For those working in community-led initiatives or consulting with communities and looking to bring greater imagination to the table. This short course will help you unlock imagination across whole communities, in community groups and for yourself.

When communities work with creativity and imagination the options on the table increase, the energy in the room goes up and the momentum for change builds - even when working within tight constraints. 

If you’re involved in community changework, perhaps part of a community/economic development team, or a place-based practitioner, this course will take your imagination capabilities to the next level.

You’ll learn strategies for imagination with Simone Mandl, TACSI’s Regenerative Communities lead and Chris Vanstone, TACSI’s Chief Innovation Officer, alongside TACSI community associates, who will draw on TACSI’s decade of experience supporting creative thinking in community processes.

The four live online sessions will be interactive and full of play, inviting you to explore the fundamentals of imagination – through TACSI’s work, relevant theory, global case studies, and your own unique experiences.


The value of imagination in community work

  • Stretch sense of possibility to get beyond more of the same

  • Expand the options on the table 

  • Develop creative responses to constraints

  • Deepen participatory engagement 

  • Broaden the accessibility and desirability of processes 

  • Build will, momentum and energy for change

Based on the principles that guide TACSI's work

  • Allyship with First Nations Peoples, Knowledges and Country

  • Thinking and acting systemically

  • Rigour in imagination and experimentation

  • Decision making through diversity

  • Learn and grow together

Your facilitators

Simone Mandl

Principal Regenerative Communities, TACSI

A participatory designer and generative researcher, Simone has over 16 years’ experience working with communities and organisations to create visions for sustainable, equitable futures through fieldwork, co-design and design-led research. Simone is passionate about re-imagining cultural narratives that enable people to lead, imagine and invest in regenerative futures.

Chris Vanstone

Chief Innovation Officer & co-CEO, TACSI

Chris started his career designing biscuits and razors before transitioning into social innovation over 20 years ago. As TACSI co-CEO and CIO, he’s responsible for keeping TACSI at the cutting edge of social innovation, playing a big role in the development of our practice, major initiatives and strategy. Chris’ goal is to democratise social innovation. He’s always striving to get important concepts into the world in ways that are clear.

Tasman Munro

Senior Social Innovator, TACSI

Tasman has a background in woodworking and social design practice. In his work he collaborates with communities, through design and creativity, to build social movements, promoting social justice and evolve the social and physical structures that shape our lives. Tas is known for forming deep connections with communities and is a firm believer in the transformative potential of collaborative making. He is an advocate of using making as a way to understand, connect with, and reshape the world around us. When he’s not at work, Tasman enjoys woodworking, surfing, hanging with friends and family, and dancing with the arts community in Marrickville.

What you'll experience

  • 4 x 2 hour live zoom sessions over four consecutive weeks - with up to 15 of your fellow learners, including TACSI staff. Live sessions recap on the main learning points provide a space for personal reflection and feature interactive learning experiences to deepen your understanding

  • Imagination Playbook – a playbook with rich information, templates and details to support and deepen your learning

  • Imagination in community innovation coursedeck – a slide deck that summarises the main learning points, frameworks, and visual references, complementing the live sessions.

  • Read or listen list – a list of books, articles and audiobooks to extend your imagination practice.

At the end of this course you’ll have learnt:

  • How to do the groundwork to enable the conditions for imagination

  • How to support community to see greater potential in the current reality

  • How to support community in idea generation

  • How to support community in big picture future thinking

  • A diversity of processes, tools and methods for encouraging imagination

  • The mindsets for community-led imagination

Timing and pricing

October Intake 2024

Duration:
4 weeks, starting Thursday 17 October 2024

Technology:
Hosted online via Zoom
Learning materials accessible via web browser

Times:
Live sessions are held at 11am - 1pm AEST on Thursdays

Price: 

To support learners with limited access to professional development funding, we offer two prices for enrolments.

For organisation-funded learners:

This price is for learners with access to organisational funding such as professional development budgets.

AUD $1200 per participant inclusive taxes (AUD $1,090.91 ex GST in Australia)

For self-funded learners:

This price is to support learners without access to funding from an organisation. 

AUD $800 per participant inclusive taxes (AUD $727.27 ex GST in Australia)

Receipt:

On purchase you will receive a receipt  by email that will show GST for customers in Australia.

Scholarships and subsidies:
Limited free places available for First Nations people, people with lived experience, and low-income earners. If you are seeking one of these places, email [email protected] for more information.

Course curriculum

  1. Welcome!

  2. Homework

  3. Why community imagination matters

  4. Making community imagination happen

  5. Frameworks

  6. Continue your learning

About this course

  • $1,200.00
  • This intake starts 17 October 2024

What learners said

“I cannot recommend TACSI’s Co-Design Learning Network highly enough. Brilliantly presented and worked through, I have gained valuable information and tools to seriously bring about true teamwork and co-design to my workplace.”

Participant, 2023

“I'm definitely going to be more aware of power imbalances, and of the unique kinds of power people hold”

Participant, 2023

“The co-facilitation was fantastic, enabling many additional aspects or ideas to be gently presented.”

Participant, 2023

“The course supported me to understand the co-design process and to apply it in practice.”

Participant, 2023

FAQs

  • Are there any scholarships or subsidies?

    Yes, we reserve two free places per network cohort for First Nations applicants, folks with lived expertise, and low-income earners. Contact our Learning Coordinator, ([email protected]), to request your place. We also offer a reduced fee to support learners who don't have access to organisational funding, you can find this price option on the purchase page.

  • Can I register a group?

    Absolutely. Contact our Learning Coordinator, ([email protected]) to talk about your options.

  • How long will I have access?

    You will have lifelong access to the course materials.

  • Will I get a certificate?

    Yes, you will be presented with a certificate on completing the course.

  • What if I can’t make all the sessions?

    You will still have access to all the materials from that session. We do not record network sessions, but we will endeavour to catch you up in the next session.

  • What if I realise I can’t attend the course after purchasing it?

    Networks and courses are non-refundable. If you are not able to make it, and let us know more than 14 days before the start date, we will issue you a credit note (valid for 12 months) for use in a later network or course. At any point before the start date of the network you can transfer your place to a colleague at no additional cost. Contact our Learning Coordinator, via email ([email protected]) if you have any questions.

  • Can I get a tax invoice?

    When you purchase via our secure online platform a tax invoice will be sent to your email address.

  • Who can I talk to about any other questions?

    You can speak with our Learning Coordinator, via email ([email protected]) or the contact form below.