Conference 2013

Power Houses  Be it , Know it, Show it

May 22, 23 and 24

Ballarat Lodge & Convention Centre (formerly known as Mercure Hotel and Convention Centre) 613 Main Road Ballarat

Registration now open! Register online HERE.  

2013 Conference Fees.

Full Conference including Thursday dinner

member           $335.00    ($368.50 incl GST)

non member    $500.00    ($550.00 incl GST)

presenter          $200.00   ($220.00 incl GST)

Thursday single day including dinner

member           $285.00    ($313.50 incl GST)

non member    $415.00    ($456.50 incl GST)

presenter          $180.00    ($198.00 incl GST)

Thursday single day without dinner

member           $225.00    ($247.50 incl GST)

non member    $350.00    ($385.00 incl GST)

presenter          $120.00   ($132.00 incl GST)

Thursday dinner only

member           $60.00   ($66.00 incl GST)

non member    $85.00   ($93.50 incl GST)

presenter          $60.00   ($66.00 incl GST)

Peter Kenyon from the Bank of Ideas headlines a program jam-packed with workshops, presentations and networking opportunities designed to support your House/Centre to know you are making a difference in your community.

The conference program offers something for everyone: new coordinators/managers, committee members, volunteers, and seasoned workers. ANHLC designs the program based on what our members tell us would be most helpful to them.

In 2013, this includes workshops on: community development principles and practice; how to engage hard to reach people in the community: setting up a community enterprise; good governance; HR issues; and how to use data effectively – just to name a few. A draft program is being circulated in the March ANHLC newsletter.

The program also provides ample opportunities for networking, as well as the chance to relax and recharge, including help with boundary setting and work-life balance issues.

The conference will commence at 1.30pm on Wed 22 May and close at 12.30pm on Fri 24 May 2013, at the Ballarat Lodge and Convention Centre, Main Road, Ballarat.

Representatives of Governance Boards/Committees had this to say about the 2012 ANHLC conference:

‘Besides the camaraderie and the excellent stories, the stats collected and how they are being used to leverage the sector was very enlightening.’

‘Met other people; saw what others are doing; a better understanding of ANHLC and network as resources. Good way to ‘benchmark’ ourselves across a variety of areas.’

Committee members found the networking opportunities particularly useful, ‘knowing that we're all in the same boat of challenges when it comes to community house governance’.

ANHLC urges NH&LCs and other interested community organisations to encourage and support staff or volunteers to attend the conference. We are proponents of adult education and lifelong learning, but sometimes we are so busy focussed on supporting the community, we forget to practice what we preach!

The ANHLC conference provides a rare professional development opportunity targeted specifically to the needs of staff and volunteers and Neighbourhood Houses, providing practical strategies and new ideas to strengthen community development practice and programs. Themes that recur in feedback from staff about what they value from the conference include the opportunity for networking, access to new ideas, inspiration, rejuvenation and practical support:

‘The interaction with others, brainstorming ideas and finding opportunities for my centre.’

‘Well rounded choice of workshops, I was very happy with all of mine. Also appreciate the "buzz" - the enthusiasm of NHs workers and committees, it is infectious.’

'Networking, and having a little legitimate space away from a busy centre. Also some of the workshops have sparked some new ideas.'

Conference program streams

• How to be a power house focussing on governance and planning skills.
• How to know you are a power house will include sessions on effective evaluation, data collection and analysis.
• How to show you are a power house will explore a range of strategies to make the most of those accountability requirements, campaigning and marketing.
• Recharge and networking will offer some all important opportunities to recharge your own power source with a bit of pampering, fun and catching up with old friends or meeting some new ones.

See draft conference program below.