
ABCD for Inclusion – 11th November 2026
Event description
This session will explore and discuss how we intentionally introduce community centered work as a legitimate and important part of person centered work.
Through this workshop participants will learn, discuss and practice person centered and community centered approaches through:
- Discussing the principles and philosophy of ABCD
- Practical strategies to find and engage community assets
- Principles of Community Mobilization
- Discovering Care & Learning Conversations
- Exploring how agencies and communities work together more effectively
- Building an ABCD community partnership
- Practicing with effective tools; circles of support, mapping relationships and harmonising the things worth doing
Anyone who wants to explore participatory inclusion and collaboration in communities:
- Business leaders and social entrepreneurs
- Community members and not for profit leaders
- Community organisers and their teams
- Next generation leaders and other young activists
- Local, State and federal Department leaders, policy officers and program managers
- NDIS directors, team leaders, planners, Local Area Coordinators, Coordinators of support and support workers
This training will run from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, with breaks for lunch (45 minutes) and some mini breaks as well (10 – 15 minutes)
If cost is a barrier, please let us know.
Your hosts for this event are:
Fiona – ABCD Facilitator
Fiona is a creative and innovative facilitator with a passion for bringing people together around what’s local, possible, and already strong. Grounded in Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD), she believes conversations matter and that meaningful collaboration sparks change. Fiona works across facilitation, graphic harvesting, community consultation, and co-designing projects alongside communities and their partners. With experience across early years, adult education, and diverse community settings, she especially enjoys supporting 8–12-year-olds to recognise their strengths and voice. Now based in northern Tasmania, Fiona loves family, friends, alpacas, chooks, volunteering—and baking excellent scones.
Harley – Community Builder & ABCD Facilitator
Harley is a passionate Community Builder and ABCD Facilitator with a background as diverse as the communities he works with. His career has spanned dance, high-end hairdressing, and medical management and governance, shaping a creative, strategic, and people-centred approach. At Jeder, Harley focuses on asset mapping, project development, and coaching, grounded in the belief that community building thrives in the “wibbly wobbly,” not straight lines. He values continual learning through working with diverse groups and practices slowing down through Four Fold Practice. Based in Perth, Harley loves beach time, his Cavoodles, and a well-curated shoe collection.
Lee – ABCD Facilitator
Lee brings a lifelong passion for community to their work as an ABCD Facilitator, delivering training, workshops, and strategic planning. With over 14 years’ experience across local government and the not-for-profit sector in Australia and the UK, Lee has focused on creating the conditions for organisations and systems to work alongside community. Their work spans social housing, homelessness, mental health, family and domestic violence, and disability. A long-time volunteer and board member, Lee has helped establish organisations addressing health inequality and supporting LGBTQIA+ communities. At the heart of Lee’s work is a strong commitment to recognising and building on the strengths and assets communities already hold.
Dee – ABCD & Art of Hosting Practitioner | Intentional Nomad
Dee is a highly experienced ABCD and Art of Hosting practitioner with over 30 years’ experience in community development, facilitation, and co-design. Known for her grounded, down-to-earth style, she brings people together to tap into the collective wisdom of communities and strengthen what’s already there. Dee has worked across youth work, community-based research, and community–university partnerships, and has facilitated hundreds of workshops, conferences, and events internationally. An Intentional Nomad, Dee has lived and worked in more than 20 countries and continues to support communities, organisations, and networks to collaborate in meaningful and transformative ways.




