1, 3 & 7 Dec 2026

W1 Tue 1 Dec · 11.30am–2.00pmW2 Thu 3 Dec · 9.30am–12.00pmW3 Mon 7 Dec · 11.30am–2.00pmOnline2.5 hours

Post-Summit Online Workshop Series

From Insight to Action: Strengthening the Social Cohesion Field

Australia has no shortage of people and organisations working to strengthen social cohesion. The opportunity now is to better connect that work: seeing where efforts intersect, identifying where collaboration could make a difference, and building pathways to work together at a systems level.

Following the 2026 Australian Social Cohesion Summit, the Menzies Leadership Foundation, in collaboration with Scanlon Foundation Research Institute, will convene three focused online workshops, facilitated by GoodWolf. Our ambition is to help those already doing this work shape the infrastructure, capital and visibility needed to strengthen and amplify the field.

When: 1, 3 and 7 December 2026
Format: Online
Duration: 2.5 hours

Express your interest Explore our Civility work

Why these workshops

Taking the conversation beyond the Summit

The Summit brings together people from communities, civil society, research, philanthropy and beyond to understand the forces shaping social cohesion, and to consider the Australia we want to build by 2046.

Australia has no shortage of research, initiatives and organisations working on social cohesion. The harder part is connecting that work: seeing where efforts intersect, and finding opportunities to collaborate at a systems level.

How do we move from shared insight towards collective action?

The aim is to identify where better connection or coordination would make the biggest difference, and to develop clearer pathways to collective action beyond the Summit.

Each workshop will focus on a priority area informed by:

the Menzies Leadership Foundation’s work with the Civility Coalition;
Scanlon Foundation Research Institute research, including the latest Mapping Social Cohesion study;
sector consultation; and
the priorities, challenges and opportunities emerging from the Summit.

When they run

Workshop dates available

Participation: A Whole-of-System Conversation

These workshops are designed to consider the social cohesion system as a whole, rather than the priorities or needs of any single organisation, community or initiative. We invite participants to step beyond their individual organisational perspectives and approach the conversations with a whole-of-system mindset, considering how the field might evolve, strengthen its connections and build greater collective capacity for impact.

Once participation is confirmed, a short pre-reading will be shared ahead of each workshop to support reflection and make the most of our time together.

Groups are kept small and participants are selected, so places are limited.

01
Knowledge and Visibility
Tuesday 1 December 202611.30am–2.00pm AEDT
What would it take for the social cohesion field to see itself, and to learn from itself?
Much of the field's knowledge sits in separate organisations, programs and datasets, and is rarely brought together. This workshop explores what shared knowledge infrastructure could connect existing evidence and track progress.
02
Capital and Coordination
Thursday 3 December 20269.30am–12.00pm AEDT
What happens when capital is applied across the social cohesion field as a whole, rather than to individual organisations alone?
This session explores how impact capital could flow through the system and become an ingredient for innovation and scale: supporting collaboration, reducing duplication, strengthening shared infrastructure and helping effective work reach further.
This workshop is designed for philanthropists, investors and advanced practitioners with extensive experience.
03
Shifting the Vision
Monday 7 December 202611.30am–2.00pm AEDT
Where are we heading together?
Building on the conversations started at the Summit fishbowls, this workshop explores what shared vision for social cohesion could help the field align its efforts, and what that vision would ask of those working and investing in it.

Express your interest

Interested in contributing?

Each workshop brings together a small, deliberately curated group from across community, civil society, research, philanthropy and beyond.

A core group will be invited ahead of the Summit, with places held so that people and perspectives emerging through it can help shape the final cohorts.

Choose the workshops you could attend, tell us what you are hoping to achieve, and share an idea for discussion if you have one.

Express your interest

01Submit a short expression of interest. It takes a few minutes.
02We listen across the Summit, then confirm the final cohorts.
03Selected participants receive joining details by email.
04Insights are distilled into a cross-cutting summary to inform future action and investment.