The Working Communities International Congress will provide an opportunity for delegates to gain an international perspective of the systems, strategies and initiatives being undertaken to support improved social and economic participation.

Building effective strategies to support social inclusion and workforce participation is an objective being pursued globally.  It has been driven by ongoing pursuits to alleviate poverty and social exclusion, and is fuelled by international trends in workforce ageing.

In addition to Governments, there are many different stakeholders, groups and sectors contributing to the development of strategies in this vital area of work.  Solutions are being developed from a range of perspectives and at a number of levels. This congress will provide delegates with an opportunity to explore, and be inspired by, work being done around the globe.

What are we hoping to achieve?

The vision for the 2010 Working Communities International Congress is:

“To bring together thought leaders who are committed to improving the lives of individuals and communities through improved social and economic participation. To broaden understanding and share international perspectives and strategies that support healthy, vibrant and sustainable Working Communities.”

What will the congress include?

Working Communities International Congress will:

• Present a wide range of plenary sessions, workshops and brainstorming sessions with leading social and economic policy professionals, community and workforce development practitioners and business leaders
• Include presentations of real-life case studies, innovative models and cutting-edge research
• Provide opportunities to learn about, and compare, a number of international models of welfare and employment assistance
• Cover a diverse range of social and economic participation issues, strategies and solutions
• Showcase innovations and solutions arising from community action and business sector partnerships.

Who should attend?

The congress program has been designed to reflect the broad range of professionals who play a part in supporting improved social and economic participation and their needs. We anticipate that delegates will include a wide cross-section of people - "thought leaders" - working in social and economic policy, workforce and community development, as well as professionals, entrepreneurs and business leaders.

If you are interested in:

• International models and systems of welfare and Government funded employment assistance
• Employment services and exclusion issues, globally and in Australia
• The success of community development based approaches
• Innovations arising from business sector partnerships and collaborative strategies
• How employment and inclusion services can help communities and regions to improve productivity and skills levels
• Applying models of enterprise development to overcome social disadvantage
• The role of building social and human capital in achieving economic participation
• Enhancing employment outcomes for aboriginal communities around the world
• Effective local interventions and service strategies to assist individuals and groups facing particular barriers and exclusion from social and economic participation

And you would like to have the opportunity to:

• Learn and broaden your understanding of internationally applied approaches to social and economic participation
• Share a case study, cutting-edge model, Best Practice innovation or research paper
• Network with international colleagues also seeking to broaden their perspectives on social and economic participation; and
• Develop ideas and innovative solutions, approaches, and better practices through inspiration from leading social and economic policy professionals, community and workforce development practitioners, business leaders, entrepreneurs and researchers.

Then you should attend this Congress …..