Co-design in Complex Systems. Harness systems-aware co-design to create lasting social impact.

Leading Co-Design in Complex Systems

KEY INFORMATION

Dates: Wednesday 3 December 2025.
Format & Duration: Full-day training session in Melbourne.
Delivery Mode: In person.
Co-Design Maturity Model Level: Apply.

About this training

Want to effectively integrate design, dialogue and co-creation in project planning, commissioning and management?

Leading Co-Design in Complex Systems is a short course for purpose-driven professionals who want to co-create better outcomes with their colleagues, clients and communities. 

This training program presents a Practice Framework for systems-aware co-design. This ethical and evidence-informed approach covers the key domains of systems change, co-design and social innovation: place, people, process, practice and principles.

This much-loved program often sells out. It has been appreciated by public servants, researchers, designers and innovators working in a variety of organisations around the world, including Canada, USA, Qatar, Singapore, UK, Germany, Netherlands and Denmark, as well as Australia and New Zealand.

The course models how to effectively engage partners, staff and community members—and provides opportunities to connect with others doing inspiring work. 

Why do this course?

  • Learn a practical framework for authentic co-design that you can immediately apply to your projects

  • Gain exclusive access to an extensive set of resources to share with your team

  • Experience the perfect balance of theory and hands-on practice

  • Receive personalised guidance on a proven framework, including through a one-on-one coaching session with Dr Emma Blomkamp

  • Connect with a diverse network of public and community sector professionals

  • Learn in a supportive environment where you can openly share challenges and workshop solutions

  • Walk away with concrete strategies to create lasting social impact with your communities.

How is it delivered?

The course can be taken either as a one-day in-person workshop (with up to 15 participants) or via four online training sessions (with up to 22 participants), delivered once a week for a month.

It involves hands-on exercises and discussion, with individual and small group activities, as well as presentations and Q&A. 

In addition to the practice framework and case studies, participants also gain access to downloadable materials and tools that you can share with your organisation/network.

Who is leading this?

This program is delivered by Dr Emma Blomkamp, who brings extensive experience in co-design facilitation and capability building, creating safe and engaging spaces for practitioner development.

Is this course for me?

It is for you, if you:

  • are a manager or leader in a public, health, education or community organisation.

  • work in any role or context where you’re addressing complex issues and want to better engage others in your work.

  • are keen to blend systems thinking and co-design together in practice. 

  • are able to attend the whole day in person OR all four online training sessions—the course builds progressively and relies on social learning and group discussion.

  • allow an additional 15-30 minutes per week to engage in preparation and application activities, or more if you’d like to dive deeper into the resources we provide.

It is NOT for you, if you:

  • are seeking basic introductory design thinking tools—this is a more advanced systems-focused approach.

  • are focused purely on commercial outcomes—this is specifically designed for public and community sector challenges.

  • are looking for a quick, one-size-fits-all technical solution—this course deals with complex social systems and requires deep engagement.

  • seek a purely theoretical academic course—this is practice-oriented and assumes active participation.

  • aren’t able to attend at least three of the online training sessions or don’t have a strong internet connection to participate in online activities. 

  • expect to learn everything you need to know about co-design or systems change from this course alone.

2025-2026 schedule

The next course will be held in person in central Melbourne.

Wednesday 3 December 2025, 9:45am-4.15pm.


Keen to learn online?
Registrations will open soon for the virtual series: four online training sessions at a time designed to suit participants in Australia, NZ and the Americas.

10.30am-12.30pm AEDT (Melbourne/Sydney) on Thursdays, 29 Jan, 5 Feb, 12 Feb and 19 Feb 2026.

That’s 7.30am-9.30am Perth / 9am-11am Darwin /  9.30am-11.30am Brisbane / 10am-12pm Adelaide / 12.30pm-2.30pm NZ time.

For those in the USA & Canada, it’s Wednesdays (starting January 28): 3.30pm-5.30pm PDT / 6.30pm-8.30pm EDT.

Located elsewhere? Find out what time this is for you.

Located in Asia, Europe or the UK?
Our next online series suitable for your time zone will be in mid-late 2026. Register your interest below to be the first to know when this series goes on sale.

Plus, every participant gets the option of a discounted individual coaching session with Emma, to be scheduled at a time of your choice within two months of completing the training.

Investment & pricing options

In-person in December 2025

Early-bird registration: $925 AUD incl. GST when you pay in full before 3 October 2025.

Standard registration: $1250 incl. GST.

In person registration includes:

  • Catering (lunch and snacks).

  • All materials, including hard copy and digital resources.

  • Preparation and follow-up activities via email.

  • Certificate of completion.

Online in January/February 2026

Early-bird registration: $925 AUD incl. GST when you pay in full before 15 December 2025.

Standard registration: $1050 incl. GST.

Optional add-on to either session:

  • Individual follow-up coaching session with Emma to discuss how to implement what you have learned into your work:

    • 1 x 50 minute one-on-one coaching session $280 AUD incl. GST.

We highly recommend registering early to avoid missing out.
To provide a great learning experience, participant numbers are capped at 15 for in-person sessions and 22 for online sessions. 

Registrations close on 27 November 2025 or when we reach capacity.

Access and payment options

Payment options
Register directly via Humanitix to pay via credit card. International participants can contact the team to request an invoice free of GST if based outside of Australia. Learn more about our payment options.

Scholarships
We offer two scholarship places for First Nations practitioners for each of our courses, and a discount for participants with an income under $70,000 AUD per year. Please see our scholarships page for more information and to apply.

Access
When you register, we will ask if you have any access needs or learning preferences. You can view a summary of how we learn, what platforms we use and what accessible features we provide by default here.

  • “If you are wanting to deepen your understanding of what authentic co-design looks like and a framework to support it within your organisation/community, do this course. Emma is so insightful and giving with her knowledge and helps build the foundational knowledge you need to go further. It is also a great way to connect with other people working in this way in other industries and share ideas, successes and challenges in a supportive and safe environment.”

    Francine Sculli, Wellbeing, Inclusion, Community & Engagement Leader, Sunshine Heights Primary School

  • “I would definitely recommend the course. It provides a profound learning experience that delves into case studies that really help illustrate how and where to leverage impact…. I loved that it was very systematic but provided flexibility to make it fit each co-design context.”

    Kataya Barrett, Community Partnerships Knowledge and Engagement Facilitator, Jagun Alliance Aboriginal Corporation

  • “You'll get to explore and apply a great framework for thinking about co-design in complex systems. The course combines theory and practical elements well and draws on the collective experience and wisdom of participants. Emma is a warm, intelligent and engaging facilitator. I'm already using leanings from the course and recommend it to others who are working in this space.”

    Sofiah Mackay, Social Impact Consultant

  • “Co-design for complex systems is a deep dive into all the principles, components and elements to make co-design real in your work. Emma’s method is empowering as it lays out the foundations, but also allows the flexibility of translating the principles to make them more relevant and meaningful.”

    Kate Chua, Capability Development Advisor, Massey University

  • “I would recommend this course to people who want to expand their practice of co-design - the Systemic Design Practice Wheel offers a useful planner, integrity checker, and evaluation frame.”

    Emma Constantine, Head of Innovation & New Business, McAuley

  • “I'm so grateful for Emma and this course to offer a meaningful way forward of co-designing projects in complex structures. I benefitted from the structured process and exploring a range of evidence-based techniques so that I could tailor the information to my unique work. Highly recommend!”

    Kayla Robertson,  Lived Experience Community Support, Wellways

  • “The course struck the perfect balance of being simple yet clear, theoretical yet practical. If you’re interested in walking through various aspects of co-design with the chance to learn from others and try applying a practical framework to your own projects, this training is perfect! Excellent format, Emma’s facilitation and useful resources make the overall experience excellent.”

    Tiffany Williams, PhD researcher, The University of Auckland

  • “The co-design for complex systems course is an incredibly valuable course for practitioners working across agencies, government, not for profit or corporate organizations. Its versatility lies in the fact that it does not focus on specific tools or techniques but rather on principles. The focus on a participatory approach along with tangible examples with hope to apply the principles makes this course an essential one for practitioners. The entire program was flawless.”

    Gowri Penkar, Service Design Lead, Carsales

  • “There is so much gold in this course and it is very thoughtfully designed to encourage reflection and learning. It takes concepts and creates opportunities to apply them so it’s not just decontextualised abstract learning. I'm really glad I did this course!”

    Kate Ravenscroft, 100 Homes Joint Project Manager, Juno

  • “This course has not only sharpened my tools but reminded me that while co-design isn’t rocket science, it demands a thoughtful, measured approach that genuinely understands and respects the diverse needs of the people we’re designing with. I appreciated the unexpected outcome of being in a ‘room’ with so many like-minded, passionate and brilliant humans all working to create a better world! It filled me with hope.”

    Ness Wiebford, Project Lead - Youth in Emergencies, Red Cross

  • “I would definitely recommend this course to anyone who is doing or is thinking of doing co-design. Extremely informative but pragmatic and practical as well.”

    Anna Macklin, General Manager, Design and Impact, Australian Community Support Organisation

  • “It was a very interactive, engaging course that I would recommend. Not only did it provide a model and information about co-design but the model itself was helpful for project planning more broadly.”

    Ellen Horspool, Community Engagment Coordinator Suicide Prevention, Coordinare

  • “This course provided me with new frameworks and tools that will enhance my practice, and doing the course gave me opportunities each week to reflect on my practice and explore where my strengths and weaknesses lie, which in turn provides starting points for enhancing my practice.”

    Moragh Mackay, Managing Director, Mycelia Renewables

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