Portals to Place

An Invitation from the Furneaux Collective

In May 2026, Flinders Island will host something a little different.

From 4–7 May, practitioners, thinkers, community builders and curious people from across Australia and beyond will gather on Flinders Island for Portals to Place – a conference exploring regenerative tourism, community-led development and the future of place-based economies.

But this is not a traditional conference.

This is an invitation to spend time in a place that is actively experimenting with new ways of working – where community, nature and economy are considered together rather than separately.

As the Furneaux Collective, we are delighted to welcome visitors who are curious to learn from the island, its people and the work underway here through the Islander Way project.

Portals to Place is designed as a space for conversation, reflection and shared learning.

Across the four days, participants will explore themes including regeneration, community wellbeing, alternative economies, systems change and the role of place in shaping resilient futures.

Importantly, visitors won’t simply attend sessions – they will experience the island, meet local people and see firsthand how ideas around regeneration are being explored in practice.

For us as a community, this is also an opportunity.

It allows us to share our journey, connect with others working in similar ways around the world, and continue learning together.

We’d love your help spreading the word.

If you know someone working in tourism, community development, policy, regenerative practice or place-based work who might be interested, please feel free to share this invitation with them.

Together, we can welcome people who are curious, open-minded and interested in learning from place and community.

Come with an open mind.
Come ready to listen.
Come prepared to step through a new portal.

— Furneaux Collective