In regional Australia, meaningful change doesn’t happen because someone drops in with a checklist and a timeline. It happens when communities see themselves, speak for themselves, and act on their own terms. That’s the foundation of our work at Ready Communities—and it’s why we hold Readiness Events.
A Readiness Event is more than just a community gathering. It’s a signal—a shared moment when we pause and ask: What matters most here, now? And equally: What’s possible if we work together?
Each Readiness Event is shaped by the local context. We don’t arrive with a rigid plan; we co-create it with local leaders, organisations, and residents. The event might be hosted in a town hall, a paddock, a community centre, or a cafe. It might include a workshop, a walk-and-talk, an artist-led activation, or a shared meal. The format flexes—but the purpose is consistent: to take a community pulse, identify local assets and aspirations, and begin activating momentum.
Why It Matters
We believe communities are already full of untapped potential—knowledge, talent, stories, and networks that often go unrecognised. Traditional development approaches can miss this. They measure problems, assign programs, and assume solutions must come from outside. Ready Communities flips this. We look for what’s already working, who’s already showing up, and how we can build from there.
A Readiness Event is the invitation point. It’s where we start mapping what’s alive and possible, together.
A Growing Network of Support
With more than 400 people in our Social Impact in the Regions alumni network, we now have an incredible pool of regional advocates to draw from. These aren’t just names on a list—they’re people with lived experience, skills, and deep community knowledge. We actively partner with them to support our host communities, and many take part in Readiness Events as facilitators, co-designers, or connectors.
In 2025, this collective strength is on full display. Regen Labs and Start Some Good—both led by regional alumni—are delivering workshops in Grafton and Kempsey, further fuelling community-driven innovation.
Reconnecting the Local
You wouldn’t believe it, but in every Readiness Event we’ve held, there’s been at least one moment where two local people meet for the very first time—despite living in the same small town. It’s a quiet but powerful reminder: people are busy, silos are real, and connection takes intention. One of the simplest gifts we can offer is creating space for people to meet, reflect, and imagine together.
Ethics First
At the heart of everything we do is a strong ethical commitment: we don’t extract from communities, and we don’t duplicate efforts. If something’s already working locally, we amplify it. If leadership already exists, we listen to it. Readiness Events are designed not to take over but to build alongside—to elevate what’s already strong, fill in what’s missing, and always leave something behind that outlasts us.
Because readiness isn’t a destination—it’s a way of working.
And it starts with showing up. Together.
