The APC Circle was formed after the intended Kangaroo Valley event was postponed in August 2025. It was important to reach out to the movement and engage in many conversations to identify how to proceed, ensuring that we were designing an event that was true to the needs and wants of the Australian permaculture community and the greater movement as a whole.
Ian Lillington of Victoria, a Permaculture Elder since 2015, came forward to lead this group, and together with those who answered the call for contributors to the effort, embarked on the following.
Here is an Overview from the group – [the map is not the territory] – and then some more detailed links and action steps to move forward in 2026.
Our work in the APC circle has been a useful exploration of what the next APC might look like, and it has pointed out gaps in the system that we have been able to start to fill; or refer to other parts of PA for attention.
Our work on APC has also been at a time when PA is undertaking a major management restructure. So – as well as keeping the ‘normal’ business flowing there is a lot of time going into making sure that the new ‘circles’ – where the work gets done – are integrating. [The challenges of holistic design made real!]
There have probably been more “people-hours” worked at PA in the last 6 months than perhaps in the last 6 years. Behind the scenes there is diligence and attention to detail, with many working groups actually working, daily. There’s a willingness to listen and to identify and fix the leaks. The time spent, and thoroughness will pay off, but it is a long term project, and the timing and nature of a national body having a national ‘gathering’ is a part of a bigger whole.
I think the absence of a local/group stepping forward and saying ‘we will do the next APC’ could be partly a reflection of loss of morale after KV was postponed, partly a reflection of the global situation [where we are inclined to stay closer to home, maybe?], and maybe because the ‘old’ model of APC no longer appeals.
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In more detail, this is my summary of the last few months with the APC circle – and some thoughts/answers, though I am not the one with THE answers – it’s still a time for asking questions , and thanks everyone for asking questions and being patient.
For an APC to happen,the People and the Place have to emerge together. [thanks Ben for that succinct phrase]. Our circle is not the team that will actually run an APC, though some of us might join that team. Rather, we are creating a fertile ground. where the people and the place for converging can happen. We are a more generic “convergences-circle” that is about asking “how do permies connect in meaningful ways?”
A group like this that can draw on past experience, and looking to the future is necessary.
Pieces of the puzzle:
1. Planning/design – Prue has offered to do a draft gantt chart and also suggested that we might pay an event organiser to do a gantt … interesting way to test if a business like Future Collective could deliver what they say they can.
2. venue spreadsheet – see the link. [ANYONE can add possible venues, details, comments; it would be great to have this populated before the next meeting on 5 Feb.]
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1GO6xd1JEhrbgarO4uJjva96Zrh9mPm0v/edit?gid=456596563#gid=456596563
3. Permaculture groups – you can help complete the spreadsheet in the link. As PA does not yet have a complete list of the many permaculture groups across Australia. Ben suggests “We should formally reach out to them and ask if they are interested in being involved in the organisation.”
There is a mainly unpopulated list. It comes from the survey that we did. Lots of gaps to be filled by anyone who knows the answers or can research them. And/but in central Vic, where Commonground is located, there is a lot of p’c happening and very little of it happens in or through local groups. rather it is word-of-mouth and I guess SE Qld is the same.
ANYONE can add to this sheet – it is quite a good start – over 60 groups – but needs a lot more https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1VUQ2Brxy9mncCe8joSxLdb5O9GoBee8wUPAk4tGnRg0/edit?gid=0#gid=0
4. Outreach – the survey was a good start – showed that we can reach 45+ age group and that there is a solid core in that age who want an APC – and it’s not just the same people who have always been in the past. But I think we have only reached about half of who we need to – the big challenge is to reach a wider demographic.
Sonia and I will adapt the survey – it is a useful tool and now others in the community are just becoming aware that there is some APC action:
- The Youth circle could get the survey out – But they are building their own network data – not many in the youth database yet. [see 5 and 6]
- The PIP magazine will advertise the survey
- and PRI may be allow us to spread the survey through their mailing list.
- Morag gamble – any one with connections to Morag – or similar ‘influencers’?
5. Media, PR
Robyn Rosenfeldt, who has built up PIP magazine over 10 years and who has sponsored innovation awards at previous APCs is keen to help. She has great ideas about how to use APC as a way to get good media.
What else – social media … Do we need a video maker, and insta/tiktok and ways that will at least reach the 16-40 year olds?
This area is where I feel least equipped …
6. Youth connections
Ben and Ian met with Karla and Meka who are part of the Youth Circle.
Meka, who went to the IYPC in Timor [as a PA Ambassador] in October had lots of helpful observations about future Apcs.
Definitely want to add music, add hands-on projects, and allow participants to do “real things” at the venue, {eg CERES} where p’c people can contribute to things on site that will last. Not so sure if young people would go to the site before the event to [say] build rocket stoves or harvest food for the catering. Maybe Youth led permablitz/permablista as part of APC
7. finding the Change makers – this is where a lot of work is still to be done
8. a designer for a new logo
Ian Lillington
Permaculture Australia APC Circle Lead
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