May 2005

Communities focus for conference

The ongoing health and wellbeing of communities and community groups will be in the spotlight at the third annual Communities in Control Conference at Moonee Valley Racecourse on June 6 and 7.

The Imagine: A Healthy Future. Imagine: Where Communities are in Control conference is convened by ourcommunity.com.au and Centacare Catholic Family Services.

Speakers at the conference will include:

• Judy Rogers—CEO of the City of Vancouver and winner of a United Nations award for innovation for her community-building efforts. Ms Rogers will speak about local government and communities as a ‘passionate and equal relationship’ and her innovative efforts in bringing people together to tackle social issues in the city.

• Justice Michael Kirby—Justice of the High Court of Australia on the topic of leadership;

• Dennis Trewin—Australian Bureau of Statistics CEO and a pioneer of social statistics which are leading to more meaningful measurement of social capital in Australia;

• John Thwaites—Deputy Premier of Victoria and Minister for Victorian Communities;

• Deakin University’s Dr Betsy Blunsdon and Associate Professor Ken Reed—principal researchers into the relationship between individuals’ lives and their communities.

• Melbourne University’s Professor Neville Norman—a dynamic communicator on economic trends and their impact on communities;

• Professor Robert Manne—Associate Professor in Politics at La Trobe University.

• Dick Estens—NSW cotton grower, internationally recognised for developing a successful program to re-invent the NSW town of Moree with a new approach to Aboriginal employment.

As part of this year’s conference, there is a search for a Community Group Idol to identify the Australian community group that stands out for its innovative, forward-thinking, inclusive and vibrant approach.

• For more information on the conference and Community Group Idol visit www.ourcommunity.com.au or call Steve Moriarty on 9320 6811.