An invitation to a landmark event on deliberative democracy, hosted by the Citizen Assemblies for South Australia
Citizen Assemblies for South Australia site (CAfSA) has organised a national conference in Adelaide in June that we recommend to anyone interested in deliberative democracy. With an impressive line-up of speakers, the conference promises to be a landmark in awareness raising about the potential of deliberative democracy to improve our political system.
Day One is a day-long conference costing only $45 and open to all members of the public. It will bring together leading voices from across the country to explore a new way forward—one that puts everyday citizens at the heart of decision-making. Day Two is designed for elected representatives, senior council staff and community engagement practitioners, and will explore key aspects of deliberative democracy. Find more details below.
14th June: Public Conference on Citizen Assemblies - Policy without Politics
An unmissable day of bold ideas, honest conversations, and fresh thinking about the future of democracy. You’ll hear from some of the most influential thinkers and practitioners in the field including:
Jay Weatherill (Former SA Premier)
Simon Birmingham (Retiring SA Liberal Senator)
Nicholas Gruen (Lateral Economics CEO)
Iain Walker (Exec. Dir. of newDemocracy)
Emma Fletcher (Co-CEO of democracyCo)
David Van Reybrouck (Brussels-based author of ‘Against Elections - the Case for Democracy’)
Elizabeth Farrelly (CEO of The Better Cities Initiative)
Sonia Randhawa (Sortition Foundation)
15th June: Seminar & Workshop on Deliberative Engagement for Local Government
The seminar will explore key aspects of deliberative democracy and what makes it different from traditional engagement methods. We will share a number of Australian local government case studies which showcase:
How deliberative processes can help you prevent outrage in your communities around budgets;
How to effectively manage polarising problems concerning your community (saving time, money and reducing community backlash);
Approaches which can embed deliberative practice in the work of councils.
You will have the benefit of two of Australia’s most experienced deliberative practitioners – Emma Fletcher, CoCEO democracyCo and Sonia Randhawa, from Sortition Foundation.
This meeting is ideal for elected representatives, senior council staff and community engagement practitioners alike. Enjoy a relaxed session where Emma and Sonia will be available to provide you with bespoke advice that meets your individual council needs.
Expect thought-provoking presentations, dynamic panel sessions, and the chance to engage with ideas that could reshape our political future. If you're ready to think differently about democracy, this is the conference for you. Visit the Citizen Assemblies for South Australia site to learn more about the events.