GOING OFFLINE: LESS LOGGING OFF, MORE STATE OF MIND.

Words by Sian Gooden, storyteller at  s p a c e.

s p a c e  is where ideas meet influence. We are building a collective of unlike-minds with a passion for making the world a better place through action. Unlock ideas you didn't know you had and meet those you didn't know you needed to know.

March 2020. Sourdough baking, Tiger King binging, toilet paper deprivation sweeping the nation, and a pivot to digital unimaginable for the s p a c e team. However, as Covid-19 dug its heels in, we needed to heed our own advice. We needed to be less think-tank, more do-tank. So, we stopped overthinking and started doing - creating a virtual s p a c e for Australia’s most unlike minds to come together to get shit done. 

Get shit done we did! Over three evenings, 165 cadets put their tools down, left their job titles at the virtual door, and came together for deep exploration and campfire conversation (complete with cedar scented candles) at Australia’s Biggest Unconference.

No formal agenda, cadets designed and delivered the content and were free to choose their own adventure through three evenings choc-a-block full of discussions, performances, cooking masterclasses, chat roulette, and late-night chit chats by the virtual campfire. 

Opening night Streat Co-Founder Bec Scott set the stage by reminding us; 

"we have an opportunity to use the current global disruption to supercharge what needs to happen next."

Cadets jumped headfirst into the chaos, exploring their individual and collective role in building back better as a country:

Education innovators Adriano Di Prato, Mary-Lou O’Brien, and Zeina Chalich shared their hopes for a future education system that fosters community, climate, and character. Read more from Adriano here.

First-year Monash Uni student, Caleb Otswald encouraged us to celebrate the spaces in between.

Mover, Maker and Muse, Jodie Metaxiosis reminded us to consider what anxiety is doing to our kids.

Work Futurist, Dom Price reassured us that individual passion and happiness can go a long way to building a better world.

Human connector, Jez Dooley challenged us to embrace the conversations we avoid.

Questioning whether empathy was dangerous, by Keeva Stratton swearing politely. Read more from Keeva here.

Clay Alchemist, Georgina Lee told stories of 2020 through clay.

And diminutive disruptor Lisa Leong hosted a living room rave. 

Scattered throughout the program were tear-jerking, goosebump-inducing live performances from Musicians Making a Difference, Fletcher Pilon, Chang Po Ching, and Libby Ingels.

The team at Atlas Masterclass and Three Foxes Distillery kept us fed and watered with an Indian inspired in-home cooking experience complete with cocktail pairings. It was no bloody wonder, chat roulette and conversations by candlelight in the snug continued long into each evening. 

As the dust settles on the Unconference that was, the team at s p a c e realise we’ve learnt a thing or three during this topsy turvy year;

Going offline is a state of mind. 

The passion of our cadets is unwavering.

And, when ideas meet influence, you can’t predict what might happen, but it sure as shit will be magical.

s p a c e is where ideas meet influence. We are building a collective of unlike-minds with a passion for making the world a better place through action. Unlock ideas you didn't know you had and meet those you didn't know you needed to know.

Join us in Byron Bay, May 2021.