ChangeFest - A Confluence of Change Makers
The Backbone team was thrilled to participate in ChangeFest 2024, held on Latji Latji Country in Mildura, Victoria in March.
This gathering of changemakers and leaders explored how to foster community-driven solutions and collaborative action for systemic change.
Stan Grant's opening address challenged attendees to re-evaluate their leadership approach to systemic change. His question, "What are you bringing? Are we filling space or are we opening space?" underscored the importance of encouraging inclusivity and empowering others.
Sidra, Jane, and Andrea (GameChange Backbone team) gained valuable insights:
- Prioritising Community Engagement: Recognising the need to actively engage with communities on their terms, fostering inclusivity beyond our own spaces.
- Investing in Youth Leadership: Meaningful engagement with young people is crucial for driving sustainable change.
- Building Strong Community Partnerships: Stronger connections with communities are vital for successful change initiatives.
- Transparency as a Core Value: Conducting work with transparency builds trust with stakeholders.
- Shared Ownership of Change: Everyone has a valuable contribution to make in creating positive system change.
The conference concluded with a closing panel featuring the Honourable Dr. Jim Chalmers MP, Treasurer of Australia. Dr. Chalmers reaffirmed the government's commitment to supporting community-led responses to local challenges.
Gamechange Champions - Collaboration at Greater South East Melbourne (GSEM) Jobs and Skills Summit
GameChange participated in the GSEM Jobs and Skills Summit in May, which brought together industry, education and government. This forum focused on establishing a coordinated approach to address the fast-growing region's workforce needs.
Our presence allowed us to connect with stakeholders and showcase GameChange's collaborative impact. Several community members played key roles as conveners and presenters.
Discussions at the summit focused on exploring future workforce needs, understanding current industry trends, identifying employment sector barriers, and fostering collaborative solutions for a skilled future workforce. It was heartening to see the voices of those experiencing barriers to employment were not just in attendance but also part of the expertise across the different panels.
The summit is a crucial step in developing the GSEM Jobs and Skills Roadmap, a regional vision and advocacy document to be presented in Canberra in June 2024.
Adult, Community and Further Education (ACFE) Local Learning Provider Forum
The Backbone team was thrilled to be invited as guests to the ACFE Local Learning Provider Forum by Iwona Jonasz and Jeremy Brewer.
It was an opportunity to share the work being done across the Priority Action Groups, including Greater Dandenong Connect, the Learn From A Local Employer Series and some of the flexible practices local employers have adopted in workplaces.