Power to Praxis Practice Circle #2

Pre-Engagement: Relationships, Participation and Trust

Wednesday 19 August 2026
Online | 12:00pm–1:30pm (Melbourne time)
Recording included

Before meaningful participation can occur, relationships must be built.

Too often, communities are invited into projects only after key decisions have already been made. Timelines, funding requirements and organisational pressures can shape who is engaged, when they are engaged, and how much influence they ultimately have over the work.

The Power to Praxis Practice Circle is a monthly facilitated space for practitioners to reflect on the role of power, relationships and accountability in development, humanitarian, community development and social change work.

This session focuses on the Pre-Engagement stage of the Power to Praxis framework. Using a selection of reflection cards, we will explore how relationships are formed, whose voices are heard, and what conditions support meaningful participation before implementation begins.

Together we will consider questions such as:

Who has been involved in shaping this project so far?
Whose perspectives are missing?
How are relationships built, maintained and sustained?
What barriers prevent meaningful participation?
How do organisational pressures influence engagement processes?
What does trust look like in practice?

The Practice Circle is not a training course and does not require prior knowledge of decolonial theory. Instead, it offers a structured space for critical reflection, dialogue and shared learning with others working across the sector.

Who is this for?

This session is designed for:

Development practitioners
Humanitarian practitioners
Community development workers
GEDSI advisers and specialists
Researchers and evaluators
Program managers
Consultants
Students and emerging practitioners
Anyone interested in more reflective, ethical and community-led practice

What to expect

Participants will:

Engage with selected Power to Praxis reflection cards
Explore the role of relationships and participation in project design
Reflect on challenges and opportunities in their own practice
Share experiences and insights with other practitioners
Identify one commitment or action to take forward
Participants will be sent a recording of the session and resource links.

The session will be facilitated by Lana Woolf, creator of the Power to Praxis reflection cards and Companion Guide.

Recording

This session will be recorded.

Participants who register will receive access to the recording after the event. If you are unable to attend live, you are welcome to register and access the recording in your own time.

Ticket Options

Student – $15 +BF

Under-employed / Between Contracts – $15 +BF

For consultants, practitioners, community workers and others currently under-employed, between contracts, seeking work, or experiencing financial constraints.

Standard – $35 +BF

Solidarity – $50 +BF

For those able to contribute a little extra to support accessible pricing and the ongoing development of Power to Praxis.

Series Pass - $150 +BF

Series pass holders receive all recordings of the six sessions.

About the Series

This is the second session in a six-part monthly Practice Circle series exploring the full Power to Praxis project cycle:

July – Pre-Project: Purpose, Positioning and Power
August – Pre-Engagement: Relationships, Participation and Trust
September – Implementation: Decisions, Accountability and Adaptation
October – Completion: Exit, Legacy and Responsibility
November – Meta-Reflection: Systems, Culture and Incentives
December – Commitment: Turning Reflection into Practice

Participants may attend individual sessions or register for the full series.

Contact the host of Power to Praxis Practice Circle #2 Pre-Engagement: Relationships, Participation and Trust