Social Care Community of Practice

Invitation only

The next Social Care Community of Practice will be held on Wednesday, 8 December 2021, 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm AEDT.

Following the success of the Action to Empower Roundtable and the first Social Care CoP, this second webinar will explore the worker-owned model of ownership, where members are the employees with a stake in deciding how the business is run. We are delighted to be joined by members of innovative Australian worker-owned home care service, The Co-operative Life for their firsthand account of how the co-op works.

The Cooperative Life is an Australian case study where all staff work together to provide the best possible care and support services that improve the quality of life for consumers. In an industry known for its low pay, poor working conditions, and high staff turnover, The Cooperative Life provides a unique working environment where employees are directly involved in business decisions.

An interactive panel will focus this discussion and exchange of ideas about different ownership models in social care.

Meeting agenda

1. Welcome and introductions
   Melina Morrison, CEO, BCCM
2. Co-operatives and Home Care
   Gillian McFee, Advisor Social Care, BCCM
3. Case Study: The Co-operative Life
   Olena Gonzalez Operations and Infrastructure Support Officer, The Cooperative Life
   Kseniya Ivanchyk, People and Culture Director, Health and Safety Committee Chairperson, The Cooperative Life
   Margaret Ciarka, Co-Founder and Regional Director, The Cooperative Life
4. Q & A 
5. Interactive Panel facilitated by Gillian McFee, Advisor Social Care, BCCM
   Margaret Ciarka, The Cooperative Life
   Paul Sadler, CEO, ACSA
   Jodie Hampson, Team Leader Sharing Economy, Aged and Carer Services, Uniting Vic/Tas and BCCM intern, Action to Empower
6. Q & A 
   Moderated by Melina Morrison, CEO, BCCM
7. Close and outline of next CoP in March 2022
   Melina Morrison, CEO, BCCM

Download the run sheet.