CATALYSING COMMUNITY-LED REGENERATION
Do you have an impactful idea, project or business that could regenerate your community?
Are you looking to connect and grow your regenerative ecosystem with enterprising, like-minded people? Are you seeking to foreground First Nations leadership, culture and wisdom in your work?
WWF-Australia presents two resources for community leaders to use to cultivate the soil and plant the seeds to grow a flourishing regen innovation ecosystem.
- Start with catalysing the conversation with the Our Community Vision Workshop and Guide
- Bring regenerative ideas to life and grow the regenerative ecosystem with the Regen Local Learning Lab Playbook
The Local Learning Lab Story
In 2022, to cultivate the growth of local regeneration ecosystems, Innovate to Regenerate co-created the two day Local Learning Lab experience, with our partners, Regen Studios, The Australian Centre for Social Innovation (TACSI), and local hosts partners including First Nations Elders and cultural advisors.
What is a Local Learning Lab?
The Local Learning Lab is a two day experience, designed to support the development of regional regeneration and entrepreneurship. The Labs bring together individuals, small-to-medium-sized enterprises, local partners, community activators, and industry experts to support early-stage regenerative ideas, projects and businesses. During Innovate to Regenerate, the Local Learning Lab was prototyped across three regional locations: Meringo, Eurobodalla (on Brinja-Yuin Country), Mount Barker, Adelaide Hills & Fleurieu (on Peramangk Country) and Warragul, Gippsland (on Kurnai Country).
What are the elements of the two day Lab program?
The program involves:
- Connecting with Country and the wisdom of Traditional Owners
- Exploring the ecological and cultural uniqueness and potential for healthy thriving of the place
- Progressing ideas for regenerative solutions
- Exploring regenerative business models & examples
- Growing knowledge, skills and ways to take action
- Connecting with regional partners ready to support initiatives
- Connecting ‘regenerators’ across your community to foster a network of collaborators
- Strengthening regional entrepreneurship
How were they designed and delivered?
In each of these communities we had the privilege of inviting and working with participants and Local Host Partners to co-design a Lab that would build the capability of the local regenerative enterprise ecosystem.
Our host partners included Mount Barker District Council, Zero South East, Gippsland Social Enterprise Collective, Ecocreative, Living Lightly Locally, Kurnai Nation, Dave’s Aboriginal Art, Minga Aboriginal Cultural Service, and Muladha Gamara Dancers, The Herd, and The Mast.
Testimonials
What do partners say about the resource kit and support?"An action packed two days of learning, brainstorming and connecting with like-minded people wanting and ready to see Australia in a better place."
What value does it create in communities?
Regeneration of our places can only be done together. It was not surprising that participants found networking, connecting and collaborating key aspects of the Lab participants found valuable.
Sarah Tate, Local Project Coordinator for the Gippsland Local Learning Lab, and member of Local Host Partner, the Gippsland Social Enterprise Collective, shared that “Collaboration is the thread in our community that enables us to succeed and thrive. By sharing skills, experiences, and dreams we can co-create a regenerative future for the region"
Are you interested in hosting a Local Learning Lab?
Access the Local Learning Lab Playbook.You may be with a Local Council, Social Enterprise Collective, a team of local regenerators, or a collective of regenerative enterprises ready to build a regenerative ecosystem and grow regenerative initiatives.
The Local Learning Lab could be right for you. To support you, we have packaged the experience into the Local Learning Labs Playbook, open to all, and developed while iterating the three Labs.
This Playbook is intended to help support communities and groups to develop their own Local Learning Labs. This content is also suitable for use in group or community workshops and initiatives focused on environmental, economic, and social regeneration. Please share and adapt this material to suit your needs. When using these materials, credit WWF-Australia and The Australian Centre for Social Innovation.
Section 1: Developing a Lab
- A1 Local Learning Lab - About the Labs
- A2 Developing a Lab - Overview of Phases and Timeline
- A3 Phase 1 - Initiation Phase
- A4 Phase 1 - Convening a Working Group - Starting Well
- A5 Phase 2 - Lab Concept
- A6 Phase 3 - Lab Prep
- A7 Phase 3 - Catering
- A8 Phase 4 - Lab Reflection and Follow up
Section 2: Lab activities
- B0 - Setting up
- B1 - Welcome to Country
- B2 - Walk on Country
- B3 - Context Setting & Connection
- B4 - Shared Intentions
- B5 - Working with Regenerative Principles
- B6 - Doughnut Economics
- B7 - Potential of Place
- B8 - Case Studies - Regenerative Business
- B9 - Questions for Regenerative Businesses
- B10 - Regenerative Business Model Canvas
- B11 - Wisdom Circles
- B12 - Gives and Gets - Gallery Walk
- B13 - Action Groups
- B14 - Closing Reflections
- B15 - Human Sculptures
