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THIS PAGE AND ASSOCIATED PAGES
ARE NOW PART OF AN ARCHIVE
AND WILL NOT BE MAINTAINED
For the 2009 AFN conference in Nelson NZ please follow this link:
www.afn2009.net.nz
to the Home Page
for the
2008 AUSTRALASIAN FACILITATORS
NETWORK
(AFN)
CONFERENCE
Pushing the Boundaries:
Facilitation Frontiers
Charles Sturt
University, Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia
26-28
November 2008
boundary n.
something that indicates bounds or limits
frontier
n. boundary; border; extreme limit
Imagine
participating in a conference which:
- invites
exploration of possibilities for facilitation beyond our current
perceived boundaries, right at the cutting edge
- models
practical action for a 'planet conscious-people friendly' event;
and
- connects
conference participants with the community around them.
That’s what
we're offering in the Central West of New South Wales for 2008.
Historic Bathurst was the
first inland settlement in Australia, enabled only by the long-sought
crossing of the Blue Mountains from Sydney in 1813. It stands as
a symbol of how we can overcome seemingly overwhelming barriers, to
open a host of new possibilities.
Make your own
crossing over the
mountains to join us in Bathurst,
renowned
for its historic buildings, museums and galleries, thriving educational
sector and arts community.
Our venue is about 2.5 hours drive from Sydney, and
accessible by regular air, rail and coach transport.
On campus at Charles Sturt University, we have secured a range of accommodation styles and prices that can
suit singles, twins and families, with self-contained or shared
facilities.
Off-campus, there are diverse accommodation options a short distance
away.
It may be a regional location, but Bathurst is easy to get to, and
there’s plenty to see and do along the way.
At the heart of a Central Tablelands district
rich in historic villages, bushland reserves, rivers and streams,
spectacular caves, gold fossicking areas and wineries, there is no
shortage of attractions and activities beyond the conference.
The Bathurst
event marks the first time an AFN Conference has been held in 'the
Bush' - in a regional location within a rural community. And we
are working to link that community with conference participants through
a Regional Showcase event and other activities.
We invite you
to join us at a
conference with a difference:
- a
different type of location
- a
different type of community connection
- a
different level of attention to
environmental sustainability and your health & wellbeing.
The
Australasian
Facilitators Network 
(AFN) is a
self-organising community of practitioners based in Australia, New
Zealand, South-East Asia and the Pacific, who have been meeting since
1992.
The Annual AFN Conference began in 1998. At this event,
professional and voluntary facilitators gather to ‘sharpen the saw’,
reflect, discuss, challenge, learn, share, meet, mix, create and
recreate. It is
a not-for-profit conference organised by volunteers on behalf of their
peers.
AFN is pleased to be part of the Affiliate Facilitator
Network of the
International
Association of Facilitators
(IAF).
The IAF is
the world-wide professional body established to promote, support and
advance the art and practice of professional facilitation through
methods exchange, professional growth, practical and published
research, and collegial networking. It is dedicated to growing
facilitators and encouraging the use of group process methodologies
wordwide.
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The
Australasian Conference draws participants
from across the AFN and beyond, as one of a suite of IAF global
facilitator conferences. Other IAF Global
Conferences in 2008 are scheduled for: Atlanta USA; Pilanesburg, South
Africa; Sarawak, Malaysia; and Groningnen, The Netherlands.
The core values which underpin the IAF also characterise the AFN
Conference:
Inclusiveness
- Global scope - Participation
Celebration - Innovative
form - Social responsibility
Reflecting
these values, our conference attracts all kinds of people who
facilitate and/or train in group processes, across not-for-profit,
community and corporate sectors, using a wide range of methodologies,
in diverse
applications which may include:
Strategic Planning - Review &
Evaluation
Citizen
participation – Community engagement – Rural & regional extension
Organisational
development – Community development – Capacity building
Human
development - Change management – Facilitative leadership
Mediation -
Conflict & dispute resolution - Reconciliation - Restorative
practice
Social
learning - Action learning - Participatory learning – Experiential
learning
Coaching -
Mentoring
[and many more!]
It is a
conference which offers learning and connection for practitioners at
all levels - from beginners to veterans - along with supporters and students.
As a professional adjunct, the two days preceding the conference
(24-25 November 2008) offer an opportunity for facilitators to gain IAF Facilitator Certification (CPF).
Follow
the menu links at left to find out more about how you can engage in
2008.
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