2021 ASSEMBLY
View the 2021 Assembly Program
The Assembly brings together inspiring and insightful co-operators from around Australia, and across the globe via video link, to demonstrate how co-operatives influence positive environmental, social and economic outcomes.
Our key themes for 2021:
- Rural/Regional & Food
- Housing & Community Ownership
- Labour Services & the New Economy
Keynote speakers and panelists include:
- Ronni Kahn (in person) – Social entrepreneur & founder of Oz Harvest. Author of A Repurposed Life
- Nathan Schneider (US – online) – Journalist & author focused on models for democratic ownership and governance for online platforms
- Clr Jess Scully (in person) – Deputy Lord Mayor of Sydney & author of Glimpses of Utopia: Real Ideas for a Fairer World
- Pete Arkle (in person) – Chief Executive Officer, NSW Farmers
- And many more…
Subsidised registration options:
- Principle 6 Ticket – sponsored by the Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals. Full Bursary (Free Registration)
- Farming Together – Any farmer, fisher or forester can apply for a 100% subsidy. Farming Together sponsored 10 places at our Assembly.
- Educational Bursaries* – 90% off the cost of your ticket from Co-operative Farming and the BCCM for Fishing Farming and Forestry Co-ops.
- $25 off for NSW Residents – Use a NSW Discover Voucher when booking to receive $25 off the cost of their assembly ticket.
If you need help with what option applies to you, just email Sam for a helping hand.
*Educational Bursaries
Find out more about a 90% bursary to cover the cost of co-operative educational courses and workshops through the Co-operative Farming project managed by BCCM. The bursary can be used to fund The Co-op Federation’s specialised workshops and attendance at the Co-op Federation Assembly. The bursary is designed for farmers, fishers and foresters looking to form a co-operative, as well as supporting existing agricultural and agri-business co-operatives.
Co-operative Farming is supported by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment through funding from the Australian Government’s Starting Farm Co-operatives Program.
Assembly Dinner
A truly co-operative dinner with a menu based on ingredients directly sourced from our many producer co-operatives. A great night of food and co-operative comradery.
Online Webcast
Keynote speakers and panels from both Thursday & Friday morning sessions (9am-12.30pm) to be streamed, recorded and are available for viewing online.
COVID safe plan and cancellation policy
The 2021 Assembly has prepared and will operate a COVID Safe Plan. If Government COVID restrictions are invoked requiring a reduced capacity or cancellation The Federation will wherever possible, continue with the event offering places in order of purchase. All registrations not taken up will be offered a full refund or rollover until the Assembly is safe to proceed.
Assembly Themes
The Coop Federation seek to bring co-operative voices together at the first Co-op Federation Assembly.
Thought leadership for the Future
Co-op Federation Assembly 2021 will promote thought leadership and actions. The Assembly will focus on the challenges and capacity for existing and/or emerging Co-operatives to play a pivotal futurist role contributing to realistic and positive outcomes. The Assembly is designed to juxtapose the three plliars – Environmental, Social and Economic outcomes with practical focal themes framework including Housing & Community Ownership, Regional/Rural Farming & Food, Labour, Services and the New economy.
National, State and Local communities face new challenges in the post pandemic era. The long awaited recognition that climate change is further impacting our traditional economic models. Disruption has been unprecedented and is it Co-operatives time to flourish in a mood of collaboration. We learn through history and observe cycles in Co-opertive business, community connection and public management but do we apply it to an over the horizon vision. Co-operatives are seen as a values-based trading entity model however the reputation is often seen as “old school”. Coperatives need to challenge government, business and community alike to utilise the Co-operative model and look to a co-operative future.
Co-operative principles are applied in multiple segments forming co-operatives of Producers, Consumers, Buying Groups, Tenants/Housing and Financial co-operatives and many more. An important focus of the themes is for Co-ops to find shared learning, effective communications and opportunities to stimulate local innovation.
Conference Image & Name
Assembly – the coming together of a number of people for a particular purpose … Co-operatives
We will refresh the ongoing theme image utilising innovative art as a metaphor. The Mondrian style offers boxes with co-operative content, regional and urban roads and environment. The Assembly image challenges Co-operative to reflect the juxtaposition between traditional values and contemporary opportunity.