Cohort 1 starts on 1st March 2025.
ACTIVATE Online Course
Welcome to ACTIVATE Online, a 10-week course for regionally based changemakers who want to get things done.
What is the Ready Communities ACTIVATE program?
ACTIVATE is not for the faint hearted. It’s designed BY people who get things done in the regions FOR people who get things done in the regions. It’s not about theory, navel gazing. You got it! It’s about doing.
Through ten weeks we will support you to create action around something you’d like to achieve in your community and as you do build pathways and habits which will accelerate your work long after the course. ACTIVATE Online equips you with the tools to make and sustain real impact.
It doesn’t matter what your role or title is in your community, what DOES matter is that you are ready and prepared to do.
ACTIVATE participants will learn from the Ready Communities framework which enables:
- Greater clarity and understanding
- Increased connection and connectivity
- Enhanced capability and capacity
- Stronger collaboration for purpose
- Additional advocacy and promotion
Why Choose ACTIVATE Online
Action oriented:
Through our combined experiences creating change in regional communities we know how to get things moving and want to support you in action. While you do have access to theory we want to get you moving as quickly as possible. ACTIVATE is about action.
Flexible Learning:
Access our comprehensive modules anytime, anywhere. Whether you’re at home or on the go, ACTIVATE Online fits seamlessly into your schedule.
Expert Guidance:
Learn from experienced facilitators who bring real-world insights and practical strategies to every session.
Community Focused:
Our program is tailored to address the unique challenges and opportunities within your regional community, ensuring relevant and actionable outcomes. The course content is created for regional Australians by regional Australians.
What You’ll Learn
Mapping
Build a map of stakeholders, policies, programs and investment related to the learners work area.
Evaluation framework
Develop a theory of change and measurement framework to guide delivery of initiatives for impact.
Funding initiatives
Identify and apply for a range of funding opportunities including, but not limited to grants.
Communication methodology
Explore a range of platforms, tools and techniques to share message with community in line with Council’s communication protocols.
Strategic context
Understand the strategic context of the initiative and how it fits within a broader delivery framework.
Collaboration for impact
Identify local and external supporting networks and work together for impact.
Governance frameworks
Understand governance at a local, State and Federal level and create appropriate networks.
Place-based practice
Learn about a range of tools which can support place-based practice bridging community and economic development.
Facilitation
Learn facilitation techniques to promote community engagement.
Course Features
- Interactive Modules: Engage with dynamic content, including videos, quizzes, and case studies that bring learning to life.
- Live Webinars: Participate in live sessions with experts, offering the chance to ask questions and gain deeper insights.
- Weekly challenges: Each week commences with the guided creation of an action plan and concludes with a check in. Through the week we create a range of challenges to make doing fun. Yes. There are prizes.
- Live check ins: Your course facilitators Kerry Grace and Dr. Chad Renando are available to you through the week, scroll down to the Course Structure to learn more about the variety of ways you can connect.
- Mentoring session: Each enrolment includes a 1hr mentoring session with your choice of Kerry or Chad. Additional sessions can be added in if you choose using your alumni discount code.
- Community of Practice: Join a network of like-minded individuals committed to sharing knowledge and supporting each other’s growth.
- Safe environment: We provide a safe environment for busy community people to get things done. While this is about action know you’re busy, we assist you to get things done in a positive way.
Course Structure
ACTIVATE online runs for ten weeks. Our first cohort will start on MONDAY 3 March 2025 and run through until Friday 9 May 2025.
Week 1:
On commencement of your enrolment you will create an action plan to create change on a particular issue in your community. We will work with you via a live 1.5hr webinar (or you can participate in the recorded version) to document this as a theory of change including:
(1) Identification of the key issue you are working to resolve
(2) Outline the actions you will take through the ten weeks
(3) Document the anticipated outputs (what you will do)
(4) Document the anticipated outcomes (what you think will happen) and
(5) Document the anticipated impact (how that will shift the issue)
We will then map out a plan of action for the following weeks and a customised dashboard to track your progress
Weeks 1 – 10:
We really want to assist you to accelerate change through the program so strap in! Each week follows the schedule below:
Monday
(am live call) Set key goals for the week and track your progress in our weekly stand up meeting
Tuesday
Submit your reflections and challenges to the team. What is working for you in your community and what isn’t. We will use your feedback to customise tomorrow’s tutorial.
Wednesday
Tutorial. Each Wednesday we choose one course module and host a live webinar with an expert guest. The webinar recording is shared in the online learning units.
Thursday
Getting things done. Each week we will host an interactive and exclusive live panel including people who are getting things done in regional communities. Our panels will address challenges you may be working on in your community. Over the ten weeks our panels will incorporate regional do-ers, intermediaries, government delegates and impact investors. Our panel topics will be customised to suit the learning needs of our cohort.
Friday
Post your celebration of your weekly wins
Saturday/Sunday
Supercharge your wellness with a range of weekend challenges designed to gamify putting your feet up and resting.
Weeks 1 – 10:
Evaluation. We return to your action plan and carefully evaluate what did and didn’t work for you, understand your outputs, outcomes and early impacts and plan for your next steps.
