Pre-conference Workshops

1 day ABCD Introduction Workshops

When: 2 December 2008

Where: University of Newcastle

Facilitated by: Dee Brooks and John Andriunas, The Family Action Centre

Cost: $242.00 (inc gst)

For contents of the training and details on the facilitators click here

2 day ABCD Effective Facilitation Workshop

When: 1 – 2 December 2008

Where: University of Newcastle

Facilitated by: Ted Smeaton, Inspiring Communities

Cost: $440.00 (inc gst

Scroll down for details on the contents and the facilitaor biography

Assets Based Community Development Effective Facilitation - 1 and 2 December 2008

This practical hands on two day event is designed to provide ABCD practitioners with skills, information and tools enabling them to facilitate programs and support others in ABCD perspectives and strategies including;

In depth understanding of the philosophy and practice of Asset Based Community Development
Facilitation and training approaches and skills related to Asset Based Community Development
Shifting the development mindset from needs and deficiencies to assets and capacities
Highlighting, mapping and connecting the diverse range of community assets
Harnessing the connected assets to a hopeful future for the community
How agencies, government and communities can work together more effectively
Strategies that work; circ
les, connections, mapping, mobilizing, innovative grants, world cafe, hosting and applicative enquiry.
Developing plans of action
In-depth understanding of ABCD tools and resources
Participants will have an opportunity to experiment and use a full range of ABCD facilitation processes. There will be a blend of short presentations, practical skills exercises, and small group discussions.

Ted Smeaton, Inspiring Communities

Ted Smeaton is a community enthusiast and a builder of community organisations and civil society. Ted has worked in Australia and Asia assisting communities and agencies to come up with innovative ways of stimulating community and social renewal. He has a passion for assisting in the creation of healthy, caring, inclusive, sustainable, and just communities.

Ted has a background in community work, community education, senior management and as a tertiary lecturer. His employment experience includes the role of senior manager for The Benevolent Society, where he established their first regional and rural program, which in five years grew from one part-time worker to a state-wide program with an operating budget of $25m.

Ted has been instrumental in establishing nine new community-based organisations and developed a number of national programs. He has an extensive history in supporting Australian Indigenous organisations.

Ted is now the Director of Inspiring Communities and partner with Bank of Ideas to promote these important ideas with the necessary facilitation, creativity and skills.

This one day workshop will include:

The fundamental principles and practices of Asset Based Community Development
Tools to move from asset mapping to mobilising communities
How to discover new methods to discover what people care about enough to act
The role of organisations in building community
How to develop ABCD in action plans

Dee Brooks, The Family Action Centre - 2 December 2008

Dee Brooks has been a Youth Worker, Community Researcher and Community Development Worker in the Community Services industry for 10 years. She currently works on the ‘Disaster Planning in Park Communities’ project looking at the resilience of park communities during an emergency and assisting with development of evacuation plans for 55 caravan parks in the Hunter Valley. She also coordinates the B.I.G. project (small grants for big ideas) with the Caravan Project and facilitates the ABCD Asia Pacific Network. Dee is a parent, partner and passionate community worker.

John Andriunas, The Family Action Centre

John Andriunas is the Community Development Worker and Coordinator of the PlayTime project. John was formally the Community Worker/Coordinator with the Fathers in Communities project. He has successfully conducted playgroups and after school activities for families as part of the PlayTime project based on the ABCD model. John has presented to government and non-government agencies on the work of the Fathers in Communities project and has developed best practice resources to assist other agencies and organisations to facilitate their involvement with fathers. John’s previous work was with young people in residential care. He holds a Diploma in Community Services (Youth Work) and is currently enrolled in a Bachelor of Social Science Degree.

ABCD banner