institutional or system constraints while doing community-led work
supporting communities facing complex or layered challenges
looking for practical ways to activate local strengths, relationships and collective action

What we’ll explore

The training draws on Dimitrios Papalexis’ (Soulgen) experience across local government, NGOs, and youth and community-led initiatives, alongside the practice wisdom and environmental lens of guest speaker Jo Taranto, whose work in regeneration, climate courage and care for place brings a valuable environmental and stewardship lens.

Place-Based Practice in Action

working with place over time and responding to local context
cross-sector collaboration and coordination
supporting stewardship, belonging and connection to place

Strengths-Based and Participatory Approaches

starting with strengths, gifts and local assets
building social and relational capital
moving beyond consultation toward participation and shared ownership

Working Within Real Systems

bridging strategy and lived practice
supporting local leadership and collective action
navigating systems while sustaining momentum beyond one-off engagement

Facilitator - Dimitrios Papalexis (Soulgen)

Dimitrios works at the intersection of place-based practice, participation and community-led change - supporting organisations, councils and communities to move beyond engagement toward participation, shared ownership and collective action in place.

Drawing on experience across local government, NGOs, youth and community-led initiatives, he brings a facilitation style that is practical, relational and grounded in real-world application - helping people work with complexity while activating local strengths, relationships and leadership.

Featuring - Jo Taranto

Jo Taranto is a leading voice in regeneration, environmental stewardship and community-led action.

Through her work on climate courage, participation and community connection, she supports individuals and organisations to move from awareness into action - fostering responsibility, stewardship and care for place in practical and grounded ways.

In partnership

Digital Storytellers - Impact Story Lab
Good for the Hood

Practical details

Workbook included
Group bookings available
Places are limited - early registration encouraged.

Accessible pricing options

Community rate ($200) for grassroots practitioners, volunteers and local leaders
Limited regional discount spots available
A small number of scholarship places for those where cost is a genuine barrier

Enquiries / group bookings:
dimitrios@soul-gen.com.au

📍 Venue

Impact Story Lab - Impact Hub

Contact the host of Place Matters from participation to collective action in place: activating people and place