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program​

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Please note: this schedule is subject to change.

wed

Wednesday 19 March
(PRE-CONFERENCE DAY)

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TBC

2pm

6pm

Masterclass (optional)

Hosted at the Royal Society of Victoria building around the corner, with a presentation from Volunteering Victoria on volunteer recruitment.​

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Accommodation check-in opens

 

Neighbourhood House Networking and Drinks

Structured networking to help you connect and share ideas with others in the sector.​

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thu

thursday 20 March

From 7am

8:30am

9am

9.40am

10.30am

11am

12pm

1pm

2pm

3pm

3.30pm

4pm

From 7pm

Breakfast opens

For guests with accommodation 

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Registration opens

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​Opening Statements

CEO Opening  

Welcome to Country 

President’s Address 

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Keynote: Grace Jennings-Edquist

Grace Jennings-Edquist is an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Grace’s book, The Yes Woman (2021), explores mental health and people-pleasing tendencies in women, and how to reclaim your power by finally saying no. 

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Morning tea

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Keynote: Stan Grant

Stan Grant is a renowned journalist, author, moral philosopher, thinker, film maker and communicator. He has had a groundbreaking four-decade career asone of Australia’s most awarded journalists.

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Breakout Workshops

Details coming soon! â€‹

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Lunch

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Keynote: Rebecca Scott OAM

CEO and Founder of STREAT, an innovative and thoughtful leader in social enterprise. â€‹

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NHVic Award Presentations

Celebrating our finalists and winners!​

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Afternoon tea

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Breakout Workshops

Details coming soon!​

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GALA DINNER

Theme: RAINBOW!​​

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fri

friday 21 march
 

From 7am

9am

9.10am

10:10am

11am

11:30am

12:15pm

1.15pm

1.30pm

Breakfast opens

For guests with accommodation 

 

Day 3 opens

A short welcome from the CEO

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Keynote: Advocacy and Campaigning to Make Change

Danae Bosler (Secretary for Victorian Trades Hall Council)
Denis Napthine AO (Former Premier of Victoria)
Fiona Patten (Former MP and Author)

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Juanita Pope

CEO of Victorian Council of Social Services (VCOSS).

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Morning tea

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Research Update: David Perry (NHVic) and Ellen Van Holstein (RMIT)

This session presents an NHVic – RMIT partnered project that analyses neighbourhood houses’ work in the context of the widespread challenge of loneliness and social isolation, referencing results from the 2024 Participant Survey.   

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Advocacy Planning and Workshop

Led by our CEO, Keir Paterson​

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Closing Statements

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Lunch

Lunch will be available to go for attendees who prefer to get right on the road. Otherwise, you can remain for and continue workshopping and planning in a casual setting.

bring

what to bring

We want our conference to be environmentally sustainable so we will no longer be providing printed programs, showbags, pens, and notepads.

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Please bring with you:

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  • a smartphone, tablet, or laptop to view the conference program online. For easy access, add this page to your home screen

  • pens and notepad

  • water bottle and keep-cup

  • a tote or reusable bag to store things you may receive from the marketplace

  • your most colourful outfit for the Gala Night

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If you have accommodation:

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Aside from the usual items (clothes, toiletries), you may want to bring:

  • bathers for the swimming pool (outdoor)

  • workout clothes for the gym

breakout

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BREAKOUT PRESENTATIONS

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There are two breakout sessions at the 2025 conference. They will be held at 12pm and 4pm on Thursday 20 March. Each attendee will have the opportunity to select the sessions they'd like to attend. 

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Breakouts 1 (Thursday 20 March, 12pm)​

​Empowering Communities to Complain 
Andrew Adason, Deputy Ombudsman (Victorian Ombudsman)

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What is the Future of Community Committees?   

​Trish Curtis (Upper Murray Regional Neighbourhood House Network) & Janet Reid (City of Casey)  

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Doing Something When You don’t Know What to Do! - Participatory Action Planning for Climate Resilience in Neighbourhood Houses 

​Tania Phillips, Maggie Mildenhall (Network West) 

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Everyone Needs Community Connection  

Leanne Fitzgerald and team (CHAOS & Living Our Best Life Project) 

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Playgroups for Neighbourhood Houses

Dr Jo Tarasuik (Playgroup Victoria) 

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Breakouts 2 (Thursday 20 March, 4pm)

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De-Fence Against Loneliness – the role of placemaking in increasing social connection ​ 

Dr Susan Rennie (​Jika Jika Community Centre)  

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Bringing Law to Communities Workshop  

Kate Sedgwick (Victorian Law Foundation)   

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Identifying Red Flags 

Antonia Halloran-Lavelle (Community Houses Network Southern Region and Neighbourhood Houses Gippsland)

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Alternate Funding Sources â€¯ 

Mary-Lynn Griffith and Ursula Jenkins (Whittlesea Community House)

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Collaboration and Partnerships 

Angela Savage (Public Libraries Victoria)

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This conference is proudly brought to you by:

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Neighbourhood Houses Victoria respectfully acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which this conference will be held - the Wadawurrung and Dja Dja Wurrung people, their spirits, ancestors, elders and community members past and present.

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