Connect the Dots Project

Project typeGrant funded
Project value$59,596
Completion Date31 July 2026

Building a stronger, more connected Parkes Shire

Parkes Shire Council is proud to announce it has been awarded a NSW Social Cohesion Grant for Local Government to deliver the Connect the Dots Project – a bold and inclusive initiative designed to foster stronger, more resilient, and more cohesive communities across the Shire.

About the Project

With funding of $59,596 from the NSW Government, this project is part of a state-wide effort to prevent social division and hate-based incidents by strengthening connection and belonging within and between local communities.

Parkes Shire is home to over 14,000 residents, including a growing number of immigrants and transient workers in the mining and transport sectors. In a time of global uncertainty and increasing social division, the Connect the Dots Project offers a proactive and hopeful response.

What’s Involved?

Red Dots in Public Spaces
Permanent and mobile “Red Dots” will be installed across the Shire. These visual markers, embedded with QR codes, will connect residents to:
- Local resources
- Community mentors
- Support networks
  Each dot will serve as a safe and welcoming space for anyone wondering:
  “How do I connect? Where can I belong?”
Living Library Program
Residents – both long-standing and newly arrived – will be invited to become “living books,” sharing their stories and lived experiences. Community members can “borrow” these books through facilitated events, helping to:
- Break down prejudice
- Build empathy
- Celebrate diversity
Workshops & Events
A series of inclusive events and workshops will be held throughout the year to promote dialogue, understanding, and community participation.

The project draws inspiration from:

David Robson’s book The Laws of Connection
The Human Library Project (Denmark)

These global ideas are being reimagined for a regional Australian context, creating a unique model for social cohesion on Wiradjuri Country.

Community Voices

“This funding allows us to create real, lasting change. The Connect the Dots Project is about people. It’s about helping new residents feel they belong, and giving our existing community the opportunity to learn, connect, and grow together. We’re building a stronger Parkes by embracing our differences and celebrating what unites us.”
— Tracy Dawson, Project Manager, Parkes Shire Council

Get Involved

Parkes Shire Council invites all residents to be part of this exciting journey. Whether you’d like to share your story, volunteer, or attend an event, there’s a place for everyone in the Connect the Dots Project.

Living Library first event - Borrow a person, not a book!

Parkes Shire Library is holding its first ever Living Library, where you can ‘borrow’ a person and listen to their story, on Saturday 15 November.

At a Living Library, an idea that has spread from Denmark across the world, ‘Readers’ select and ‘borrow’ a ‘Book’ for twenty minutes, listening to their story and engaging them in a friendly conversation. The concept is to promote connections across our community and celebrate the different cultures and experiences that create the tapestry of our shire, to strengthen or social cohesion and resilience.

The first collection of ‘Books’ is of four people who have lived in Parkes for a long time and have fascinating stories to share. After attending an information session, Heather & Rex Veal, Philippa O’Donnel and Cliff Cowell came to an Editing Workshop where they polished their story titles and introductions, practised telling the best aspects of their stories in twenty minutes and provided images to enhance them. We also have a volunteer, Jeanette Davis who can support ‘Books’ prepare for their event.

Looking ahead to 2026, the library will host a Living Library event once per term. You can apply to be a ‘Book’ or to help with supporting one. We welcome anyone who has a story - and let’s face it, who doesn’t!

Maybe you’ve just arrived in Parkes and are far from home. Maybe you’ve been through a life-changing experience or witnessed an incredible event. Perhaps you’ve travelled somewhere exotic or been part of an amazing event. Maybe things have been really tough, or you’ve survived a dangerous situation. Maybe you’re a FIFO worker at the mine or the solar farm.

The Living Library project is proudly funded by the NSW Government through the NSW Social Cohesion Grants for Local Government.

Each ‘Book’ will be available for two sessions at the Library, with a refreshment break in between. Bookings are essential and can be made through Humanitix by searching Parkes - Living Library or contact the Library for more information 6861 2309.

Parkes Library and Cultural Centre Team Leader Tracy Dawson (left) with one of the 'Books' Philippa-ODonnell in the photo below.

Parkes-Library-and-Cultural-Centre-Team-Leader-Tracy-Dawson-and-Book-Philippa-ODonnell

Booked-Out First Event!

A Booked-Out Living Library Brings Our Community Together

Parkes Shire Council’s first Connect the Dots event, delivered through the NSW Government’s Social Cohesion Grant Program, was a resounding success - fully booked out, with even a few delighted walk-ins welcomed on the day.

Our Living Library featured three remarkable local “books” - Philippa O’Donnell, Heather Veal and Cliff Cowell - who generously prepared and shared their personal stories. Their sessions captivated every “reader” lucky enough to take part.

Philippa O’Donnell shared how her family transformed and diversified their farm into a beautiful wedding venue complete with a stunning “honeymoon suite”, enriched by a selection of photographs that brought her story to life.

Heather Veal recounted an extraordinary wartime coincidence: a mother sending a hand-made shirt to support Australian soldiers in WWII, only for that very shirt to end up in the hands of her own son on the front lines.

Cliff Cowell transported readers back to WWII-era Parkes with colourful stories of growing up as “the barber’s boy” and playing in local bomb shelters — stories that enriched our understanding of local history. In a touching moment, two of Cliff’s “readers”, Mary and Warwick Tom, were able to help fill in some missing details from life in Parkes during that time.

Some participants remarked that the Living Library felt like “slower, more intentional speed dating” — a perfect description of the warm, genuine human connections that emerged.

Held amongst the books and the Garage Sale Trail book stall, the regular Auslan group meeting, and our usual Saturday visitors, the event created a beautiful vibe of people connecting in the ‘community living room’ that is our Public Library.

This Living Library was the ideal launch event for the Connect the Dots Social Cohesion project, designed to strengthen our resilience against hate and division by fostering meaningful, human-centred connections.

Our next event will coincide with Senior’s Week in March 2026, so stay tuned for more information! To be involved call the Library on 68612309.

(Scroll down to see photos of the event in the Photo Gallery.)