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Festival of Connection reunites change-makers

The Festival of Connection provides the opportunity to connect and share experiences, build a strong collective voice for systemic reform and better outcomes for children and communities.

We partner with visionary people and organisations dedicated to improving the long-term learning, health and social outcomes for young Australians. Our partner ‘lighthouse’ initiatives shine a light on better ways to drive lasting change.

We partner with visionary people and organisations dedicated to improving the long-term learning, health and social outcomes for young Australians. Our partner ‘lighthouse’ initiatives shine a light on better ways to drive lasting change.

Bringing our lighthouse keepers together through the Festival of Change was a highlight of our calendar from 2017 to 2019. It provided the opportunity to connect and share experiences, build a strong collective voice for systemic reform and better outcomes for children and communities. But the impact of COVID on communities and the rolling travel restrictions prevented the festival from going ahead in 2020 and 2021.

None of us wanted to let another year go by without coming together, so we redesigned the Festival of Change as the Festival of Connection, which was held in March 2022. And while this was a one-day virtual get together, rather than an in-person catch up, everyone agreed it was a great success.

The virtual Festival allowed our partners to reconnect, share what’s happening across the partnerships, strengthen their network of support, and re-energise and recommit to how and why we all do the work we do.

Such an impressive group of people. It gives me goosebumps to think of all the achievements.

Festival of Connection – Feedback from participant

After more than five years of progressing place-based approaches, these lighthouse organisations are now achieving shifts in power and decision-making. They are also developing more meaningful ways of measuring impact and telling stories of change. The lighthouses intend to come together later in the year to share more deeply how they are driving systems change in these areas.

Read more about our partners.

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