Belonging Matters Inc.

01/09/2026

💼 NEW free guide: Finding and Keeping a Job – Part 2

How can we turn job leads into meaningful, lasting employment?

Our new Finding and Keeping a Job – Part 2: Pursuing Job Leads and the Role of the Employment Mentor is now available to download for FREE!

Designed for people with disability, families, job coaches and supporters, this practical guide explores how to pursue job leads, the important role of an Employment Mentor, and practical ways to secure and sustain successful employment.

📘 And if you missed Part 1: Discovery and Harnessing Your Networks to Find a Job, that’s available to download for free too!

Together, the two guides offer practical ideas for supporting people with intellectual disability and autism to pursue meaningful, award-wage employment.

👉 Download your free guides: https://www.belongingmatters.org/product-page/pdf-guide-pursuing-job-leads-and-the-role-of-the-employment-mentor-part-2

Image description: 'New Free Guide, Finding and Keeping a Job - Part 2: Pursuing Job Leads and the Role of the Employment Mentor', 'Practical guidance to help turn job leads into meaningful lasting employment'. Image of PDF guide on iPad.

28/08/2026

🌱 What does it really mean to belong in your community?

Belonging Matters and Imagine More are bringing back Inclusion Seekers: Building Community!

Join us for a one-hour online Introduction Session exploring practical ways to move beyond simply being present in community towards genuine inclusion, relationships and belonging.

Hear real stories, discover fresh ways to recognise people’s strengths, and explore practical tools for building lasting community connections.

📅 Thursday, 1 October 2026
⏰ 9.30 am – 10.30 am AEST
💻 Online

Join Inclusion Seekers and discover what’s possible when we start with people, their gifts and their community
👉 https://events.humanitix.com/inclusion-seekers-intro

Image Description: Background dark navy with light green sections. 'Inclusion Seekers Series 2026 Building Community', 'Introduction: Thursday, 1 October 2026', 'Online - 9:30 am to 10:30 am AEDT', Course: Thursday, 5, 12, 19, 26 November', 'Online - 9:30 am to 11:30 am AEDT'. Three circled images - top image of four people standing, one person sitting at a table; middle image of people sitting around a table eating; bottom image - Imagine More and Belonging Matters logos.

18/08/2026

17/08/2026

Great day with Cormac Russell last week. Cormac encouraged us to ask different questions about or communities.
✅ What’s strong in our local community (rather than what’s wrong)
✅ How can we make better use of the assets in our local community?
✅ How can we nurture and build more connections in our local communities?
✅ How do we welcome the stranger at the edge?

Big thanks to all those who participated and Knox City Council for partnering with us!

31/07/2026

What if the answers we're looking for are already all around us?

Cormac Russell has spent more than 30 years helping communities discover the strengths, skills and connections that already exist—and showing how these can transform neighbourhoods from the inside out.

"Believe that you have and you are enough when you are deeply and productively connected." – Cormac Russell

Whether you work in the community sector, support people with disability, volunteer, or simply care about creating places where everyone belongs, this is an opportunity to hear from one of the world's leading voices in Asset-Based Community Development.

💙 Join us on 12 August and be part of the conversation.

🎟️ Tickets are still available, but not for long.
👉Book now: https://events.humanitix.com/bringing-community-to-life-2026

Image description: 'Bringing Community to Life', '12 August, 9.30am - 4.30pm', 'Knox City Council, Vic', Keynote Speaker, International Social Explorer Cormac Russell'. Image of Cormac Russell on right.

29/07/2026

When was the last time you truly felt like you belonged?

Not just included.
Not just invited.
But genuinely known, valued and connected.

We all want to live in communities where people look out for one another, where everyone's gifts matter, and where no one feels like they have to do life alone.

The good news? Communities like that don't happen by chance—they're built, one conversation, one relationship and one neighbour at a time.

Join internationally recognised community practitioner Cormac Russell on 12 August and discover how stronger Connected Communities begin with the strengths that already exist all around us.

💙 We'd love you to be part of the conversation.
👉 Book now: https://events.humanitix.com/bringing-community-to-life-2026

Image description: 'Bringing Community to Life', '12 August 2026, 9.30am - 4.30pm', Knox City Council. Quote and circled image of Cormac Russell. Lower image of four people smiling.

27/07/2026

"The Good Life is like a cake. It has ingredients that must be identified and added in just the right amount to create a life that nourishes and sustains us." – Cormac Russell

What are the ingredients of a good life?

For Cormac Russell, they're found in the people around us—in our relationships, our gifts, our sense of purpose and our connection to place.

If you're passionate about creating communities where everyone belongs, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

📅 Join us on 12 August for an inspiring day with Cormac Russell.

✨ Places are limited, so secure your ticket today.
👉Book now: https://events.humanitix.com/bringing-community-to-life-2026

Image description: 'Bringing Community to Life', 'Quote - The Good Life is like a cake. It has ingredients that must be identified and added in just the right amount to create a life that nourishes and sustains us' - Cormac Russell. Image on right - Cormac Russell.

25/07/2026

🌟What if we've been asking the wrong question?

"We start with what's strong, not wrong in every community we visit." – Cormac Russell

Imagine what might change if we looked first at the strengths, gifts and relationships that already exist in our neighbourhoods, rather than focusing on what's missing.

Join internationally recognised community practitioner Cormac Russell as he explores a different way of building stronger, more connected communities—one that begins with what's already there.

✨ Tickets are filling, but there are still places available. We'd love to see you there on 12 August.

👉 Book now: https://events.humanitix.com/bringing-community-to-life-2026

Image description: 'Bringing Community to Life', '12 August 2026, 9.30am-4.30pm', 'Knox City Council, 511 Burwood Hwy, Wantirna, Vic'. Large image of four people together smiling. Small image of Cormac Russell.

22/07/2026

🌟What if we've been asking the wrong question?

"We can't know what a community needs until we know what a community has." – Cormac Russell

Cormac challenges us to see communities differently - not by focusing first on what's missing, but by discovering the strengths, relationships and gifts that already exist in the neighbourhood.

If you're ready to rethink how we build stronger, more connected communities, now is the time.

📅 Wednesday 12 August, 9.30 am - 4.30 pm
📍 Knox City Council, Vic
🎟️ Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/bringing-community-to-life-2026

🎟️ Final tickets are selling fast. Don't miss this opportunity to hear internationally recognised community practitioner Cormac Russell in person.

Image description: 'Bringing Community to Life', 'We can't know what a community needs until we know what a community has ~ Cormac Russell', Date, time, venue. Main image: Four people standing together, smiling. Small circle image of Cormac Russell.

Belonging Matters Inc is a not-for-profit organisation that provides information, resources and training together with mentoring and advice about social inclusion and belonging.

15/07/2026

🌟Almost sold out!

There are only a handful of tickets left for Bringing Community to Life with Cormac Russell.

Join us for an inspiring day exploring how meaningful friendships, stronger communities and lasting connections can grow from the gifts already present in our neighbourhoods.

🎟️ Don't wait—secure your place before tickets sell out!
👉Book now: https://events.humanitix.com/bringing-community-to-life-2026



Image description: 'Bringing Community to Life', 'The art of uncovering hidden gems in our neighbourhood!' 'Knox City Council', '511 Burwood Highway, Wantirna Vic', 'With International Social Explorer Cormac Russell', 'Wednesday 12 August, 2026', '9.30am - 4.30pm'. Image of four people standing together on left side. Image of Cormac Russell on right.