Our 2023 conference theme was ‘Making work beautiful’. Herein lies an overview.
24—25 October, 2023
The imperative of building compassion at work.
We gathered 200 thinkers, dreamers, and doers to fundamentally reimagine the world of work in this moment of crisis. Compassion Revolution is on a mission to bring the muscularity of radical compassion front and centre to the world of work. We are deeply invested in transforming workplace culture and helping organisations to grow the leadership skills and moral imagination that we need right now and into the future. We care to see more people flourish at work and in their lives.
The conference is a platform to bring this vision to fruition.
In industries where professional development tends to unmeaningly add to the burden of work and mental overload, this was an experience that nurtured and helped us actively rest as well as learn deeply.
We walked out ready to use, rather than needing time post-conference to work out how all this new information could be turned in to insight and then practical application.
2023 Conference Participant
Compassion Revolution Conference
A conference like no other
For five years, Compassion Revolution gathered together a groundswell of healthcare workers over two days. We met an astounding array of national and international speakers, undertook workshops and were captivated by the creative program—all set to build a compassion muscle.
In Short…
Summaries
Mama Alto’s summary of Day 1 was a profound recap, and Mary follows-up with her reflections on Day 2.
Mama Alto sings Songbird
The Conference Album
The energy of the conference can be felt in these sensitive photos taken by Gregory Lorenzutti
2023 Speakers
Here they all are again, so you don’t lose touch with these outstanding people.
Sará King
Neuroscientist and Entrepreneur
Andrew Tagg
Emergency Physician
Selma Quist-Møller
Psychologist and Researcher
Nartarsha Bamblett
Queen Acknowledgements
Video of sessions
Compassion as the Framework
Mary Freer
Neuroscience of Compassion
Sará King
Grief at Work
Sally Douglas and Imogen Carn
The Price of Work
Andrew Tagg Jane Munro and Laura Hartley. Chair: Kate Bowles
Caring as Activisim
Lekshmy Parameswaran, Victor Montori MD and Mary Freer
Boundary Work
Shannon Weber and Cessalee Stovall
Queen Acknowledgements
Nartarsha Bamblett
Post Traumatic Growth
Selma Quist-Møller
Workshop
Selma Quist-Møller & Sará King
Acts of Care for Better Collaboration
KA McKercher
Future Leading is Collective and Collaborative
Claire Wathen
Unfolding Space for Listening at Work
Kate Bowles and Brigid Russell
IN REVIEW
Vox pops at the conference
How do you think we can make work more beautiful?
What themes or ideas are standing out to you?
What skills do we need to grow collectively so we can be agents of ‘Love in Action?
Wear the revolution
If you missed out on purchasing merchandise, or think it would be great gifting for someone you love, fear not. It is all still available for your getting.
Newspaper
Every revolution worth it’s pinch delivers a newspaper, disseminating its mission’s intent, as have we. Within its 12 pages is support material outlined at the conference, so attendees returning to their work and lives are well resourced. This could also be yours.
You may recall this
Sará plays an Innato
The sounds found in this instrument had the power to quell ruckus and settle a room in moments. The word “Innato” means inborn, unlearned. it’s inside all of us. You can also play its vibration on top of a persons head to give sensation of being inside the sound.
We salute the people that show up big for us
A heartfelt thanks to our Vollies
A participant at 2023 Conference said this:
“I absolutely loved the volunteer presence. From the moment I walked down the stairs from Federation Square to see someone in a yellow shirt and pointed me in the right direction, to babysitting or general helpfulness—it added to the feeling of being cared for. I loved that they also participated in the workshops and came to the dinner. It illustrated the whole approach of care without saying anything at all.”
We simply could not do the conference in the way our gatherings are safe, inclusive and so everyone feels cared for. With all the love we acknowledge those who turn up for us.
FROM THE ARCHIVE
Previous conferences
2022
CRITICAL CONNECTIONS
We never know how our small activities will affect others through the invisible fabric of our connectedness. In this exquisitely connected world, it’s never a question of ‘critical mass.’ It’s always about critical connections.
Mycelium is the vast and intelligent underground network of the mushroom. This super network connects all living plants to one another, carrying nutrients and information from one tree to the next. Compassion across communities works in much the same way.
There’s no going back to the pre-pandemic days of 2019. Across the world writers, thinkers and artists are naming this place we are in as a great turning point; a place of no return; a transition. Our health systems have been revealed as moribund. Our workforce are tired and overwhelmed. Ambulances ramp and patients queue. Now is no time for nostalgia.
2022 conference speakers
Rachel Callander
Speaker, Trainer & Artist
Céline Schillinger
Founder/CEO, We Need Social
Sará King
Neuroscientist & Medical anthropologist
Alana Marsh
Regenerative practitioner
2021
THIS YEARS FOCUS
With COVID-19 still raging, Compassion Revolution stepped in and delivered an inspiring Conference that ran over three nights and two days, connecting people all over the world.
Opening night was a hybrid session where South Australia presented in person and many others joined us online. Mary Freer had a conversation with Seth Godin, the theme being ‘Can Capitalism Flourish Alongside Compassion?’, followed by a panel discussion.
The next two days were executed on our digital community platform, with rigorous conversations designed to create cultures of care that are high quality, continually improving, and compassionate. We set an intention that these discussions motivate our community to take action.
Mary also launched her book, Compassion Revolution: Start Now. Use What You Have. Keep Going.
2021 conference speakers
This years hybrid conference enjoyed these outstanding humans who, in all their rich variety of disciplines, brought their perspective of compassion and how to lead, and be led by it.
Brett Sutton
Victorian Chief Health Officer
Seth Godin
Author, Entrepreneur and most of all, a Teacher
Haben Girma
Disability Rights Lawyer
Rona Glynn-McDonald
Founder, Common Ground
2020
THIS YEARS FOCUS
Because of COVID-19, more than ever, health and aged care workers were being stretched in ways never imagined.
Compassion Revolution Conference responded by building a digital community platform, having created a warm safe meeting space for connection, support and conversation.
During November, Compassion Revolution curated a month of key speakers and engaged audiences as many as 860 people in conversations of moral imagination and social courage.
We also introduced a Book Club where five books were chosen. These books were themed in resilience, care, inclusion and diversity — and participants had group conversations with the authors, where robust conversations teased out some of the complexities of care work.
2020 conference speakers
This years online conference enjoyed these outstanding humans who, in all their rich variety of disciplines, brought their perspective of compassion and how to lead, and be led by it.
Jane Sloan
Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality
Gregory Philips
Medical Anthropologist
Rosie Thomas, OAM
Digital champion for Children’s Rights
Lauren R. Powell
Champion of health equity, Eradicator of racism and sexism
2019
THIS YEARS FOCUS
The Compassion Revolution called for people who care and invited compassionate leaders to bring their wisdom and inspiration to the work of health, aged care and social good.
This was the conference’s inaugural year held on (local indigenous country), at the Melbourne Arts Centre to an audience of 350 people.
Over the two days CR brought together internationally recognised leaders, clinicians and change makers, all focussed on improving our systems of care.
Our first conference was a sell-out and the feedback insisted we keep going.
2019 conference speakers
In our first year, Compassion Revolution Conference brought together speakers from the world, who, in all their rich variety of disciplines, brought their perspective of compassion and how to lead, and be led by it.
Dr James Doty
Writer, Academic & Researcher.
Helen Sanderson
Founder/CEO & Social entrepreneur.
Fiona Kerr
Neuroscientist & International Speaker.
Dr Robin Youngson
Physician & anaesthetic specialist.
All things Compassion Revolution is activated by Freerthinking
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