[the Plug] Conference.

Inaugural edition

Melbourne, VIC

July 2019

Data shows that with the right kind of access and support in our minority communities, Australia can quadruple its rate of innovation - if we tap into the unfound capabilities that exist within our diverse communities. At the plug, our goal is to challenge many of the commonplace stereotypes, by equipping young minority folks with the skills they will require to become some of the best breeds of software developers, innovators, tech entrepreneurs & designers on our planet.

Attend our debut event in Melbourne this year, and meet with inspiring leaders & influencers from across our diverse communities. Sit in on one of our Inspire sessions, and hear amazing lessons & stories told by successful tech & design professionals.

Participate in one of our boot camps, where you will learn new coding & design skills that can transform your career. Enrol in our Build Competition series, and collaborate with others in building an app that solves a life-like problem. Our attendees are guaranteed to come away with new skills.

The Conference

6th July 2019

09:30 am

Inspire Sessions

Attend our inspiring “talk” delivered on stage by influential speakers from the tech & design space. Get insightful ideas and motivation on how you can take your career to the next level.

Network with industry-leaders from across your community, and build connections with folks that you can drive future collaborative initiatives with.

Learn Workshop

Attend one of our career-changing workshops delivered by some industry professionals, and learn introductory topics in practical skills such as app development, web design & creative writing.

Build Courses

Attendees will be paired with tutors that will guide them in building their first portfolio. Build courses are delivered at your own pace through our on-demand online learning providers. Your mentors will work with you to plan a learning pathway & schedule, and provide support to you when required. Mentors may ask mentees to complete a lifelike project to assess a mentees depth of knowledge of the new skill.

Transform

At the end of the course, our team will gather feedback from mentees, and measure the progress they have attained. We will determine a future roadmap that can help mentees to further advance their career using several pathways such as internships or business startup resourcing.

Speakers

The Conference

About Us

[the Plug] : used to describe someone who is a resource for obtaining something valuable that would otherwise be difficult to obtain.

In recent years, the media focus on rising crime numbers among young African-Australian minorities has been unprecedented, and the reaction within the community has been met with both shock and disappointment. Most people in the Victoria African communities have been left helpless with the dilemma. The overall perception of the public towards our community has often felt like one of contempt.

In a bid to find the root cause of the repeating cycle of youth crime within Melbourne's African communities, the authors of the plug & long-time friends, Temi Akinloye & Bode Muse engaged with young people that fit into the "at risk" demographic.

Our findings revealed that the lure into crime-related activities forms out of social disadvantages, financial reasons and peer pressure. With no tangible skill to trade for an income, and in the desperation to fit in with their peers, they rationalize their criminal acts.

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