On behalf of Team LEAD and the Board, it is a pleasure for me to welcome you to LEAD’s 2023 conference ‘Hand-in-hand: Make it happen…Make it Matter’.

In LEAD’s continuing endeavour to support the Community Sector workforce, we are planning this conference to create a platform for growth and development opportunities for the workforce and as a celebration of …………collective learning, opportunity, hope, and new beginnings.

Community sector workforce is engaged in ‘relational’ work and this conference will provide the opportunity to meet in-person and learn together, an occasion for deep and rich conversations and shared learning. Across the two-days of the conference, we will hear from Aboriginal Elders, state and local government leaders, sector leaders, pracademics and subject matter experts, leading researchers, and service providers.

Day 1 of the conference, will focus on current and emerging sector issues and trends, building practice capacity of Community Sector practitioners by empowering personal and professional growth.

Purpose:

• What kind of shifted perspectives do WE need: as a sector, as a service provider, as a practitioner?
• As one of the largest growth industries in the state, what are our priority skill needs, how do we reskill, upskill, and cross-skill our current workforce and position our sector to attract a diverse workforce.

Expected Outcome:

• Rekindled professional connections and extended networks to address the Community Sector’s most pressing long-standing and emerging challenges,
• Increased skills and knowledge to continue providing the right services at the right time to support the well-being and safety of children, families and communities.
• Sustained culture of fulfilment and growth for the Community Sector workforce in NSW.
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Day 2 of the Conference is about capacity development of Community Sector organisations to develop and implement their organisational Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

For Day 2, a Conference Reference Group made up Elders, First Nations practitioners from organisations that operate and provide services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities in the WSNBM district, has been set up. This Reference Group is providing specialist advice into planning day 2 to improve long-term outcomes for Aboriginal children, young people, families and communities.

Purpose:   

• Unpack the challenges and experiences of developing and implementing a RAP in a small to medium not-for-profit organisation.
• Build connections and learnings between RAP organisations to develop a peer support group.

 Expected Outcome:

• Increased commitment to actions for reconciliation by building genuine and trusting relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.