Finding Ground Conference
February 2021

It’s with genuine excitement that we reconnect with you today with an update on the WACOSS Conference, Finding Ground: Building a better way back together.

As you may recall, the conference was postponed at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic – first to October 2020, and then again to the now established dates, 22-24 February 2021.

Work on the conference has now been resumed, and the revised conference theme has been finalised. The theme holds at its centre the future-looking and co-acting principles of the original, considering what they mean in light of our new global and local circumstances.

We’re thrilled to now be able to provide the sector and our stakeholders an update on planning for the conference. Given the current circumstances in Western Australia, WACOSS’s plan is to proceed with planning a face-to-face conference, providing one of the first major opportunities for the community service sector to take stock – exchange and support, review and reflect, assess and envision – since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. We need to meet, and early 2021 is both timely and imperative to affirm pathways out of response and into recovery.

We’re pleased to be able to assure you, however, that we are also developing a contingency plan for a virtual conference, which we will be able to switch to delivering instead should circumstances change. This virtual conference would be hosted via an online platform that functions as a “virtual space”, enabling a high degree of interactivity and delegate networking, along with other exciting features.

In light of this necessary contingency, and in consideration of the tremendous challenges the sector has faced in 2020, we are thrilled to announce that ticket prices for the WACOSS Conference will be reduced by 30%. It is our hope that this enables greater accessibility for a wider range of delegates to attend, whilst also ensuring no value for money is lost in the event of an unavoidable switch to a virtual conference. If you have already registered, we will be in touch to arrange a 30% refund.

We also have news regarding the Pitch category of the abstract callout. Due to the uniquely temporal nature of pitching a new idea, this category will be reopened for submissions until 5pm, Friday 23 October. This will ensure that any novel and innovative ideas to come from the entirely new circumstances we have navigated this year have an opportunity for inclusion. Visit the abstracts page on the WACOSS Conference website for full details.

Visit the WACOSS Conference website to read the revised theme for Finding Ground: Building a better way back together in full, and to register your attendance.

We look forward seeing you at what is sure to be an exceptional and significant conference.

Community Services Excellence Awards

Have you made your nomination for the Community Services Excellence Awards? The awards are a partnership between the Department of Communities and WACOSS, and supported by Lotterywest, and, perhaps more than ever, an indispensable opportunity for the sector to reflect on its achievements.

To ensure the awards have the greatest relevance for the context and time they take place in, existing nominators have the opportunity to revise and resubmit their nomination to best reflect the work and achievements of the nominee, with the closing date for CSEA nominations extended to 5pm, Friday 13 November 2020. To inquire about resubmitting an existing nomination by the extended closing date, please contact wacoss@eventandconferenceco.com.au. Alternatively, to submit a new nomination, please visit the nomination portal on the CSEA website.

Acknowledgement of Country

Ngala kaaditj Noongar Wadjuk moort keyen kaadak nidja boodja.

In the spirit of deepening relationship, we acknowledge Wadjuk Noongar people as the original custodians of the land on which our metro office sits. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Western Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to Elders both past and present.