Ballarat Civility Exchange

The Ballarat Civility Exchange was held as part of the national Reimagining Civility initiative led by the Menzies Leadership Foundation.

Leaders and community members gathered in Ballarat to explore practical ways to strengthen connection, rebuild trust and support a healthy civic culture in our region. The Exchange created space for reflection, conversation and shared learning at a time when communities across Australia are grappling with division, polarisation and declining trust.

The session was facilitated by the Ballarat Foundation Chair Ellen Jackson, with contributions from Sir Peter Cosgrove and Liz Gillies, who provided national context and reflected on the importance of constructive engagement across difference. While these insights framed the conversation, it was the voices of local community members that gave the Civility Exchange its depth and resonance. Participants spoke openly about their lived experience, sharing moments where they had encountered intolerance, exclusion or challenged by differing perspectives within our community. It took courage to speak so honestly. Their reflections grounded the Civility Exchange in lived reality and underscored why conversations about civility matter in Ballarat.

Through the Reimagining Civility initiative, the Menzies Leadership Foundation has convened a national coalition to make sense of the challenges and opportunities around civility, surface new insights and co develop an inclusive response. The goal is bold: to reimagine a more civil Australia with a unifying narrative about race and diversity and a national platform for action that helps Australians engage constructively across differences and strengthen community resilience.

On the day, participants took part in small group table discussions, sharing experiences and identifying practical “deposits” that build trust in everyday interactions. These conversations highlighted the power of micro behaviours, listening with curiosity, extending respect and inviting others into dialogue, to shape the tone and culture of our community.

The Ballarat Civility Exchange demonstrated that civility is not abstract. It is lived, local and built through relationships. Thank you to everyone who contributed their voice to the conversation, and to the Menzies Leadership Foundation for supporting this important national initiative.