On Friday 1 August our team came together for our annual Strategy Day. This year the action happened beachside, at the City of Perth Surf Life Saving Club in City Beach.
Every year our incredible people join forces to reflect on what we’ve achieved in the past 12 months and pull focus on priorities for the year ahead. We also worked together to develop a five-year strategy that aligns with our mission of uniting people and organisations to create just and equitable futures.
It’s a day where we get to reflect, reset and strategise – so that the work we do is loaded with purpose, and continues to serve the communities we are so privileged to work with, in the best possible way.
Here’s more on the day.
Connecting to place
Our CEO Donna Shepherd opened the day with an Acknowledgement of the beautiful Country we were meeting on. She then spoke of the importance of knowing that we are custodians, not owners, of the work that we do.
“Custodianship is something you hold for a time, then pass on,” she said. “It’s not about ownership or personal credit, it’s about being part of a long line of care and contribution.”
Our team then shared stories of places that held special meaning to us, and Donna reflected on how deep the sense of connection Traditional Owners must feel, with thousands of years of unbroken relationship to Country.
Proud moments
Next, each of our teams presented on their achievements over the past 12 months, as well as opportunities for growth that build on the impact we have on communities. There was a lot to be proud of:
Delivering 14 community development projects and wrapping up two.
Capturing more than 1,000 hours of volunteer time.
Delivering 12 social value and impact projects across 9 communities.
Securing $4.3 million in investment to support communities.
Categorising 15,000+ segments in SocialQue™.
Delivering 18 comms projects, launching 10 websites and 11 brands.
Social Value is a big deal to us
Our Social Value and Impact Director Jessica Barker and Donna shared their insights into what social value truly means, including why it matters and how we can attempt to define and measure it in the work that we do.
Jessica framed social value as the difference we make to people’s lives – those tangible and intangible outcomes that improve wellbeing, access and opportunity, especially for those facing disadvantage.
She challenged us to see social value as more than a vague ideal.
“Social value should be something we can articulate clearly and track meaningfully, so we can then use that data to inform better decision-making,” she said.
Donna acknowledged that articulating social value is complex, with approaches to measurement still being refined by global leaders in the space.
She explained that social value unfolds over time in deeply human ways, and our approach must be grounded in integrity, care and a respect for the experience of communities.
“Our goal is to measure what matters, not just what’s easy,” she said.
Emerging global trends
We love exploring emerging developments in the international social value space, and discussions on these trends flowed through the day.
Learning from global leaders adds even greater value to the work that we do, and ensures we deliver world-class social value to the communities we work alongside. Just some of these emerging trends include:
Proof of impact: Now a non-negotiable for clients, investors and governments, who expect transparent and measurable outcomes.
Social value beyond Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Social value has moved from ad-hoc sponsorships to being core business.
International policy is raising the bar: International models in the UK, EU, US and India are influencing Australian standards in a big way.
First Nations partnerships: There’s a strong need for culturally led approaches that provide opportunities for meaningful collaboration.
Housing and renewables: Increased demand for affordable housing and renewable energy social value delivery projects.
Digital transformation: We’re seeing AI and data platforms driving smarter research, engagement and reporting.
Looking ahead
After a glorious seaside lunch, we then dug into developing a strategy for the next five years. Our vision was all about uniting people and organisations to create just and equitable futures and strengthening Creating Communities as Australia’s preeminent social impact organisation. Other important elements of the strategy included:
Putting communities at the heart of everything we do
With a focus on community-led outcomes that prioritise cultural safety, First Nations partnerships and meaningful, long-term support for low and middle-income communities.
Innovating through SocialQue™ and FIFO Insider™
Leveraging our AI platforms to drive smarter research, deeper insights and better decision-making across key sectors like mining, housing and regional development.
Measuring what matters
Developing annual social value reporting mechanisms, including real-time dashboards and transparent income measurements to set new standards for accountability and sector leadership.
Building for the future
Focusing on resilience, partnerships and continued learning by laying the groundwork for sustained growth, innovation and long-term benefits to communities.
That’s a wrap
The day wound up with our Founding Director Allan Tranter offering up gratitude to our team and their work, as well as the communities he has had the privilege of walking alongside for the past 30 years.
Then, like all good strategy sessions, we retired for delicious food and drinks, while taking in one of the best coastlines in WA.
