The Exchange

Conservation Council SA is organising a series of one off skills trainings for members, supporters and friends of the climate and environment justice movement in SA.

Why Facilitation?

In the face of the climate and biodiversity emergencies, we don’t just need more activists; we need activists who can work effectively together. Environmental justice work is inherently complex, involving messy systems, high-pressure decision-making, and deep emotional stakes.

Facilitation is the “secret sauce” of healthy and effective movements and organisations. It’s about creating spaces where people feel heard, valued, and energized so they can move forward together.

Led by a specialist Groupwork facilitator Che Biggs, we dive into a practice based training incorporating:

Some of the hardest facilitation involves working with strong emotions and pop-up conflict, but if we can navigate the heat wisely, these experiences are where we can often help individuals and groups make the biggest breakthroughs.

In this facilitation taster session we will explore some fundamental elements for facilitating ‘hot spots’ and difficult conversations. Starting from a recognition that our own relationship with conflict and strong emotions will shape how we respond as facilitators, we will:

Normalise conflict in groups and explore how ‘hot spots' are a source of significant insight and potential gateways for change.

Unpack our responses to conflict and some principles for navigating hot spots in ways to that don’t ‘other' or shame.

Practice some communication skills that can help us support those principles.

Being only a short ‘taster’ session that delves into some of the more emotionally-laden elements of facilitation, attendees are requested they have prior facilitation training experience. This workshop is designed to ‘go deep lightly’ and aimed at everyday hot-spots - not for resolving your facilitation nightmares :).

The prior event Facilitation Essentials was is an introduction and is a prerequisite to this event “Facilitation skills for difficult conversations - “Facilitating Hot Spots.”

(Anyone with other facilitation training or enough experience is also eligible for this ‘Part 2’ session).

How do we make high-stakes decisions when there is no “right” answer?

Environmental and Climate Justice work involves messy systems and deep emotional stakes. Facilitation is the essential skill that turns a group of individuals into a high-functioning, resilient team.

Conservation SA invites you to Facilitation Essentials—the first in our new series of one-off skills trainings. This isn’t just about “chairing a meeting”; it’s about getting a taste for key skills in mastering the art of holding space for complex change.

Led by specialist Groupwork facilitator Che Biggs, we’re diving into:

The Iceberg: Navigating those "under-the-surface" dynamics.
The Whole Person: Integrating Head, Heart, and Gut into our strategy.
Rank & Power: Naming the invisible dynamics of authority.

Join us to build a movement as regenerative as the ecosystems we’re protecting.

SAGE is a community for all folks who love and care for our planet. Our monthly gatherings are a space to nourish each other, so that we can nourish our world. For more information check out our website: https://sagrassroots.org/

Join us for an evening of delicious food, hearty discussion and new skills. The night will start with a shared meal, then we will move into community announcements, then into open space workshops, with lots of space for social breaks throughout.

As always, anyone can offer to run a session on the night – either on our theme, or on something else entirely! Some things you might want to bring…

🍲A plate of food to share 🌱Veggies or seedlings for this month’s produce swap 🧵Clothes or materials for the mending corner if you would like to do some mending - plus some coins for the SAGE community op shop! Run through of how the night will (roughly) go… 4:30-5:15: Arriving, sharing food. 5:15-5:45: Welcome, Acknowledgment of Country, community announcements. 5:45-7:45: Open space workshop sessions. 7:45: Closing circle. All are welcome. Come anytime that suits you. See you there! This event will be held on Kaurna Country, and we pay our respects to Indigenous people everywhere.

SAGE is a community for all folks who love and care for our planet. Our monthly gatherings are a space to nourish each other, so that we can nourish our world. For more information check out our website: https://sagrassroots.org/

Join us for an evening of delicious food, hearty discussion and new skills. The night will start with a shared meal, then we will move into community announcements, then into open space workshops, with lots of space for social breaks throughout.

As always, anyone can offer to run a session on the night – either on our theme, or on something else entirely! Some things you might want to bring…

🍲A plate of food to share 🌱Veggies or seedlings for this month’s produce swap 🧵Clothes or materials for the mending corner if you would like to do some mending - plus some coins for the SAGE community op shop! Run through of how the night will (roughly) go… 4:30-5:15: Arriving, sharing food. 5:15-5:45: Welcome, Acknowledgment of Country, community announcements. 5:45-7:45: Open space workshop sessions. 7:45: Closing circle. All are welcome. Come anytime that suits you. See you there! This event will be held on Kaurna Country, and we pay our respects to Indigenous people everywhere.

SURVIVAL DAY BANNER PAINTING MUTUAL AID CoOK UP

Come along on Saturday 17th to help paint banners and signs for this year’s Survival Day rally, and pitch in to make meals to support a local Elder and her family while she cares for her sick grandson we’ll be at the Exchange building from 12- 5pm.

drop in across the day - help will be needed with painting, cooking, cooling and packing meals, and clean up. all painting materials and ingredients provided, though donations are always welcome (swipe to the end to see what’s helpful).

Donations & Extra Help

donations of the following are always appreciated: • cardboard, especially large boxes • takeaway food containers • stock cubes/stock powder • cooking oil • garlic • basic herbs and spices • surplus homegrown fruits and veggies Meals will be prepared with food donated by SYC, with produce variable depending on what they have available. if you would like to help out with any additional grocery shopping on Saturday morning, or have experience cooking for large groups, please send me a message @taya.stocks

SAGE is a community for all folks who love and care for our planet. Our monthly gatherings are a space to nourish each other, so that we can nourish our world. For more information check out our website: https://sagrassroots.org/

Join us for an evening of delicious food, hearty discussion and new skills. The night will start with a shared meal, then we will move into community announcements, then into open space workshops, with lots of space for social breaks throughout.

As always, anyone can offer to run a session on the night – either on our theme, or on something else entirely! Some things you might want to bring…

🍲A plate of food to share 🌱Veggies or seedlings for this month’s produce swap 🧵Clothes or materials for the mending corner if you would like to do some mending - plus some coins for the SAGE community op shop! Run through of how the night will (roughly) go… 4:30-5:15: Arriving, sharing food. 5:15-5:45: Welcome, Acknowledgment of Country, community announcements. 5:45-7:45: Open space workshop sessions. 7:45: Closing circle. All are welcome. Come anytime that suits you. See you there! This event will be held on Kaurna Country, and we pay our respects to Indigenous people everywhere.