5 reasons we have launched the imPact breakfast series
In August, we announced a commitment to establishing and growing a network of people who share our vision of “a more impactful social purpose sector” — impact breakfasts.
Whilst the back end of this blog aims to give you a little information about what impact is and what can you expect, we’ll start with the ‘why’. Why do we think it is important and timely to build a community of like-minded people working to make a difference in the social purpose sector?
sharing experiences with your peers
accessing informal learning opportunities
building a network of clever and committed people
contributing to the bigger picture
‘actually’ getting that coffee
Sharing experiences with your peers
We are all working toward planning, designing, implementing and evaluating programs and services to improve outcomes for people and communities.
It doesn't matter if we work as a funder, service provider, peak body, government or consultant — we have much to learn from each other about how to plan, design, implement and evaluate programs and services.
Likewise, it doesn't matter if we are working in mental health, suicide prevention, alcohol and other drugs, chronic disease, food relief, community services, aged care, palliative care, financial relief, employment or any other subject matter — we are all working toward refining programs and services to deliver impact.
We think that engaging with others to share your experience of working in roles that plan, design, implement and evaluate programs and services will be helpful (if not therapeutic!).
Accessing informal learning opportunities
We have so much to learn from each other around the process behind 'how' we continually improve the programs and services our organisations deliver. In addition to sharing experiences with your peers, we are hoping that some of the invited speakers at impact events will be both educational and insightful.
We all struggle (or it is just us?) to access structured professional development consistently. Whilst each presentation will be capped at 30 minutes and likely to not fall in the ‘structured professional development’ bucket, we think it will be a great place to start and get inspired to learn more.
Building a network of thoughtful and committed people
Building a network of people who do similar work (i.e. plan, design, implement and evaluate programs and services) has great potential for us to hear about interesting work our peers are doing and get the chance to grab a coffee and have a chat with others across the health and social services sector.
The social purpose sector in Brisbane is small. It is highly likely that as we’ll change jobs and move around the sector as our interests change over time. Further, it is highly likely that you’ll meet people at impact that you will employ, be employed by, engage for discrete pieces of work or seek out for advice.
Contributing to the bigger picture
Many times working in plan-design-implement-evaluate roles can be a little lonely. You might dip in and dip out of special projects within your organisation and while you may see the outcome of your work you might not feel a direct link to the bigger picture.
We are hopeful that impact will allow people working in social purpose sector roles that seek to improve the way programs and services are delivered to come together and feel a sense of belonging and achievement. Outside of our organisations, if we do a good job of planning, designing, implementing and evaluating programs and services we are creating a better world.
Actually getting that coffee
How many times have we left a good conversation with a peer with ‘let’s grab a coffee soon…’ and how many times does that actually happen? I think we all know the answer to that.
By having a regular event on the calendar (we are aiming for once every 2 months) we’ll all have time put aside to reconnect with our peers, get out of the office and ‘actually’ get that coffee.
So, what is impact and what can I expect?
Impact (noun)
1. the force of impression of one thing on another : a significant or major effect
Pact (noun)
1. a formal agreement between two people or groups of people
In practical terms, impact will join up individuals working in the health, social and not-for-profit sectors to learn, connect and seek advice from each other. We envisage that the group will regularly bring together a collective of like-minded people who share a vision of a more impactful social purpose sector.
We define the 'social purpose' sector as any organisation that aims to create a better world. We want to offer everyone the opportunity to come together, learn, build networks and help us create a more collaborative environment outside of the “busyness”. The concept is simple. Every second month, impact will invite you and your peers together for breakfast and a short presentation in an open network environment.
Presentations will run for 30 minutes max, with time before and after to grab some caffeine and breakfast and talk with others. Each presentation will aim to either inform or teach listeners and could be from people who volunteer to share their experiences or experts in a certain area. We will be listening to feedback and suggestions from you when deciding on who to bring on stage! At no time will you be listening to a sales pitch or made to present.
This is not a Beacon Strategies event per se. While Beacon will be hosting the events we want impact to become its own entity, and develop with the help of everyone involved.
Our wish is to see impact become its own entity; a place where you can go to learn from your peers, discuss interesting activities you are working on and seek advice on your own challenges when planning, designing, implementing and evaluating programs and services.
Click the button to register now.
Stay in the loop
Interested in attending or simply want to be added to the mailing list to get an invite to each event? Check out our impact event page to sign up.
