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CONFERENCE
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Community
Building, Partnerships and Social Enterprise
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Darebin Arts Centre, Melbourne
8/9 September 2005
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Over the past five years, interest
in community building has emerged in almost every
institution and government in the country. Yet
precisely how 'community' is to be built remains an open
question. And what the role of governments and large
institutions should be in this process has yet to attract any
real consensus across the social and political spectrum.
Informal family and community
networks, small voluntary groups and small businesses remain the
agencies that generate most of the real community building that
happens.
Governments, large institutions and corporates may help or
hinder this process. How can they help? What kind of
partnerships are of genuine long-term value in community
building? These are two of the critical questions this two day conference will explore.
Interest in social enterprise has
also emerged rapidly in the past five years. It too remains
subject to a wide variety of interpretations. Social enterprise
may mean the adoption of more business-like methods in
not-for-profits, or it may mean the discovery of collective
economic power on the part of a marginalised community. Does the
corporatisation of NGOs enhance community building? In what
circumstances? These are also critical questions for this
conference.
This event is an opportunity for
community and business leaders, social entrepreneurs, policy
makers and investors to do a national stocktake on community
building, partnerships and social
enterprise to determine where we are heading and what we need to
now do to produce real impacts.
KEY QUESTIONS
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Where is the
'community building' agenda heading?
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How big is the gap
between policy rhetoric and practice on the ground?
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What are the
criteria for determining success and failure in community
building?
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Is
social enterprise only for the disadvantaged? If not, is it too
closely associated with welfare objectives rather than community
building objectives?
EVEN
HARDER QUESTIONS
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Is there a role for
government in supporting community building?
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Can larger agencies work to
facilitate the empowerment of small groups and communities?
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Can private sector and
philanthropic resources be attracted to blue collar and unfashionable
communities?
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What are the political and
cultural obstacles to an agenda of community and social capital
generation?
SUBMIT YOUR IDEAS
The program will be built around
questions such as these. You may submit topics and ideas for the
conference by using our online form. CLICK
HERE
to submit a topic, venture or
partnership idea for our Ideas Bank.
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SU
AGENDA CLICK
HERE to see the conference program.
REGISTER
CLICK HERE to register.
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SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
AWARDS
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The Social Enterprise Awards, will be presented during the conference.
Nominations are invited for the Social Enterprise Awards in
three categories, as below.
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Enterprising Community Award
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For the community that has been at the forefront in developing new initiatives in social
enterprise; been the most inclusive of community members; tackled
problems within their community by working together; and developed a community-wide response to the social problems it has faced. Entries can be from individual
neighbourhoods, regional or rural communities or parts of metropolitan areas – either suburb or intra-suburb level, or from communities of interest.
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Social Business Award
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For the social business that has been operating for more than two years as at 30 June
2005, and which is growing its business through innovation, new
markets and entrepreneurial activities. It should be a business that focuses on developing trade for the majority of its income, rather than any grant support. To be eligible, the
business must receive grant funding for less than 40% of its turnover.
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Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award
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For the person who has demonstrated the most outstanding commitment to social enterprise in Australia over the past year.
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CLICK HERE to make a nomination for the Social Enterprise Awards.
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Social
Business Update
Subscription
newsletter for private sector, investors and funders on
social enterprise. Local and international news, views,
events, and profiles of ventures of interest. Subscription - $110
pa. CLICK HERE to subscribe.
Partnerships
and the New Governance
Subscription
newsletter for governments and public sector agencies on
social enterprise, partnerships and innovation in
government/ community relationships. News, views and events.
Subscription - $110 pa CLICK HERE to
subscribe.
Project
News
Update
on projects with an emphasis on participation and partnerships
- available to Partners
only
Social
Enterprise
News
Free
monthly
update on SEP news and events.
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