Join the LG Professionals SA Community Development Network for their first Forum of 2025: Exploring Inclusion in Local Government: Beyond Plans and Policies.
Local governments play a crucial and hands-on role in fostering inclusive communities, where they welcome and support people in a variety of situations, all with unique needs. These demographics include living with disability, neurodivergent, culturally diverse, newly arrived, First Nations, LGBTQIA+, youth and aged populations and a range of other individuals and groups.
Strategies, frameworks, and legislation help guide this work, however, in true community development style, the stories of good practice within our communities is where inclusion really starts to come alive.
Join us for an engaging online session where we’ll share short stories illustrating the power of authentic inclusion, together with the latest initiatives that councils are adopting when approaching inclusion. This session is for anyone involved in working with communities.
Further information on these short stories is below:
Inclusion across council: Driving change through authentic engagement
Kelly Morris, Community Inclusion Project Officer, City of Tea Tree Gully
The City of Tea Tree Gully Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (DAIP) community reference group, with lived experience of disability, has encouraged council to enhance its approach to disability and neurodiversity. Authentic engagement with this group has influenced Elected Members and departments across the council, leading to the installation of many varied initiatives; of which this presentation will touch on three:
1) Changing Places facilities
2) a series of autism regulation projects
3) the development of inclusive playgrounds, accessible events, and expos.
Learn how this group formed and how their stories and advocacy have driven meaningful and embedded changes across council.
Building Understanding and Inclusion Through Human Library Events
Abdulsalam Hamid Juma, Community Development Practitioner, City of Charles Sturt
Abdulsalam will share insights from an innovative initiative that brings communities together through storytelling, shared meals, and meaningful partnerships.
This model fosters genuine connection by engaging with ‘human books’ - individuals from diverse backgrounds, including refugees, asylum seekers and First Nations peoples, who share their lived experiences in a supportive space.
Learn how collaboration and community-led approaches build empathy, strengthen relationships, and inspire deeper inclusion beyond policies. Discover key insights and explore how this partnership-driven model can be adapted in local government settings to create lasting impact.
Enriching the Lives of Riverland & Mallee Young People Through Creativity, Theatre and Play
Sam Wannan, Artistic Director and Fleur Kilpatrick, Associate Artist, Riverland Youth Theatre
Riverland Youth Theatre (RYT) enriches the lives of young people in the South Australian Riverland and Mallee through creativity, theatre and play. They make art with and for community, and empower children and young people as artists, makers, storytellers, learners, and doers. They offer professional development for teachers and artists, opportunities for parents/carers to interact creatively with their children, community arts-based projects and, crucially, a safe place for all children and young people to be themselves.
RYT are deeply committed to providing a space that is safe, inclusive, and joyful for all children. Inclusion, accessibility, and affordability is central to how they work and the activities they offer. They acknowledge that there are many barriers that may prevent young people and their families from engaging with art. They proactively work to dismantle these barriers, embrace difference and welcome our beautiful, diverse community.
Integrated planning vs multiple plans: A cohesive, outcomes-focused approach
Erica Gurner, Social and Cultural Sustainability Planner, City of Marion
Inclusion is about both, values - how we approach and consider all people, and also context - who we are including and what we're including them in. Different groups often need nuanced approaches and within a council, this can lead to the creation of multiple overlapping plans that can become overwhelming.
An outcomes approach to strategic planning can help tie plans together in an integrated way, by telling one overall story and branching off into the sub-stories of different groups as needed.
At the City of Marion, our new Regional Public Health Plan (RPHP) makes visible the health and wellbeing system in the council and tells the story of the outcomes we want for the whole community. We are working towards using this plan as an umbrella, with other plans branching off and reflecting nuanced inclusion needs and approaches for different sectors of the community. These plans include our DAIP, Reconciliation Action Plan, Multicultural Plan, and Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging Plan. We are also looking at how some of these other plans can be consolidated.
Intercultural City
Vesna Haracic, Manager Community Diversity & Inclusion, City of Salisbury
Intercultural Salisbury is a leading initiative that celebrates and fosters cultural diversity within our community. Through innovative programs like Intercultural Workshops and Diversitours, we create meaningful opportunities for connection, understanding, and inclusion. Diversitours is Australia’s first cultural tourism project of its kind, offering immersive experiences that showcase the rich cultural heritage of Salisbury’s diverse communities. These initiatives not only promote social cohesion but also position the City of Salisbury as a model for intercultural engagement, demonstrating how embracing diversity enriches our local identity and strengthens community ties.
Yitpi Yartapuultiku Aboriginal Cultural Centre Co-Design
Matthew Rose, Program Lead - Yitpi Yartapuultiku Aboriginal Cultural Centre,
City of Port Adelaide Enfield
Matthew will share his experiences working with Aboriginal community in a Country-centred way to create powerful public places. Yitpi Yartapuultiku is a new and exciting Aboriginal cultural destination in the heart of Port Adelaide. Every aspect of the design shaped by cultural knowledge of Custodians. Through deep listening throughout the co-design process, cultural practices and narratives have been integrated to ensure authentic representation of Aboriginal history and culture.
LGBTQIA+ Youth Inclusion – Creating safe spaces for the rainbow community
Ally Stewart, Studio 20 Youth Centre Coordinator,
City of Onkaparinga
The City of Onkaparinga will share their youth led initiative and the program development journey of the organisation’s first LGBTQIA+ youth group, Spark.
Developed in 2023, the program was born out of community feedback where a gap had been identified for young people identifying as LGBTQIA+. This presentation will discuss:
- The gaps and needs identified in community and why these spaces are so important
- The development of the youth program and how it runs today.
Steps staff have taken to make spaces safer for LGBTQIA+ young people and community.
Registrations for this forum are open to Local Government Professionals Australia, SA members, council employees, employees of regional subsidiaries and Local Government Professionals Australia, SA invited guests.
By registering for this forum you will be subscribed to the LG Professionals SA mailing list. Should you wish to unsubscribe at any time, please email admin@lgprofessionalssa.org.au.
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