Community Conversations

This week, Claire Boan, the Mayor of Port Adelaide Enfield Council, shares her journey into local government while emphasizing the vital importance of community engagement and grassroots connections. During our conversation, she discusses how these connections help shape stronger, more resilient communities. She highlights the exciting recent opening of the new Yitpi Centre—a state-of-the-art cultural hub for the area. The center, which opened its doors a few weeks ago, features thoughtfully designed native areas, extensive green spaces, an engaging playground, and diverse activities for children of all ages. The Yitpi Centre is designed to serve multiple purposes, functioning both as an event venue and as an enhanced space for community gatherings. Throughout the discussion, Mayor Boan passionately explores the crucial role of multi-functional community centers and emphasizes the growing need for future social infrastructure to support and nurture expanding communities.

In this week's episode, we're joined by Associate Professor Tim Sargeant from the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), a biomedical scientist leading cutting-edge research into autophagy - the body's natural cellular cleaning process. We explore how autophagy influences biological aging and disease risk, and examine fascinating studies showing that enhancing this cellular process can slow disease progression and potentially extend lifespan.

Professor Sargeant explains the challenges of translating laboratory findings to human applications, given the complexity of human biochemistry. He breaks down the latest research on how lifestyle interventions like exercise, intermittent fasting, and specific dietary changes can boost autophagy and reduce disease risk. The discussion covers practical tips for optimizing cellular health, from timing your meals to choosing autophagy-promoting foods, showing how understanding these cellular processes could lead to longer, healthier lives for everyone.

This week marks both Community Centre Week and National Palliative Care Week. To celebrate, we are joined by Shyla Mills, the CEO of Palliative Care South Australia—a leading charity and peak body for Palliative Care in South Australia. She is also an Adjunct Associate Professor at Flinders University and La Trobe University.

In this episode, Shyla discusses the Beyond Loss program, an innovative collaboration between our two organisations that addresses grief and loss within the community. The program combines Palliative Care SA's expertise in grief support with Community Centres' local reach and trusted spaces. The program aims to foster compassionate communities that support individuals through various types of loss, from bereavement to relationship breakdowns, job losses, and major life transitions.

Shyla highlights complex and anticipatory grief while advocating for early support and community involvement. She explains how trained Community Centre staff and volunteers work alongside grief counselors to create a network of support that is both professional and approachable. This collaborative approach ensures that community members can access support in familiar, non-clinical settings while benefiting from evidence-based grief support practices.

This week's conversation emphasises the vital role of community centres in providing a safe space and practical support for those who are grieving, and demonstrates how centres can integrate the "Talk, Listen, Connect" approach to enhance community resilience.

In today’s episode, we are joined by Anna Martin, lawyer and founder of the Untangle Project. Anna shares here journey of overcoming a 20-year gambling addiction. She realised that women deserved a better space to seek help, support and to advocate for change, and created The Untangle Project with the aim to provide a resource for women to recover in their own way, in the own time and through their own methods. Anna dives into the Untangled Project’s focus on providing non-judgmental support for women, emphasising the unique challenges women face including guilt, shame, and fear. Anna also discusses the need for better support systems for those struggling.

We are also joined by Sally McLaren from the Hackham community Centre who details the centre’s efforts in supporting families, providing grief guidance and the challenges the centre faces to secure funding and a space to expand their services.

In this week’s episode, we’re joined by Priscilla Thomas — a board member at Our Town KI and a dedicated program facilitator. With a strong background as an educator and community activator, Priscilla has spent several years working to improve educational opportunities and outcomes for children in the APY Lands with Anangu Education Services and Leaders Group. Our Town KI is a not-for-profit organisation supporting community-driven mental health and wellbeing initiatives on Kangaroo Island. Priscilla shares insights into the organisation’s involvement in over 30 projects, including community breakfasts for the Black Dog Ride and a homegrown Fringe show that showcases local Kangaroo Island talent. She also speaks about the unique challenges of rural life and geographic isolation and highlights a powerful student-led campaign against drink driving — an initiative that has resulted in a range of awareness materials across the Island. She also outlines how Our Town KI is addressing loneliness and isolation among the elderly, with the support from youth music groups.

In this episode, we’re joined by Professor Michael Baigent for an in-depth conversation about gambling addiction in Australia. Michael highlights the complex role gambling plays in the economy while also exposing the profound harm it causes individuals and communities. He explores the emotional, financial, and even physical toll on those seeking help, and discusses evidence-based treatments, particularly the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy in addressing gambling disorders. We’re also joined by Kate Martin from the Southern Yorke Peninsula Community Hub, who shares the vital work her team is doing to support the local community. From digital literacy classes to community resilience programs and legal aid, Kate provides insight into the real-world solutions being implemented to tackle the unique challenges facing regional Australians.

This week, we’re joined by Julie Black and Jessica Merrick from NFP Success to explore the pressing challenges facing not-for-profit organisations. They delve into key topics including board governance, financial sustainability, cybersecurity, and AI. Julie highlights the importance of strong board quality, effective training, and strategic planning, especially in light of the significant decline in volunteers post-COVID. Jessica discusses the financial strain on not-for-profits, along with the escalating risks of cybersecurity threats, the impact of AI, and the urgent need for climate governance. Tuen in for this essential conversation on navigating the future in the not-for-profit sector.

In this week’s episode, John Peacock, CEO of Associations Forum, explores the powerful parallels between associations and community centres. He dives into the key elements that drive success in the non-profit sector, emphasizing the importance of strong governance, transparent financial planning, and effective strategic planning. John highlights the vital role of passionate volunteers and offers practical advice on membership engagement, benchmarking, and organisational transparency. He also shares tips on how community centres can differentiate between members and clients, optimize board size and tenure, and ultimately foster greater community impact. Tune in for insights and expert advice on how associations and community centres can thrive in today’s landscape.

In this episode, we are joined by Karen Bevan, CEO of Full Stop Australia. Karen discusses the prevalence of domestic and family violence, and the outdated laws which do not adequately address sexual violence in Australia. Karen, also shares the organisation's 50-year history of supporting sexual assault survivors, offering services like national helplines and trauma counseling. She highlights the need for early education on consent and bodily autonomy. We also hear from Rebecca at the Eastwood Community Centre, who discusses their weekly ACE (Adult Community Education) programs, including financial literacy workshops and engagement activities. Rebecca also shares the importance of informal community engagement and volunteering. Tune in for an important discussion on these critical issues.

In this episode, Nick Lee OAM, CEO of the Jodie Lee Foundation and co-director of Healthy Minds, highlights the concerning rise in bowel cancer diagnoses among younger people in the past 30 years. He shares his personal story of losing his wife Jodie to stage four bowel cancer, which inspired him to establish the foundation in her honor.

The conversation explores the foundation's mission to promote early detection and prevention through a four-pillar approach: staying active, understanding family medical history, recognise symptoms, and participating in screenings. Nick advocates for policy changes to save lives and discusses the foundation's creative initiatives, including the BEEP trek events, which engage the community and raise funds for their mission.