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The Canopy Collective: a National Movement of Community Voices

A case study

Prepared by The Resilience Canopy Team
Published 13 November 2025

summary

Across Australia, people are stepping forward with a shared desire to make their communities stronger.

The Canopy Collective brings these efforts together into a national, people-powered network that supports and mobilises volunteers, partners, collaborators, and others with a shared interest in community resilience.

It is built on trust, connection, the belief that no community should face challenges alone, and a simple but profound purpose: to help communities own and build their readiness for future shocks and chronic stresses.

In short:
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- The Resilience Canopy provides empowering, community-led frameworks and guidance for community-led resilience.
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- The Canopy Collective is the living ecosystem that brings this mission to life. It connects people across geography and sector, fostering knowledge exchange, resource sharing, and relationship-building to support thriving communities. By convening conversations, mentoring practitioners, and linking communities, the Collective ensures knowledge flows in all directions and helps practitioners turn ideas into action, inspiring new solutions and impact on the ground.

Example:
‍A practitioner in a regional town has just completed The Resilience Canopy Practitioner Training. They leave inspired, and not alone. Through the Collective, they join ongoing conversations with peers facing similar challenges, connect with researchers and industry experts, draw on ideas from global, national and state perspectives to expand their understanding, and discover practical tools they can apply locally. They then share what they’ve learned with others, spreading knowledge across their wider community network and creating ripple effects that extend far beyond their town.

In less than two years, what began as an experiment in connection (one of our C.R.E.W. characteristics) is already shaping a national story of community-led resilience. One conversation, one collaboration, one action at a time. In doing so, it is contributing to all characteristics of CREW: Connection, but also Respect (and inclusion), Empowerment and Wisdom...

Snapshot

8.9%

↓

The decline in volunteering rates in Australia between 2001-2020 (23.2% in 2001 > 14.3% in 2020). Source

Social

Capital

A key determinant of community recovery and resilience. Source

44

The number of Canopy Collective events held (from Dec 2023-Oct 2025).

930

The total number of attendees at Canopy Collective events (from Dec 2023-Oct 2025).

The challenges

Communities across Australia are facing compounding challenges: economic pressures, housing insecurity, climate impacts, volunteer fatigue, and the slow erosion of local connection. Many describe a “hollowing out” of community energy: fewer volunteers, greater burnout, and limited avenues for local voices to connect with decision-makers and people of influence.

These observations echo the work of Professor Daniel Aldrich, whose research shows that social capital - the strength of relationships and trust - is the key determinant of community recovery and resilience. Communities thrive when connections span up, down, and across: from local volunteers to council leaders, practitioners to policymakers, and across sectors and disciplines. Inclusive networks bringing together people of different ages, backgrounds, abilities, and experiences create the relationships that translate into actionable resilience.

“The difference between resilience and disrepair lies not in the amount of money spent or infrastructure rebuilt, but in the depth of communities’ social networks.”‍
‍— Daniel P. Aldrich

Formal volunteering dropped from 23.2% in 2001 to just 14.3% in 2020 (HILDA Survey). While the desire to contribute remains strong, communities need flexible, meaningful ways to connect, learn, and act together.  

The Canopy Collective is answering this call, bringing together people passionate about building stronger communities, creating spaces where they can connect, share knowledge, and weave the social networks that form the backbone of practical, people-powered resilience.

Joining the collective

People can engage with the Collective in two ways:

- Full membership via Canopy House – for the complete membership experience, including access to all events, resources, and networking opportunities.
- Keynote series only – subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates and invitations to the Keynote events.

Membership is open to anyone committed to building community resilience, from community members participating in the Canopy journey, to practitioners, academics, corporates, businesses, not-for-profits, and government departments and agencies.

‍Canopy House, the Resilience Canopy’s bespoke online platform, is more than just an information portal. It’s a national hub where members can:  
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- Showcase their journey, community projects and experiences
- Access a curated library of hundreds of practical tools, templates, and resources
- Connect with peers, partners, and experts across sectors and regions
- Stay informed about upcoming events, opportunities, and collaborations

The Actions

From the outset, the Collective set out to create a new, different kind of collective: a space where professional expertise and lived experience intersect, and where everyone can both teach and learn.

Designed as an enabler to a movement, it ensures that communities leading their own resilience journeys aren’t working in isolation. Instead, they are part of a national ecosystem where their efforts are amplified and their impact multiplied.

The Actions

“At The Canopy, we see ourselves as convenors of conversation — bridging wisdom, connecting people, and sharing knowledge. It’s a people-powered movement, built on trust, connection, and the belief that resilience is everyone’s business.”‍
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— Brett Ellis ESM, Executive Director, The Resilience Canopy‍

“It’s not just another online talk fest. It’s about being part of a movement and providing a space where I find ideas, encouragement, and the confidence to keep going on a pathway to build a stronger community for a better future for everyone.”
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— Canopy Collective participant

Through a vibrant mix of keynote speaker sessions, Resilience in Action masterclasses, and Practitioner check-ins, the Collective brings together leaders, policymakers, researchers, industry experts, business and community practitioners from all walks of life.

“Sharing my experience at the Collective wasn’t just about teaching.  I learned just as much from the questions, stories, and examples others brought. It’s one of the few spaces where expertise and lived experience sit side by side.”‍
— Collective RIA Speaker

“What I valued most about speaking at the Collective is the genuine exchange between people who care deeply about their communities. Nurturing these connections is essential for lasting, positive change across Australia.”
– Michelle Tjondro, SGS Economics and Planning

Each exchange is helping transform knowledge into action and local stories into national learning. What makes this truly remarkable is the generosity at its core. Speakers and participants give up their time to help others grow. Their willingness to contribute their expertise, insights, and lived experience without expectation of reward reflects the very essence of the movement...

“We couldn’t do this without the generosity of our members and speakers. Each one gives their time, experience, and wisdom freely.  Not for recognition, but because they believe in the power of collective learning. Their contribution embodies what the Canopy is all about - people helping people to strengthen communities right across Australia so no one is left behind.”
— Brett Ellis ESM, Executive Director, The Resilience Canopy

How it works

At the heart of the Canopy Collective is a core belief that knowledge and connection should be shared freely for the benefit of all, today and in the future. As such, Collective events are free and open to everyone.

Whether a volunteer, practitioner, policymaker, funder, researcher, industry expert or businesses committed to community resilience, there’s a place for everyone to connect, learn, and contribute.

To be as accessible and inclusive as possible, the Collective holds diverse events, from high-impact keynote sessions with national and international thought leaders to interactive, practical masterclasses with sector specialists, through to small-group mentoring check-ins where people can share experiences, problem solve and strengthen their skills.

The Collective events cover a rich tapestry of topics and methods of learning that reflect the breadth and depth of community resilience, interwoven with the most pressing challenges facing communities today. So far, these themes explored include:
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- Community-Led Resilience – At the heart of the program, explores how communities can drive their own change, harness local strengths, and lead collective action.  
- Social Capital & Connection – Complementing community-led resilience is the building of networks of trust, collaboration, and mutual support that underpin sustainable outcomes.
- Systems Thinking & Sustainable Impact – Gaining an understanding of how local actions connect to broader social, environmental, and institutional systems, and how to create change that endures.
- Leadership & Facilitation Excellence – Equipping participants with the skills to guide groups, foster collaboration, and mobilise communities effectively.
- Equity, Inclusion & Belonging – Ensuring that resilience-building is accessible, fair, and reflective of diverse voices.  

- Learning, Reflection & Knowledge Sharing – Spaces for peer exchange, experimentation, and continuous improvement.
‍- Climate Risk & Preparedness – Exploring practical challenges that address this big issue head-on and through lived experience, helping communities anticipate, respond to, and adapt to environmental change.
- Innovation & Adaptive Practice – Encouraging creative approaches, experimentation, and the translation of knowledge into actionable solutions that are both locally relevant and scalable.

Speaker and masterclass sessions are recorded and uploaded to YouTube (view our Keynote Session playlist here), ensuring that anyone anywhere can access and share the learning.

This open, collaborative approach reflects what makes the Collective unique as a movement built on generosity, shared wisdom, and the belief that resilience grows stronger when we grow it together.

Impacts

By bringing together diverse perspectives and exploring interwoven themes, the Collective is transforming ideas and shared learning into practical, people-powered actions that strengthen communities across Australia.  

What began as a small cohort with a shared curiosity about community resilience is becoming a conversation convenor built through interwoven themes, conversation, connection, and collaboration.  

In less than two years (from launch in December 2023 to October 2025), the Collective has connected over 930 people through 44 events.  It continues to grow and evolve, creating a living network of people and ideas stretching across Australia, becoming a meeting ground where ideas are exchanged, relationships are built, and collaborative projects take root.

‍“I realised resilience wasn’t something we had to wait for others to give us. We could create it ourselves. The Canopy helped me see my role as a guide, not a fixer and I’ve felt supported to share my challenges and learnings so we can achieve better outcomes together.”
‍‍— Practitioner

‍Through these conversations, communities are learning from one another. Rural towns share strategies with city networks; cause-based groups partner with councils; practitioners with researchers and policymakers. The diversity of voices is driving innovation and strengthening resilience across boundaries.

Impacts

“I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunities provided by the Collective, particularly the calibre and breadth of speakers who share their insights and expertise. I have formed new connections of mutual benefit, both personally and perhaps more vitally, in aid of the mission of my organisation. The Collective being a free resource is particularly paramount, given the finite resources of my NFP organisation.”‍
— Maddi, Alpine Valley Communities Leadership

‍Though its direct impact can be hard to quantify just yet, as change takes time, the diversity of topics explored and the stories emerging from communities shaping their own resilient futures demonstrate the ripple effect of real transformation. Connections are forming across sectors and regions, often linking people just a few degrees apart.

The Collective is building these bridges by:

- Connecting new and established communities - linking those just beginning their resilience journey with those further along. - Encouraging generosity - members are eager to share what they’ve learned, including what didn’t work, to help others navigate similar challenges.
- Reinforcing shared purpose - even though challenges vary, familiar themes keep emerging, highlighting the wisdom to be shared and applied.

Impacts: what worked?

Want to know more about C.r.e.w.?

What characteristics does a resilient Canopy Community have in common? Connection, respect, empowerment, and wisdom, also known as C.R.E.W.. Find out more on our Program page

Looking ahead...

The true strength of the Canopy Collective lies in its people and the relationships they nurture. The next phase will see the Collective evolve into a self-organising, volunteer-led network, supported by The Resilience Canopy with light-touch administration and structural guidance.
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Regional and cause-based sub-networks offering in person connections are already emerging, fostering deeper local collaboration while staying connected to the national web. Plans are underway to establish a Collective Working Group with a co-design focus that will empower members to curate content, lead activities, and shape the network’s future direction.

Maintaining momentum and engagement across a diverse, dispersed network can be challenging. To remain relevant and effective, the Collective will need to continue to stay agile and responsive, adapting to emerging community needs and current issues. Offering different levels of engagement at flexible times, and using a variety of connection and communication methods, will ensure members can participate meaningfully, contribute their expertise, and sustain the energy of the movement.
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“The early lessons emerging from the establishment of the Collective network is clear: when communities are connected, they don’t just survive challenges, they grow stronger through them.”

By building on these foundations, the Collective has the potential to both strengthen communities but also to support broader systems change, demonstrating how a network of people-powered action can drive resilience across Australia.