Beyond Talk
The why & how of community centred practice
With the breakdown of institutions, cost of living crisis, growing inequality and societal polarisation, there is a need to explore what will truly unite communities and enable them to care better for one another. The day will bring together 2 streams of conversation. The first focuses on the work organisations can do to centre the community in their practice. The second, the role an activated community can have in creating their own version of flourishing and how organisations and government can come alongside, to support without over shadowing.
The day will start with a provocation from Andre and Cormac to guide our thinking when it comes to organisational change and community activation, feature a World Cafe event where everyone will get the opportunity to input their thoughts on key questions around the topic, a panel conversation between academics and practitioners and a keynote address from both Andre and Cormac.
Cormac Russell is the Managing Director, Nurture Development, Ireland, UK, Global. He is the author of Asset-Based Community Development-Looking Back to Look Forward. Cormac is a faculty member of the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) Institute at Northwestern University, Chicago. He has trained communities, agencies, NGOs and governments in ABCD and other strengths-based approaches in Kenya, Rwanda, Southern Sudan, South Africa, the UK, Ireland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Canada and Australia. Cormac invites us to revisit the role of public services and explains how an assets approach can improve community health, safety, and economic and environmental wellbeing.
Cormac Russell
Dr Andre Van Eymeren is a community builder, writer and educator, former Managing Director of the Social Flourishing Institute and author of Flourishing Cities. For over 20 years, he’s worked at the intersection of practice and research to equip people to lead change in their communities—whether by supporting at-risk youth, training grassroots leaders, or advising local governments. His work spans Australia, Asia, and Africa, teaching on strength-based community development, concepts in ancient wisdom, and systems that support human flourishing. He holds a Master’s degree from the University of Divinity and a PhD from Swinburne University, where he explored ancient wisdom as a framework for community wellbeing. He has just entered a new chapter which will see him writing and producing content to equip and encourage grassroots practitioners and others to travel their own path towards community flourishing.
Dr Andre Van Eymeren
Thursday 27th August 2026
Greg Craven Centre
Australian Catholic University, St Patricks Campus
Level 7, 115 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy
9:30AM - 4:30PM
Refreshments and light lunch will be provided
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