Program

Expressions of interest for breakout sessions now open!

We invite you to shape and deliver this year’s conference program and we welcome Expressions of Interest for breakout sessions. EOIs should address our theme Power, Purpose, Possibilities to meet the needs of people working in various roles in the legal assistance sector.

At the 2019 National Community Legal Centres Conference Power, Purpose, Possibilities we will be considering these hot topics:

  • What do social, political and environmental pressures mean for our communities and our clients?  
  • What impact does the growing inequality and climate crisis have on the kinds of legal issues our communities experience?
  • Where does the community legal sector fit within wider movements for social justice and climate justice?
  • How do we stay hopeful, healthy and resilient?

Plug into interactive workshops and inspiring presentations. Together we will find a way to re-energise our sense of justice, fairness and equity and, perhaps most importantly, our sense of hope. 

People acting collectively has always been a source of unbridled power, and this year’s conference is the platform to light the fuse!

EOI close date: 10 May 2019
What are we looking for?

We are looking for engaging sessions which:

  • Relate to the conference theme – Power, Purpose, Possibilities
  • Fall under one of the four main program streams (listed below)
  • Focus on skill building for workers in the community legal sector through interactive workshops

Conference Theme

Read the full conference theme here.

Streams

  1. Leading change - As we build a shared vision for a thriving community legal sector, contribute your ideas on the sector’s future. This is the perfect forum to discuss hot topics and challenges facing the legal assistance sector, and our communities.
     
  2. Improving outcomes - This will be a series of sessions focussed on innovative service design and delivery to achieve positive person and community-centred outcomes.  We invite presentations contributing to a vision of practice placing people and communities at the centre of everything we do, for example, building on holistic and wrap-around models of service delivery.
     
  3. Supporting staff - Enhance the skills and capacity of people working in the legal assistance sector to deliver vital services to the community. We invite workshops to benefit specific groups within the community legal sector workforce contributing to professional development for lawyers, managers, intake staff, administrators, community engagement workers, social workers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers and more.
     
  4. Good governance - We continue to focus on continuous improvement in good governance and management of community organisations and look for sessions that build skills in leadership, building sustainable organisations, organisational risk management, accreditation and quality improvement.

Engaging Delivery

EOIs should include a description on how your session will engage participants. 

This is about proactively encouraging audience interaction, discussion, debate and learning. Participants should walk away from the session with new ideas and skills and a sense of engagement.

What if my presentation skills need a little assistance?

Presenters will be encouraged to attend an informative webinar focussed on how to deliver workshops and presentations to adult learners. Speakers will be welcome to share any concerns or questions they might have during the webinar. Details will be provided at a later date.

Here are a few ideas you could consider for you presentation:

Workshop: audience breaks into smaller groups to discuss their own experience or knowledge on the topic

Ask participants to come up with their own solutions to situations based on the elements of your presentation

Participants are given a case study to analyse, make recommendations and report back to the group

Throw a question out to the participants to brainstorm solutions

Arrange for a panel to present their views on an issue and have the audience ask questions

Create silent moments for participants to reflect upon the information and share their thoughts with the person sitting next to them

Ask participants to think of how they could apply your experience and practice in their own centres / situations and compare notes with their neighbour

Screen short clips from Ted Talks, or other reputable providers to drive the message home

Having provided context to your topic, Skype in an expert for a question and answer session from another perspective
How to submit an EOI

EOIs need to address questions raised during registration to provide clarity around your proposed presentation. We welcome submissions at all stages – if you have just a brief idea or a fully developed presentation, we want to hear from you!

You will be asked:

  • For a summary of your proposed presentation
  • How your idea fits the conference theme
  • Select a conference stream and
  • Include the learning outcomes, skill and knowledge for participants
  • Your expected audience group

You will also be given an option to provide a photo and short bio for the conference program. This will only be used if your submission is selected and saves us asking you again later on.

Close date: 10 May 2019

 

How will I know if I’m successful?

Upon submitting your EOI, you will receive an immediate acknowledgement of your submission by email. If you have not received this email, contact naclc@conferenceonline.com.au.

The Conference Organising Committee will review all EOIs after the closing date. Applicants will be notified by email if they have been selected to participate in / contribute to the Conference program this year, have been wait-listed or are unsuccessful.

PLEASE NOTE:

Due to the likely volume of EOIs submitted, we may suggest combining elements of your EOI with another presenter/session to enable a variety of perspectives. If this is the case, NACLC will contact you and coordinate joint planning with other speakers who will work together on the given issue.

What do I do if I’ve been selected?

Congratulations! Presenters will be required to register for the conference and pay the applicable registration fee. You will also have the opportunity to participate in an online training session, focussed on engaging adult audiences.

Who do I contact for questions about my application or the conference?

Feel free to call the conference organisers on 07 5580 8677.

If you have questions prior to submitting your EOI, please call us before you submit your application.