An Imagination Observatory

The Centre for Knowledge Equity stimulates systems change through pioneering collaborations with funders, academic institutions, government bodies, social purpose organisations and activist movements that equitably and meaningfully unite lived, learned and practiced expertise.

One of the innovations to emerge from the Centre is the Imagination Observatory, a futurist design school bringing together knowledge equity activists to reimagine systems and visions for

the future. The project brought together a diverse group of leaders of lived experience, spanning the criminal justice system, the migrant and refugee sector, racial justice, the care system, drugs and alcohol, faith and health. After being trained in the power of the imagination and provided with tools, these leaders were equipped to ignite conversations in their own networks. They facilitated sessions across the country, listening, encouraging leftfield conversation, and supporting the curation of the insights that emerged.

The initial six-month start-up phase of the Observatory helped the Centre to start to understand the types of visions and values that its communities want to see prioritised in the future. It has also highlighted what approaches and tools ignite and access deep held wisdom. The longer-term aim for this work is to turn these insights into foresight, and then into outsight that moulds a democratic equitable future.