VCOSS Community Sector Summit

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY

Join us for the must-attend VCOSS event of the year. 

We’re thrilled to announce the VCOSS Community Sector Summit – the first major gathering of Victoria’s community sector of its kind since before COVID. This flagship event will bring leaders from across the social and community sector together to spark new ideas, explore shared challenges, and build momentum for coordinated action and change. 

As Victoria prepares to enter an election year, the Summit will explore the forces shaping our society and the big issues for our sector today. We’ll be joined by an incredible line-up of speakers including: 

• The Hon. Jacinta Allan MP, Premier of Victoria  

• Brad Battin MP, Leader of the Opposition

• Prof Jo Barraket AM, Director of the Melbourne Social Equity Institute at the University of Melbourne and leading scholar on social innovation

• Dr Alison Roberts from the Australian Government’s Productivity Commission, and one of the key Commissioners on the current inquiry into the care economy

• Dr Jill Gallagher AO, CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO)

• Sarah Davies AM, Chair of the Australian Charities and Not-For-Profits Commission Advisory Board and CEO of the Alannah & Madeline Foundation

• Ahmed Hassan OAM, former Victorian Young Australian of the Year and CEO of Youth Activating Youth

• Margherita Coppolino, influential disability and inclusion consultant and Co-Chair of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) Oceania Region

• Kos Samaras and Tony Barry, Directors of RedBridge Group, leading commentators on demographic trends and public communications

• Noel Lim, 2025 Victorian of the Year, Westpac Social Change Fellow and CEO and Co-Founder of Anika Legal

• Bill Mithen, Co-CEO of Neighbourhood Economics

• Ilo Diaz from the Centre Against Racial Profiling

• Erin Turner, CEO of the Consumer Policy Research Centre

• Wren Rapture, national award winning poet, speaker, facilitator and our MC for the Summit

Across four sector-spanning streams, you'll join with colleagues to workshop what we want to see and how we’ll influence system change towards a Victoria free of poverty and disadvantage.

The Summit will take place at Melbourne Town Hall on Monday, 6 October from 9am.

TICKET INFORMATION

The VCOSS Community Sector Summit is open to everyone, but only people working within the community and social services sector will be invited to participate in the afternoon workshops. 

VCOSS member organisations will receive two complimentary tickets to the Summit, as well as a significant discount on additional tickets. VCOSS individual members and supporters are invited to attend for free.

You can find out more about joining VCOSS and apply to become a member here. 

WHO SHOULD ATTEND THE SUMMIT?

The VCOSS Community Sector Summit is designed for all people in a leadership role within the community and social services sector, including those from frontline social service organisations, peak bodies, consumer advocacy and awareness groups. 

In particular, we encourage attendance by:   

• Chair and board directors  

• CEO and senior executives  

• Senior managers  

• Policy and advocacy leads   

• Emerging leaders wanting to develop a broader view of the community sector  

We would love to see as many people as possible there on the day. 

AUSLAN

Due to high demand, Victoria is experiencing a shortage of Auslan interpreters. VCOSS strives to ensure our events are inclusive to everyone and will do our best to secure Auslan interpreters. To help us do this, if you require Auslan for this event, please RSVP as soon as possible so that we can work with Expression Australia to secure interpreters.