Designing Programs for Diverse Communities in Australia
Hosted by: Parks and Leisure Australia
Format: Live Webinar (60 minutes + Q&A)
Target Audience: Parks and Leisure Australia members, with a focus on local government staff including recreation planners, community development officers, open space planners, and facility managers.
Overview
Local governments across Australia are at the forefront of delivering parks and leisure services that reflect the needs of increasingly diverse communities. From culturally and linguistically diverse populations to First Nations communities, people with disability, older adults, and young people—there is a growing expectation for programs to be inclusive, accessible, and locally relevant.
This webinar will support Parks and Leisure Australia members to strengthen their approach to inclusive program design, with a practical focus on local government contexts, constraints, and opportunities.
Objectives
By the end of this webinar, participants will:
- Understand the role of local government in fostering inclusive and equitable leisure opportunities
- Recognise common barriers to participation within their own communities
- Learn practical, scalable strategies for designing inclusive programs
- Explore local government case studies and peer-led insights
- Gain tools to evaluate and improve program accessibility and engagement
Key Topics
- Diversity in Local Government Contexts
- Understanding community demographics and local profiles
- Reflecting First Nations perspectives and place-based approaches
- Responding to regional, rural, and metropolitan differences
- Identifying Barriers in Council-Delivered Programs
- Cost, transport, and infrastructure limitations
- Cultural and social barriers to participation
- Policy and organisational constraints
- Designing Inclusive Programs at Scale
- Applying universal design in council programs and facilities
- Adapting existing programs to be more inclusive
- Balancing budget, resources, and community expectations
- Community Engagement and Co-Design in Practice
- Working with local advisory groups and community leaders
- Partnering with grassroots organisations
- Practical consultation techniques for councils
- Local Government Case Studies
- Examples from councils across Australia
- What worked, what didn’t, and why
- Transferable lessons for different council contexts
- Evaluation and Reporting
- Measuring participation and inclusion outcomes
- Aligning with council strategies and reporting requirements
- Using data to advocate for resources and improvements
Speakers
Clare Black, Senior Coordinator Recreation and Leisure, City of Darwin – Local government practitioner (parks/recreation/community services) –
James Catterall, Social Policy and Sport Planner, City of Salisbury – Sector expert in inclusive design or community development
Sebastian Geers, Manager, Welcoming Cities
Sebastian has spent over 10 years starting and working in new initiatives that support more welcoming and inclusive communities.
Sebastian has worked within the immigration detention centres, helped start family mentoring programs, provided support to local, state and federal governments build their innovation capacity and led Australia’s largest corporate diversity initiative – A Taste of Harmony.
As the Manager of Welcoming Cities, Sebastian is working with councils and leaders across the country to continue to grow Welcoming Cities and ensure that we are delivering the best benefits to our members.
Interactive Elements
- Polling on common challenges faced by councils
- Q&A with presenters focused on real-world scenarios
- Opportunities for peer knowledge sharing
Key Takeaways
Participants will gain practical tools, peer insights, and confidence to design and deliver inclusive parks and leisure programs within a local government setting.
“Supporting councils to create inclusive, accessible and welcoming parks and leisure programs for every community.”
Contact / Follow-Up
Participants will receive:
- Webinar recording
- Practical tools and templates tailored for local government
- Links to Parks and Leisure Australia member resources and networks
This webinar supports Parks and Leisure Australia members in delivering equitable, community-focused outcomes through inclusive program design.