We no longer use ‘workshop’ when talking about Social Developers Network meetings, preferring to call them ‘retreats’. Those who saw the recent email invitation to the SDN Retreat in January 2026 may have noticed this, and based on experience, this is a good way to describe them.
In this newsletter: Retreat with us in January | South Australia Network news | PostcardsAdelaide – small stories of connection | Just Transitions – How to create systems change and a new economy | Getting rid of fossil fuels is really hard | Australia reMADE | Resilience | and an Email from John Russell.
Retreat with us in January
Incredible facts are becoming more common and I recently learnt that the Cambridge Dictionary has listed 6212 new words, phrases and meanings in the past year alone. Even if ‘retreat’ is not one of them, its use has changed over time, now referring not only to a spiritual but also to a secular gathering.
This could explain why we no longer use ‘workshop’ when talking about Social Developers Network meetings, preferring to call them ‘retreats’. Those who saw the recent email invitation to the SDN Retreat in January may have noticed this, and based on experience, this is a good way to describe them.
Participants at an SDN Retreat frequently say their time away from home and work, routines and even family, is time well spent. Especially during the summer holidays, traditionally a time for enjoyment and the chance to re-charge energies drained by the demands of the year just past.
During a retreat we reunite with old friends, make new ones, build connections based on trust, listen with respect and offer support when needed. Participants have their say, without judgement from the audience of others. Then follows engaged discussion, which at its best resolves issues, builds new ideas and enables a moving forward that serves us well going into another year.
So please join us this time, on this 50th anniversary of SDN workshops, er, retreats.
Download the January 2026 Retreat Flyer Here, (or below)
More information on the SDN 2026 Annual Retreat Uralla NSW January page
Network news
Our SDN friends in South Australia are offering a one-day workshop for people interested in restorative community work. It will be a relaxed and engaging day to connect, share stories, and explore how to support each other. The day will follow an SDN-style format - open, flexible, and participant-led – yet different from a residential SDN retreat.
It’s on Saturday 25 October from 9:30 – 3:30, at the Bridgewater Uniting Church, 407 Mount Barker Road, Bridgewater SA 5155. Cost: shared lunch + $10 donation.
The program is - introductions and sharing where people are coming from, personally and in their networks. Then an exercise to map interests and activities, the community work people are engaged in. Themes will be identified to draw out common threads, opportunities, and gaps, ending with finding out where energy lies and how to shape future collaboration.
Contact David ‘Sal’ Salomon on 0432 236 332, or by email - davidcsalomongmail.com
PostcardsAdelaide – small stories of connection
This is another local initiative, sharing short stories, reflections, and images from Adelaide’s creative and community life. It’s a gentle way of keeping in touch between gatherings, exploring the themes that run through the SDN network — collaboration, reciprocity, and restorative community work.
To join PostcardsAdelaide, Subscribe here
Just Transitions – How to create systems change and a new economy
NED Board member Kath McLachlan and I had great fun facilitating an experiential workshop at the recent New Economy Network Australia conference, Broadbeach, QLD. Having put up my hand as Co-Convenor of NENA’s new Just Transitions and Climate Change Hub, I was keen to gather energy for the Hub. Fifteen participants brought diverse perspectives - social justice for renters and nature, and opportunities to use renewables to address the planetary overshoot we have created. People were grateful for conversations to create change for the good of people and planet. The Hub aims to host at least two free webinars each year.
For more information about NED’s work with NENA, contact the author -
Sarah Houseman, Coordinator NED Transitions Program
Transitionsnedfoundation.org.au
And here’s the link to the Hub
Getting rid of fossil fuels is really hard
In theory, renewable energy resources are near-infinite. If the world ran on 100% renewables, continual economic growth might be possible. But just adding renewable energy while still exploiting coal, gas and oil, won’t be enough to stop climate change or save species from ex-tinction. Grasping the true difficulty of keeping Australia’s fossil fuels in the ground is an es-sential first step before we can begin an honest discussion about how to achieve a prosper-ous and safe future. The way we think about the economy has to change from a focus on infi-nite growth to a restorative approach.
Reference: The Conversation, 28/8/25 –
Getting rid of fossil fuels is really hard – and we’re not making much progress
Photo credit: Conergy
Australia reMADE
One of the most progressive, visionary, idealistic, and feel-good organisations in Australia at present is called Australia reMADE - www.australiaremade.org
According to their website, they exist to explore ‘alternate positive futures in response to the question - Is this the best we can be?’ They work on the belief that our collective answer to this question is powerful, and they are guided by:
- The Australia reMADE vision and its nine pillars.
- The values of universalism (everyone means everyone), balance (social and economic equilibrium supporting human flourishing within ecological limits), and love (‘radical love’ centred on social justice).
Readers may like to explore Australia reMADE further and for this purpose we have attached their Nine Pillars document as a PDF.
Resilience
As we adapt to climate change and other global shocks, we must strive to be more resilient. Broadly, this means the ability of an individual, community, organisation or system to absorb, withstand and bounce back after an adverse event. ‘Community resilience’ involves reliable local knowledge, effective communication, strong community networks and relationships, good governance and leadership, planned preparedness, resources and economic investment, and access to healthcare and safety.
Email from John Russell
About a year ago I started having memory lapses. I am not allowed to drive and I have trouble using my computer. My partner Rosaria is now my legal carer. We purchased a two-bedroom villa in a retirement village last year. This is very helpful and we are happy living here.
I enjoy walking to the park - it keeps me fit and healthy. Come and see us if you have time.
Kind Regards, John and Rosaria.
John is a veteran of the Social Developers Network. He worked with Ned Iceton in the 1970s to establish the Network.
Until recently, John was a member of the NED Foundation board. We wish him and Rosaria all the best in their new home.
Get in touch
If you’ve got any feedback, ideas or want to contribute articles or photos, please get in touch with the newsletter editor, Harry Creamer on the contacts below. I look forward to seeing some of you at the January retreat.
This newsletter was produced on the traditional lands of the Birpai and Anaiwan people.
