At the 2006 WACOSS Conference

Both presentations promise to be lively, challenging and exciting, and will reveal many of the 'ways of working' of Project SafeCom's 'cutting edge' methodologies in enabling a creative and new intersection between the community (you!) and Federal government, initially in terms of 'creating dents' in the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers, and now and into the future, responding to broader human rights issues and the impact of Climate change on social justice. Hear how we help to keep parliamentarians accountable and responsive!

Both presentations are on Day One of the Conference, Thursday 4 May 2006.

Below is a copy of the Conference Program - contents mirrored from the WACOSS website - while all links to the WACOSS website sections about the conference, including registration procedures, are right at the bottom of this page.

Conference Themes:

Funding & Finance

Hear about the latest in Government funding policy both here and interstate / overseas. Learn new and creative methods for securing funds from government, non-government and the corporate sector. Improve financial & organisational management and make your funding go further.

Faith & Fortitude

Discuss what drives and sustains individuals working in the social services field. Explore the core values, faith-based and secular philosophies that underpin the dialogue in policy and social service delivery. Renew your energy and passion for your work and inspire others.

Fair Go or Fair Game?

Examine current social justice and human rights issues. Understand the changing role of advocacy, advocacy organisations and activists. Explore the role of the media, politics and social attitudes in determining support or antipathy towards the socially excluded and their advocates. Develop strong alliances and strategies for social change.

Future Technology

Learn about the technology that you will use at work and in everyday life in coming years. Understand current technological solutions to overcome challenges in service delivery. Examine the "digital divide", including IT issues and solutions for the social services sector and access for communities.

Fighting Fear

Understanding the "Culture of Fear"; how it manifests and who benefits or suffers. Examine the impact of fear on Australian society, community and cultural groups and individuals. Find creative strategies for overcoming the negative impacts of fear.

DAY 1: Thursday 4 May 2006
07:40 - 08:40		REGISTRATION
08:40 - 08:50		Conference Open Nyoongar Welcome to Country
08:50 - 09:00		Welcome & Introduction Rae Walter, President, WACOSS
09:00 - 09:40		Keynote Presentation The Premier of Western Australia - TBC
09:40 - 09:50		Housekeeping & Conference Explanation / Warm-up MC - Gerry Gannon
09:50 - 10:30		Keynote Presentation Shaping the Future: Charles Brass, Chair, Futures Foundation
10:30 - 11:15		Morning Tea
11:15 - 12:45		Concurrent Sessions
	A	Seminar (Funding & Finance) RRR - Regional, Rural and Remote Viability, Delivery and Development Neil Hamilton, Centrecare Goldfields and Esperance Sue Kelly-Jones, Share and Care Community Service Group Inc. Professor Fiona McKenzie, Housing and Urban Research Institute of WA
	B	Seminar (Faith & Fortitude) Perspectives on Faith, Fortitude and Social Justice from diverse faith traditions Rabbi Freilich, Jewish Leader Sheikh Muhammad Agherdief, Muslim Leader Rosemary Hudson-Miller, Uniting Church Peter Brett, Buddhist Practitioner, Origins Centre Mukesh Mani, President Hindu Association of WA Bayan Meshgin, Baha'i Faith
	C	Seminar (Fair Go or Fair Game) When did 'Welfare' become a 4 Letter Word? Nola Kunnen, Department of Social Work & Social Policy, Curtin University Lin Hatfield-Dodds, President, ACOSS Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens Mary Jenkins, Organisation of Un(der)employed people of WA Inc.
	D	Seminar (Future Technology) Changing the World -- One Click at a Time Andrew Johnson, Executive Director, ACOSS Leah Watkins, Jack H Smit, Founder & Co-ordinator, Project SafeCom Having a finger in the pie in Canberra from the boondocks of Narrogin Other Speakers - TBC
	E	Seminar (Fighting Fear) Emerging Practice -- A Case Study - Addressing Homophobia through Innovation Kerstin Stender, Perth Inner City Youth Service Jaye Edwards, Outreach Services, Trinity Uniting Church Other Speakers - TBC
12:45 - 13:30		Lunch
13:30 - 14:30		Plenary Session (Funding & Finance) Shaping the Future: the role of Social Services in Australia's future Robert Fitzgerald, Founding Chair, National Roundtable of Non-Profit Organisations Andrew Johnson, Executive Director, ACOSS Other Speakers - TBC
14:30 - 14:45		Afternoon Tea
14:45 - 15:30		Plenary Session (Future Technology) "To Infinity and Beyond!" The Future of Technology in the Non-Profit Sector Nicola Thompson, Manager, ICT Consortium, UK Terry Stokes, ICT Services Director, London Advice Services Alliance, UK (TBC)
15:30 - 17:00		Concurrent Sessions
	F	Seminar (Funding & Finance) 'Slow Boiling Frogs' - Wages, Conditions &; Viability Issues for the Non-Government Human Services Sector Ruth Marshall, Australian Services Union, Ara Cresswell, ACTCOSS Mat Rowell, TASCOSS Other Speakers - TBC
	G	Seminar (Faith & Fortitude) 'Sing About Life -- Sing About Possibility!' -- The Use of Music and the Arts to inspire Hope Jacqueline Ross, Shoe String Singers Other Speakers - TBC
	H	Seminar (Fair Go or Fair Game) Are we there yet? -- Examining progress and efficacy of Homelessness Interventions in WA Pauline Bagdonavicius, Executive Director, Program And Sector Development, DCD Paul Flatau, Murdoch University Robyn Martin, Curtin University
	I	Seminar (Future Technology) Getting with the Program! Enhancing Business and Organisational Practices in the Non-Profit Sector using ICT Natalie Collins, Infoxchange Australia Brian Niedzwiecki, Chief Financial & Technology Officer, St Vincent de Paul WA Other Speakers - TBC
	J	Seminar (Fighting Fear) Scared Stiff! -- Fear and its impact on our lives Michael Thorn, Director, Office of Crime Prevention Jack H Smit, Founder and Co-ordinator, Project SafeCom Working with the issue of Fear and Public Policy Rosemary Longhurst, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
DAY 2: Friday 5 May 2006
08:00 - 08:45		REGISTRATION
08:45 - 09:00		Welcome and Recommendations from Day 1
09:00 - 09:30		Keynote Presentation Matt Birney MLA, Leader of the Opposition
09:30 - 10:15		Keynote Presentation Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow Hugh Mackay, Social Researcher and Commentator
10:15 - 11:00		Keynote Panel Fighting Fear in the land of the Fair Go! Panelists: Dr Carmen Lawrence MP Dr Samina Yasmeen, University of WA Andrew Johnson, Executive Director, ACOSS Chair: Hugh Mackay, Social Researcher and Commentator
11:00 - 11:20		Morning Tea
11:20 - 12:45		Concurrent Sessions
	K	Seminar (Funding & Finance) Practice makes Perfect: Improving practice and performance in the social services sector Lindey Andrews, WA Network Of Alcohol And Other Drug Agencies (WANADA) Kathie McLure, Health Consumers' Council Other Speakers - TBC
	L	Seminar (Faith & Fortitude) Integrating Integrity: Ethical Leadership C. Lucy Morris, Community Vision Inc. Wendy Lamotte, Team Leader - Member and Sector Development, WACOSS Kathryn Sydney-Smith, Chief Executive Officer, WA Community Foundation
	M	Seminar (Fair Go or Fair Game) Getting it Right! -- Perspectives on Delivering Human Rights Protection in WA Giz Watson MLC, Member For North Metropolitan Region Jim Ife/Lucy Fiske, Centre for Human Rights Education, Curtin University Other Speakers - TBC
	N	Seminar (Future Technology) "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity... Technology" Addressing the Digital Divide Nicola Thompson, Manager, ICT Consortium, UK Terry Stokes, ICT Services Director, London Advice Services Alliance, UK, (TBC) Other Speakers - TBC
	O	Seminar (Fighting Fear) Facing Fear -- Innovative Techniques for addressing Fear in our Community Katie Thomas, Centre for International Health, Curtin University Anna Alderson, Learning Conversations Phil Sparrow, Author & Aid Worker
12:45 - 13:40		Lunch
13:40 - 15:10		Concurrent Sessions
	P	Seminar (Funding & Finance) Jigsaws, juggling and joining-up: the challenges and rewards of inter-agency and inter-sectoral relationships Colin Penter, Matrix Consulting Group Sherry Saggers, Edith Cowan University Richard Denniss, Ex-Australia Institute
	Q	Seminar (Faith & Fortitude) Are you looking after yourself?: Maintaining faith & fortitude through improved well-being Kerrie Tim, Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination Other Speakers - TBC
	R	Seminar (Fair Go or Fair Game) "As long as you've got your Health...!?" - Programs improving access to mainstream health services for people who really need them Jennifer Keen, WA Network Of Alcohol And Other Drug Agencies (WANADA) Catherine McCloy, Canning Division Of General Practice Other Speakers - TBC
	S	Seminar (Future Technology) Back to the Future: Discovering Tomorrows Technology Charles Brass, Chair, Futures Foundation Other Speakers - TBC
	T	Seminar (Fighting Fear) Personal Experiences of Fear and Resilience Simon Quayle, Bali Bomb Survivor Ann O'Neill, Angelhands (TBC)
15:10 - 15:30		Afternoon Tea
15:30 - 16:30		Plenary Session (Faith & Fortitude) Faith & Fortitude - The importance of spirit Tim Muirhead, CSD Network Kerrie Tim, Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination Other Speakers - TBC
16:30 - 17:00		Conference Highlights
17:00		Closing Remarks

Links to WACOSS Conference website

• Registration page
• Conference Program
• Keynote Speakers
• Technology Tardis information
• Exhibition and sponsorship

Free Opportunities....

• Pre Conference Networking Sessions
• Organisation Consultation Sessions

WACOSS Conference 2006

For all enquires and additional information:
EventEdge International Management Group Pty Ltd
Nikki Graski, Event Manager
phone (08) 9387-1488 or info@eventedge.com.au

• Visit the WACOSS website
• Registration Form (PDF File)