Amplify Alliance is proud to host this timely and important event, bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders—community leaders, Indigenous service providers, participants, government representatives, and others. This event offers a platform for open and constructive dialogue, a critical examination of current practices, and an opportunity to review government policy and its impacts. Attendees will contribute insights that help shape the future of Indigenous services and policy reform.
The event’s approach focuses on identifying the connections between key issues, highlighting the need for systemic improvement through a whole-person perspective.
We invite you to join us for an engaging and impactful workshop that will empower inclusive conversations about Indigenous services, focusing on:
- Breaking the Cycle: Justice, Culture, and Connection for Indigenous Youth
- Beyond CDP: Realising the Opportunities of Reform
- Learning That Listens: Reimagining Education and Training Through Culture, Care and Purpose
- What Works: Delivering NDIS Success in Remote Australia
This interactive workshop has been shaped by member feedback and is designed to support our continued advocacy. We will explore the themes that intersect these critical areas of discussion, including:
- Embedding cultural safety across all systems.
- Community voice and control are essential—particularly youth involvement in design and delivery.
- Ensuring service integration: jobs, homes, education, health, justice, and employment must be interconnected.
- Championing long-term investment and capacity-building – because short-term solutions are not effective.
- Shifting from market to place-based approaches that reflect local needs and contexts.
Discover Darwin & the Northern Territory
While you’re here for our workshop, why not extend your stay and explore everything Darwin and the Northern Territory have to offer? From world-class cultural experiences to breathtaking natural wonders, the Top End is the perfect destination to combine business with leisure.
Nature & Wildlife
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Take a day trip to Litchfield National Park and swim at Florence Falls, Buley Rockholes, and Wangi Falls.
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Experience the thrill of a Jumping Crocodile Cruise on the Adelaide River.
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Visit Crocosaurus Cove in the city or the Territory Wildlife Park for up-close encounters with unique NT wildlife.
Culture & History
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Explore the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT), home to iconic exhibitions including Cyclone Tracy.
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Stroll through the George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens, a tropical oasis in the city.
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Take a cultural day trip to the Tiwi Islands or Arnhem Land to experience Indigenous art and storytelling.
Relax & Unwind
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Wander the famous Mindil Beach Sunset Markets, combining food, culture, and incredible views.
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Enjoy a Darwin Harbour Sunset Cruise for the best evening views of the city.
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Spend a leisurely afternoon at the Darwin Waterfront & Wave Lagoon.
Plan Your Adventure
Make the most of your time in the Top End:
Stay a little longer and turn your event trip into an unforgettable Northern Territory adventure. Darwin is more than just a destination, it’s an experience waiting to be discovered.
Accommodation Details:
Please use the links below to book your accommodation and receive a 20% discount on the hotel’s fully flexible rate. Kindly note that availability is limited on some dates. The discount applies for stays between 29 July and 4 August 2025 at both the Vibe Hotel Darwin and Adina Apartment Hotel Darwin.
Confirmed Speakers Include:
- Damien Mick (MC) - Founder and Managing Director, IBC Social Enterprise
- Chris Hayward - Deputy CEO, CarersNT
- Leanne Liddle - Executive Director Cultural Reform, Northern Territory Police Force
- Paul Synnott - Strategic Partner and Coach for Indigenous Employment Services
- Eddy Alder - Manager of the Community Engagement Team, ALPA
- Dr Kate Anderson - Vice Chancellor's Senior Research Fellowship in RMIT's School of Computing Technologies
DOWNLOAD THE PROGRAM HERE.
Get To Know Our Speakers:
Damien Mick (MC)
Damien Mick is a proud descendant of the Kukatj and Kuku Yalanji peoples of North Queensland, born and raised on Larrakia Country in Darwin, Northern Territory. With years of experience working across rural, remote, and urban communities throughout the NT, Damien offers a culturally grounded, inclusive, and strategic approach to community development and social innovation.
He is the Founder and Managing Director of IBC Social Enterprise, a purpose-driven organisation centred on Identity, Belonging, and Connection. Through IBC, Damien leads strength-based, culturally respectful programs that empower people, foster collaboration, and deliver meaningful, sustainable outcomes. His work spans to youth mentorship, organisational development, stakeholder engagement, and place-based service delivery.
Damien has assisted government, industry, and community organisations to co-design culturally informed strategies and frameworks, deliver high-impact consultations, and influence systemic change. His leadership is guided by respect, trust, and unity, with a strong commitment to enabling communities to thrive now and into the future.
Leanne Liddle
Born and raised in Alice Springs, and a traditional owner of Central Australia, Arrernte woman Leanne Liddle has a passion for justice. A lawyer with over 20 years’ experience, she began her career in police, where she was South Australia first Aboriginal Policewoman. In her previous role as Director of the Aboriginal Justice Unit, Leanne travelled thousands of kilometres across the Northern Territory to meet, listen and hear the voices of Aboriginal people and stakeholders, visiting over 120 communities, to reshape the justice system.
Leanne was the driver behind the Aboriginal Justice Agreement that has re-introduced Community Courts, two highly successful Alternatives to Custody and numerous Law and Justice groups. Leanne is kept busy with her commitments as board members of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and Flinders University; she also has the honour of being NT’s 2022 NT Australian of the year. Now as the Executive Director Cultural Reform, Northern Territory Police Force, she has the task of delivering on reforms, including racism-where her international United Nations experience and many formal academic qualifications will enable her to empower Aboriginal people with solutions that will work where others have failed.
Eddy Alder
Bouncing between Melbourne and Adelaide in my formative years, my first pathway in professional life was hospitality - managing cocktail menus and programs for fine dining restaurants. In 2016 I made a move from the big city to the small remote community of Ramingining, on Yolnu Country in East Arnhem Land. Through my work with ALPA, I was introduced to the world of community services and development. I had the opportunity to supervise the Remote School Attendance Strategy team and work alongside the Community Development Program (CDP). These roles deepened my understanding of Yolngu culture and worldviews, as well as the systemic inequalities faced by First Nations communities — learnings that would become a driving force in my career.
In 2020, I moved to Darwin and took on a role in ALPA’s newly formed Community Engagement team. My initial focus was on building stronger relationships between ALPA’s business leaders, management and community leadership structures. Today I manage the same Community Engagement team — now made up of 3 passionate Engagement Officers, 2 of which are Yolnu community members.
ALPA is a very large organisation with many service and value offerings for its community members, it gives me great pride to be in a position to lead a team that facilitates some amazing outcomes. Engaging with community is more than a tick and flick. For our team, community engagement is about utilising and our deep relationships with community leaders. To discover service delivery improvements from the perspective of members, It’s how we build trust, empower community leadership.
Paul Synnott
With over 30 years of experience in social and economic development and a Masters of Business Management, Paul specialises in strengthening organisations delivering employment & other community services in regional, rural and remote communities. Paul's collaborative approach combines practical capability and capacity building strategies & techniques, while respecting traditional knowledge systems and culture to achieve your desired outcomes.
Having worked as a practitioner, CEO and Board Member across Australia's most challenging environments, Paul understands the complex balance between contractual requirements, organisation governance and most importantly, community-centred & designed service delivery for lasting community impact.
Chris Hayward
Chris Hayward is a National Award-winning Workforce Development specialist who has driven innovative workforce development projects across the NT, building sectoral capacity in remote areas of Australia.
Chris advanced Indigenous training and employment goals through Government-led initiatives including CDP, VTEC, and RSAS for both Australian and Northern Territory Governments. During his 10 years at Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation (ALPA), he successfully built several Indigenous social enterprises and was instrumental in ALPA becoming Australia's largest Indigenous business.
Chris now serves as Deputy CEO for Carers NT, a leading Aged Care and NDIS provider based in Darwin, and also holds the position of Chair of Relationships Australia NT.
Chris continues supporting Indigenous people and remote communities through his involvement in social services provider organisations and benevolent activities.
Dr Kate Anderson
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Dr Kate Anderson holds a Vice Chancellor's Senior Research Fellowship in RMIT's School of Computing Technologies. Her primary research explores how Artificial Intelligence (AI) and emerging digital technologies can be made more useful, accessible, and inclusive for people with disability. Kate is a fierce advocate for authentic co-design and consumer consultation, and regularly consults with teams across health, computing, and human services to ensure their research and services are inclusive of “hardly reached” community members, including people with complex disability.
Kate grew up in a family of educators and is driven by her passion for inclusive and equitable learning across the lifespan. Kate initially trained as a speech pathologist, working for six years as a specialist in the areas of cerebral palsy, autism, and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). She enjoys teaching students from all disciplines about communication, responsible AI, assistive technology, accessibility, and co-design. Kate also researches learning practices in tertiary and community education settings, with a focus on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and inclusive learning technologies.
Catering will be provided.
Mark your calendars – we look forward to seeing you in Darwin!