About Us

Welcome to the
Social Shift Institute

The Social Shift Institute is the research and community development arm of HBNC (Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre), dedicated to strengthening communities through innovation, collaboration, and grassroots action. We work alongside community organisations, schools, local leaders, and changemakers to develop practical solutions that respond to emerging social challenges and create lasting positive impact.

Our work focuses on empowering communities with the tools, knowledge, and opportunities needed to build stronger connections, improve wellbeing, and support sustainable social change. Through a combination of research, capacity building, community development, and innovation, we help turn ideas into action.

The Social Shift Institute delivers a range of initiatives and services across Queensland, including:

Social Vault

A growing library of innovative projects, practical resources, and adaptable toolkits designed to support organisations and communities in responding to key social challenges. The Social Vault provides accessible, easy-to-implement resources that can be tailored to local needs and community priorities.

Social Shifters

Our Social Shifters initiative delivers capacity-building workshops, programs, and activities that support organisations and communities to strengthen their impact. This includes the Social Spark Lab, Impact Immersion Programs, Social Impact Measurement Workshops, and Systems Storytelling support to help organisations clearly communicate their vision, frameworks, and community outcomes.

Research & Publications

Research and evidence-based practice are at the heart of what we do. Through community research, data collection, and publications, we explore emerging social issues, identify community needs, and highlight opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and collective impact.

Community Development

We support communities through community-led projects, events, interagency networks, and collaborative initiatives that strengthen local participation and connection. This includes our statewide Read Bears Program, delivered in partnership with local schools to help build literacy, confidence, and brighter futures for children and young people across Queensland.

We are also excited to soon launch the Social Shifters Podcast — a platform dedicated to sharing conversations on emerging community topics, innovative ideas, and inspiring stories from people creating positive change across their communities.

Looking ahead, we are proud to be partnering with CD Queensland and Neighbourhood Centres Queensland to host the 2027 Queensland Community Development Conference in Hervey Bay. This exciting event will bring together community leaders, practitioners, and changemakers from across the state to share ideas, build connections, and strengthen the future of community development in Queensland.

At the Social Shift Institute, we believe meaningful change happens when communities are empowered, connected, and supported to lead the way.

Together, we’re creating positive social change — one social shift at a time.