Changing State
Every day, the community services sector strives towards a future where equality, opportunity and wellbeing are enjoyed by all Queenslanders.
The work of the community sector is meaningful, impactful and inspiring. At the same time, it is complicated and challenging.
Changing our state requires imagination, daring, dedication and skill. The 2025 QCOSS Conference builds on what the community sector does every day – we dream outside the constructs of what our societies think is possible, we dare to enact those dreams and we roll up our sleeves to do the work that is needed to maintain our dreams, all in aid of changing our current state to the future we envision.
Changing State will explore what it takes to drive meaningful
and lasting change, under three streams:

Dreaming
Every day our sector works to create shared prosperity, support for every person and a future where equality, opportunity and wellbeing are not just ideals but reality.
Working towards this change is convoluted and rife with setbacks. It requires bravery, vulnerability, perseverance and belief that bending the arc of history towards progress is possible.
Above all, it requires an audacious dream; a dream that’s grounded in the evidence of what’s needed, paints a picture of who we can be and lifts all of us.
This conference stream urges delegates to think outside the constructs of what they hold possible and begin to radically imagine a better, fairer future for our state and all Queenslanders.
Daring
Much of Queensland’s boldest social change has its genesis in the community services sector. Our sector is made up of the people who roll up their sleeves, take on challenges, forge new partnerships and show us that change can be achieved through delivering projects, programs
and services grounded in understanding
our communities.
This conference stream celebrates the courage of our sector and the advocates, radicals, visionaries and changemakers who have dared and delivered social impact in Queensland.


Doing
Without the work, a dream is nothing. For the sector to enact its dreams, we need to ensure our teams have the right skills and experience, and that we’re striving together toward organisational excellence.
The vehicle to enabling our vision is developing our workforce, organisational skills and capability.
This conference stream gives organisations and individuals in the community services sector the tools and skills they need to achieve their dreams.