Polaron Connect’s Insights 2 Impact (I2I): Professional Development Leadership Series

Join Polaron Connect’s 2026 Insights 2 Impact (I2I) leadership series, a five theme professional development program running March - December 2026 (offered online). Over five seminars, this series equips community leaders and communications professionals with practical, evidence-based skills to engage diverse audiences and turn insights into real impact.

The I2I topics are:

1. Intersectional Inclusion: Going beyond basic multicultural outreach to engage people with multiple identities (e.g. CALD community members who are also LGBTQI+, neurodivergent or have special needs). Learn to use accessible tools - plain-language text, multi-lingual content, videos/animations with captioning, etc.

   Session Dates

   In-person: 21 April 2026, Tuesday - 5.00 pm - 6.00 pm

   Online: 23 April 2026, Thursday - 5.00 pm - 6.00 pm

   In-person: 30th April 2026, Thursday - 5.00 pm - 6.00 pm

   Online: 7th May 2026, Thursday - 5.00 pm - 6.00 pm

2. The New Socials: Strategies for culturally relevant digital engagement. This includes marketing on Chinese social platforms, reaching under-16s on youth media, leveraging (and critically evaluating) influencers, and protecting against AI-generated deepfakes.

   Sessions Dates

   In-person: 21 May 2026, Thursday - 4.30 pm - 5.30 pm

   Online: 11 June 2026, Thursday - 4.30 pm - 5.30 pm

   In-person: 18 June 2026, Thursday - 12.30 pm - 1.30 pm

   Online: 2 July 2026, Thursday - 12.30 pm - 1.30 pm

3. Health Communication Across Cultures: Best practices for clear, effective health messaging to multicultural communities.

   Session Dates

   In-person: 16 July 2026, Thursday - 4.30 pm - 5.30 pm

   Online: 30 July 2026, Thursday - 4.30 pm - 5.30 pm

   In-person: 13 August 2026, Thursday - 12.30 pm - 1.30 pm

   Online: 27 August 2026, Thursday - 12.30 pm - 1.30 pm

4. Uncomfortable Conversations: Techniques for initiating respectful, authentic dialogue on difficult topics (the “real inclusion” conversations about culture, bias and identity).

   Session Dates

   Online: 24 September 2026, Thursday - 4.00 pm - 5.00 pm

   Online : 8 October 2026, Thursday -12.30 pm - 1.30 pm

   Online: 22 October 2026, Thursday -12.30 pm - 1.30 pm

5. Reaching the Unreachable: Ways to engage and empower multicultural youth and young people who are often missed by mainstream communications.

   Session Dates

   Online : 5 November 2026, Thursday - 4.30 pm - 5.30 pm

   Online: 19 November 2026, Thursday - 4.30 pm - 5.30 pm

   Online : 3 December 2026, Thursday -12.30 pm - 1.30 pm

   Online: 10 December 2026, Thursday -12.30 pm - 1.30 pm

Fees

Online - $5.00

This series also aims to donate project income to charities, thereby strengthening program objectives and enhancing inclusive communication in Victoria. We will be bringing industry experts, Multicultural Advisory Panel (MAP) and Youth Advisory Panel (YAP) members as speakers for each session, providing participants with an opportunity to gain personalised insights and practical knowledge on each topic. The speakers for each session will be shared on the website soon.

Learn more