Start: Mon 17 Aug, 2026 09:00 End: Mon 17 Aug, 2026 17:00
Location: 59 Cameron Avenue Conference and Event Centre, Belconnen ACT
Presented by: Cormac Russell
One of the unfortunate and unintended consequences of the NDIS is that it has conditioned many people to overlook what opportunities already exist in their communities. Instead of joining local groups, many people with disability are encouraged to use their Assistance with social and community participation funding to join ‘special’ groups. These aren’t always nearby, which means the person doesn’t develop connections and friendships closer to home in their own neighbourhood.
Families sometimes tell us that they don’t know how to support their family members with disability to connect with neighbours and locals. That’s why we’ve invited Cormac Russell to come and share some of his insights into how to discover opportunities that are right under our noses.
Cormac will share practical steps (based on Asset-Based Community Development principles) that families can take to discover local opportunities that might align with the interests of their family members with disability.
This will be a very practical workshop that invites families to not only reflect on the opportunities they already know about, but also to (quite literally) get out onto the streets and learn how to identify others.
By the end of the day, you’ll be well on the way to creating the map that will help you find the buried treasure of connections in your neighbourhood.
This workshop will have limited places and will not be recorded, so please act quickly to reserve your seats.
Workshop details
- Monday, 17 August 2026
- 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
- 59 Cameron Avenue Conference and Event Centre, Belconnen ACT
- This is a free, fully-catered event
Good to know
- Our funding from the NDIA (through a Peer Support and Capacity Building (PSCB) grant) allows us to cover all the costs associated with delivering this exciting event, so you can attend free of charge
- This event has been developed for families and their support teams
Cormac Russell
Cormac is a social explorer, an author, and a much-sought-after speaker. He is the Founding Director of Nurture Development and a member of the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) Institute at DePaul University, Chicago.
Over the last 25 years, Cormac’s work has demonstrated an enduring impact across 35 countries worldwide. He has trained communities, agencies, NGOs, and governments in ABCD and other community-based approaches across Africa, Asia, Australia/Oceania, Europe, and North America.
His most recent books are The Connected Community- Discovering the Health, Wealth, and Power of Neighbourhoods (Coauthor John McKnight); Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2022, and Rekindling Democracy – A Professional’s Guide to Working in Citizen Space; Cascade Books, 2020.
