The Purpose
The 2025 National Social Cohesion and Inclusion Conference was the fifth in a series of conferences on social cohesion hosted by the Australian Baha’i Community. These conferences aim to be an ongoing space to explore the various settings, approaches, and methods that help to foster greater social cohesion and inclusion in Australia. They are opportunities for those who are thinking deeply about the progress of our country to deliberate, learn, share ideas and reflect on experience.
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The conference theme was 'coming together around shared aspirations' and focused on the following concepts:
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Unifying dialogue and consensus-building;
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First Nations perspectives on social cohesion;
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Communities as protagonists;
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Neighbourhood settings as areas for learning and impact.
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The conference included thoughtful presentations, inspiring panels and engaging small group discussions with civil society leaders and a diversity of community representatives.
Speakers & Panellists
Welcome to Country
Craig Madden - Member, Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council
Keynote & Speakers
Melanie Mackenzie - Deputy Head, Office of Social Cohesion, Department of Home Affairs
Aleem Ali - CEO, Welcoming Australia
Anthea Hancocks - CEO, Scanlon Foundation Research Institute
Yvonne Weldon AM - Councillor, City of Sydney
Türkan Aksoy - NSW Coordinator, Welcoming Cities
Panellists
Dr. Penny Taylor - Race Relations Researcher
Daniel Barakate - Director, Commissioning and Planning, NSW Department of Comunities and Justice
Samim Loftus - Board Member, NSW/ACT Training Institute
Rosemary Kariuki OAM - 2021 Australian Local Hero, Author, Multicultural Community Liaison Officer
Mehraban Farahmand - Coordinator, Adisiyyih Development Initiative
May Sabet - Programme Coordinator, Hampton Park Community Learning Centre
Program
8:30am - Registration
9:00am - Introduction and Welcome to Country
9:20am - Session 1: Unifying Dialogue and Consensus Building
View Concept Note
10:30am - Morning Tea
11:00am - Artistic Presentation
11:10am - Session 2: In Conversation - First Nations Perspectives of Social Cohesion
in Australia - View Concept Note
12:30pm - Lunch
1:30pm - Artistic Presentation
1:45pm - Session 3: Community as Protagonists
View Concept Note
3:00pm - Afternoon Tea
3:30pm - Session 4: Neighbourhood Settings as Areas for Learning and Impact
View Concept Note
5:00pm - Conference Close
*Each session concluded with 30-45 minutes of small group discussions, view the concept notes for a glance at the guiding questions.
Conference Media
Session Recordings
Conference Photos
