Co-designing ways forward

Co-designing Ways Forward: Learning and Working Together to Improve Services and Systems

Join us for a half-day, hands-on workshop facilitated by Dana Shen, an experienced systems thinker, facilitator and proud Ngarrindjeri woman. With over 20 years of experience across the public and not-for-profit sectors, Dana brings a wealth of insight into how we can collaborate to design better services, policies, and systems that create real and lasting change.

This practical session will explore:

• What co-design really means — its principles, practices and real-world examples
• The “inner work” required to bring our best selves to this process
• How systems thinking and leadership can help us create meaningful change
• Practising co-design in context — learning by doing

Grounded in the SA Public Sector’s Co-design with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples principles, this workshop will guide participants through tools, techniques, and reflection exercises that deepen understanding and build capability for authentic engagement.

Participants are encouraged to bring a project or idea from their own department to explore during the session, with opportunities for small-group collaboration and guided practice.

Facilitated with warmth, curiosity and calm by Dana Shen, this session offers a rich opportunity to rethink how we design with communities — not for them.