Community Development Conference 2015

With over 200 delegates from 13 countries in attendance the Unitec-hosted Community Development Conference 2015 is shaping up as one of the biggest of its kind.

Over the next two days (February 19-20) some of the best and brightest in the field will share their knowledge on a range of issues at our Waitakere Campus in Henderson.

From addressing homelessness through community initiatives to youth re-claiming democracy to how people come together to restore a stream, the art and value of community-led development and change will be explored. Major themes include place making, community economic development, diverse communities and re-claiming democracy, with quality assured papers, poster presentations and practical skills workshops.

The conference also includes international speakers discussing issues of religion and community development in African communities, and the diversity of men and boys in the sex trade in Sri Lanka.

The conference is the initiative of Head of Department of Social Practice John Stansfield who says Henderson will play host to the third largest international conference of its kind. He says the conference will “celebrate the rebirth of a transformative discipline”. “I am as excited as a four year old at Christmas about this,” he says.

“When I trained in community development in the 70s it was a rich and rewarding field, but then we moved into the greedy period of neo-liberal reform and all the journals and gatherings and hui dried up.

“But the growth is starting again. It’s come back strong and we are at the heart of it. I have to pay tribute to our staff who have really soldiered on with this and said ‘we have to teach this’.”

He says councils around New Zealand have cottoned on to the value of community development in running their cities and towns. “Auckland Council has several community development experts and others are coming from around the country to attend.”

The conference will showcase community development training opportunities and initiatives. It will also celebrate the launch of Whanake, the Pacific Journal of Community Development and Social Enterprise.

ends

© Scoop Media