Co-operatives Research Group Symposium

Social Co-operatives

Please join us for the 9th Annual Research Symposium jointly hosted by the Co-operatives Research Group at the University of Sydney Business School and The Co-op Federation. This symposium will explore the role that co-operatives can play in assisting the most vulnerable in our society.

Co-operatives can play a crucial role in delivering social services to communities through social and worker co-operatives. Social co-operatives have developed since the 1960s, particularly in Italy, to meet deficiencies by both the state and the private sector in delivering social services. The decision-making process is democratically driven with the simultaneous participation of a variety of members including users of the services, workers, volunteers, financing members and various legal entities. Revenue derives from supplying services to both the state and private firms. Examples of activities include employment services and becoming a service provider for the Australian National Disability Insurance Scheme. Worker co-operatives can also be formed that provide similar services but are based on a worker ownership model.

Highlights include a plenary by Steve Anthony OAM, the CEO of SILC (Supporting Independent Living Co-operative), a presentation by Gillian McFee (Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals) on the federally funded Care Together Program, and case studies.

Please note this symposium is going to be held in-person only. We look forward to seeing you there!

Speakers

• Steve Anthony OAM, CEO (Supporting Independent Living Co-operative)
• Gillian McFee, Program Director (Care Together, BCCM)
• Greg Patmore, Emeritus Professor (The University of Sydney Business School)
• Julaine Stephenson, Regional Director (The Co-operative Life)
• Richard Warner, Coordinator (Nundah Co-op)
• Sam Byrne, Secretary (The Co-op Federation)

Registration

Full rate - $60 including GST

Concession Rate (Students, Social Service Recipients, Retired) - $50 including GST

Complimentary Rate (Invited Speakers) - $0

All registrations include lunch.

Speakers Bios

Steve Anthony OAM, CEO (Supporting Independent Living Co-operative)

Steve was an executive with Citibank from 1982 till 1996 - initially as a foreign exchange dealer in Sydney and later as the Head of Investment Management in Tokyo and finally as Head of Financial Markets in Australia.

His formal education includes BEc (Hons) Sydney University 1974, PGCE (Cambridge University) 1979 and SEP (Stanford University) 1990. He is the author of Foreign Exchange in Practice and a number of industry handbooks.

Steve and Sue have a son, Patrick, who has autism. They were one of the founding families of a charity called Giant Steps that operates a school for children with autism in 1995. In 2015, they established PaRA Co-operative to run a family governed home in which Patrick lives with two housemates who were part of the original 12 students at Giant Steps. SILC was established to help other groups of families establish co-operatives to similar homes.

Steve retired in 2022. From 1996 Steve he was self-employed an executive coach, but his time was mainly spent as pro bono CEO of SILC. SILC is a cooperative of cooperatives that is a NDIS Service Provider of Supported Accommodation in family governed homes in Sydney.

Gillian McFee, Program Director (Care Together, BCCM)

Gillian is the author of BCCM's paper on Action to Empower: Why Australia needs more co-operatives and mutuals in health, community and social services.

After holding CEO/senior executive and non-executive roles in aged care, disability services, housing and community services for governments and the not-for-profit sector, Gillian immersed herself in understanding the co-operative and mutual business model at a time when she felt there was an opportunity to diversify the ownership structure of social care providers to make way for new business models, including by employees and multi-stakeholders.

From January 2023, Gillian's focus is as Director of the Care Together Program for BCCM, the peak body for co-operatives and mutuals in Australia. Funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care, Care Together is Australia's first co-operative and mutual support program in social care.

In 2018, Gillian was instrumental in the formation of Kudos Services, Australia's first employee-owned mutual to form from a public agency, and later, elected to the Board by the Kudos Members in 2019, serving until November 2022.

From 2020 – 2023, Gillian was a co-op adviser to CEHL, Australia's largest housing co-operative and later, as independent Chair of a Board Committee comprising CEHL co-op Members, reporting to the CEHL Board.

In addition to these co-op boards, Gillian holds other non-executive positions in health and social care sectors including on the boards of Barnardos Australia and until November 2022, at Stride Mental Health. From 2005-2011, Gillian was Director, Uniting in NSW.ACT, one of Australia's largest providers of aged care and home care services.

Greg Patmore, Emeritus Professor (The University of Sydney Business School)

Greg Patmore is Emeritus Professor of Business and Labour History and  Chair of the Business and Labour History Group and the Co-operative  Research Group (CRG) in the School of Business, The University of  Sydney. He also chairs the advisory committee of the Chambers Research  Collection on the Burren St. campus.

Julaine Stephenson, Regional Director (The Co-operative Life)

Julaine practises a person-centred, trauma informed approach in psycho-social disability services. She has a Diploma of Counselling, Bachelor of Visual Arts, Bachelor Fine Arts (Hons), and is a qualified Infant Massage Instructor – Attachment theory. Past roles include Public Art Project Co-ordinator, Support Coordinator, and Psychosocial Support Team leader. As Regional Director at The Co-operative Life (since 2020), Julaine has developed specialised Life Homes and community engagement projects such as the Loud and Proud Choir. Julaine believes in the strength of collaboration with all involved in the care of people. Her current focus is building partnerships for psychosocial supported housing and services specialising in complex needs.

Richard Warner, Coordinator (Nundah Co-op)

Richard Warner is a social worker and Community Development practitioner. Working alongside people with disability and from refugee backgrounds. He is Coordinator of the Nundah Co-op, awarded best Australian social enterprise (2015 & 2020). Chair of Queensland Social Enterprise Council (2021-2023)- Australia's first peak for social enterprise. Passionate about social change which sees those who are disadvantaged achieving a role, a stake and a fair share.

Sam Byrne, Secretary (The Co-op Federation)

Sam is the Secretary of The Co-op Federation. Sam provides expert support, advice and training to all types of co-operatives including governance workshops, and strategic planning and conflict resolution services. He is also a former Mayor, and a former director of a large superannuation fund with more than $10 billion in assets. Sam holds a Masters of Management from the University of Technology, Sydney and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.