Rural Gathering

The Gathering offered participants diverse, dynamic and deep opportunities to explore the central theme of community-led rejuvenation through social enterprise, with a focus on accelerating leadership in the next generation, learning from First Nations people, building networks and the enabling role of government and philanthropy. 

Event objectives

1. Knowledge: Build understanding and recognition of social enterprise as a lever for community-led rejuvenation in rural communities.
2. Know-how: Influence and accelerate community-led rejuvenation policies and approaches via development of a Rural Gathering Manifesto.
3. Networks: Develop a collaborative network to foster community-led rejuvenation models internationally. 

Highlights

• Participants were part of our first Rural Gathering to be held in the Southern Hemisphere. 
• They explored pioneering approaches to community-led rejuvenation being used in rural Australia and rural communities across the globe. 
• Participants joined an immersive field trip across North East Victoria to meet founders and visit vibrant rural social enterprises, including Indigenous and student-led enterprises.
• They also toured Old Beechworth Gaol – a site that is being re-purposed as an exemplar of social enterprise, impact investment and rural rejuvenation through community-owned assets.  
• Participants contributed to a Forum and Report Back session that brought together some of the world’s most experienced and effective social enterprise policymakers and practitioners with philanthropy and government.