Events

We would love you to join us to help spread optimism.

Selected Events

Robert Masters AM My optimism stems from the indomitable Australian spirit – our peoples relentless drive and ingenuity. Despite challenges, Australians have consistently shown an ability to adap

Dr Bruno Roque Cignacco in Conversation on "The Art of Compassionate Business" and Optimism

Bruno is the author of "The Art of Compassionate Business - Main Principles for the Human-Oriented Enterprise."

Join us in Conversation
Wednesday, 7 Feb 2024, 8 PM AEST
Wednesday, 7 Feb 2024, 9 AM London
DALL·E 2023-12-15 07.12.06 - A happy group of older people gathered at the Kew Golf Club in Melbourne. The focus is on a speaker at a podium, an older Caucasian man with blue eyes

The Power of Optimism with Port Phillip Probus

Tuesday 13 February 2024, 10AM AEST in Kew
DALL·E 2023-12-15 07.15.46 - A happy group of older people gathered at the Windy Hill Football Ground in Essendon. The focus is on a speaker at a podium, an older Caucasian man wi

The Power of Optimism with North Melbourne Probus

Tuesday, 27 February 2024, 10 AM AEST in Kew
Happy teen girls having good fun time outdoors jumping up in air

"Imagine Your Best Possible Self" Gathering

Imagine Your Best Possible Self - we gather to imagine our future, write about it and share what we look forward to.  

Imagining, reflecting and sharing our future: These gatherings are among the most fun habits of an optimist.

"A meta-analytic review of 29 studies concluded that psychological interventions can increase dispositional optimism, and that the strongest effect was achieved when applying the Best Possible Self method."

Friday 1 March 2024, 11AM AEST
1 PM New Zealand
DALL·E 2024-01-31 15.24.10 - A diverse group of people, including two or three Muslims with one being an imam, in conversation on either Collins Street or Bourke Street in Melbour

Victorian Parliament Iftar Dinner

Tuesday 12 March 2024
DALL·E 2023-11-23 10.33.31 - A graphic of a smiling older man looking at a computer screen. On the screen, there are several laughing, smiling people, as if they are participating

Surround Yourself with Optimists: Conversation via Zoom

Whenever you can, surround yourself with optimists; please join our online conversation.

Next Date to Come
Noirin abd Workshop

WorkShop: Optimism - The Why and How in Middle Park (Melbourne)

Led by Victor Perton and Noirin Mosley from The Centre for Optimism, this workshop is designed to help you answer the question "What makes you Optimistic?" and to pick up some tips, tricks and habits to make you more infectiously optimistic. We will cover: What is Optimism? The Benefits of Optimism in Health, Relationships, Leadership, Strategy, Innovation and Resilience Tips and Tricks to Help you be More Infectiously Optimistic We'll leave laughing or singing or both.

Next Date to Come
Group of people in a round table isolated over a white background

Online WorkShop: Optimism - The Why and How

Refresher and Introduction

Join us via Zoom: Led by Victor Perton and other Presenters from The Centre for Optimism, this workshop is designed to help you answer the question "What makes you Optimistic?" and to pick up some tips, tricks and habits to make you more infectiously optimistic. We will cover: What is Optimism? The Benefits of Optimism in Health, Relationships, Leadership, Strategy, Innovation and Resilience Tips and Tricks to Help you be More Infectiously Optimistic We'll leave laughing or singing or both.

Next Date to be Advised
Optimists Breakfast at Hurricane Handsome

Port Melbourne Optimists Breakfast

The best way to maintain your optimism and expand your horizons is to surround yourself with optimists!

We had delicious breakfasts through the Summer and Autumn of 2023, starting with a celebration of the Year of Joy and the Centre for Optimism's Week of Optimism and Joy. We danced, and we sang. We laughed a lot.

 

Resuming 2024
Happy children silhouettes on summer meadow running and jumping-1

Nelson Mandela Youth Leadership Summit 2024

The Nelson Mandela Youth Leadership Summit brings together a diverse youth population from Shepparton, Regional Australia, urban Australia and Asia-Pacific to create a group of connected future leaders of the region and Australia. 

Born in Shepparton, the COVID lockdowns took the Summit online and allowed us to share the 2020 and 2021 summit experiences with young people and leaders spreading from New York to Africa.  Young people chose the topics, and they were designed to assist them in growing into leading community players and act on the immediate most pressing challenges. 

In 2022 and 2023, the historic Legislative Assembly Chamber of the Victorian Parliament in Melbourne allowed the young leaders to experience speaking in the chamber used by the Australian Parliament before the construction of Canberra's Houses of Parliament and still in use by the Victorian Parliament.  

Our confirmed 2023 speakers were be led by the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Sally Capp AO, the Leader of the Opposition, John Pesutto MP, and representing the Premier, Daniela De Martino MP with Nazer Nazir of the Afghan Australia Initiative and Tané Hunter, Cofounder Future Crunch.

Details to Come
Ros with the Laughter Effect

The Laughter Effect - How to Build Joy, Positivity and Resilience in Your Life 

Join Ros Ben-Moshe in Conversation via Zoom at The Centre for Optimism celebrating the release of Ros's new book. The Laughter Effect - How to Build Joy, Positivity and Resilience in Your Life 

We usually end our workshops and speeches with a dose of laughter yoga. Ros is our muse and inspiration for our belief in the power of laughter to enhance optimism. The Laughter Effect is a practical guide to turbocharge humour, laughter and joy, providing a roadmap to awakening positive wellbeing and optimism. 

A positive psychology academic and laughter wellness expert, Ros will explain how The Laughter Effect offers a new dimension to self-care, elevating mindfulness, gratitude and self-compassion.

We explored Ros's motivation for writing the book and highlight essential wisdom, research and practice that encapsulates this powerful body-mind philosophy.

We asked Ros what makes her optimistic.

We shared laughter and optimism (with you).

Event Held - Video to Come
DALL·E 2023-12-15 06.59.04 - A diverse group of people, mainly Africans, gathered around a BBQ near the Yarra River in Braybrook, Australia. The scene includes an older Caucasian

Africause Australia Day

Our Victor Perton was the Keynote Speaker

26 January 2024
Rise and Thrive

Optimism Unveiled: A Journey through Leadership, Laughter, and the Power of Choice.

Rise and Thrive: Conversations For Greatness with John Merkus.

Peter Anthony, Stave Angel and Victor Perton Men with Spirit

Optimism and Men with Spirit

 Victor Perton,  Chief Optimism Officer of  The Centre for Optimism will join Men with Spirit's Peter Anthony and Steve Angel on Radio Carrum  to talk about optimism, spirituality and life!  

"Men with Spirit is for men who want to feel more ... less from their head, and more from their heart."

Mathias Sundin

Mathias Sundin in Conversation in The Optimism Cafe

We met he "angry optimist" Mathias Sundin, Editor-in-chief & CEO of Warp News. Warp News is an action and impact-based newsletter and community that tells stories and shares insights to give people "The Optimists Edge." Mathias began his career as a changemaker and Swedish Member of Parliament. In 2018, he chose not to run for reelection because he had a vision for a much bigger opportunity to have a more positive impact on the future. 

We asked: What makes you optimistic? (Life Experience, Mindset, Faith?) What makes you feel optimistic? (experiences, emotions) You have called yourself an "angry optimist". What's an angry optimist, and why are you angry?

Event is Passed
Lawrence Reed by_Gage_Skidmore

A Bubbly Optimism: The Optimism of Lawrence W. Reed

Lawrence W. Reed joined us in conversation at the Optimism Café in The Centre for Optimism via Zoom.

In the often dismal science of optimism, it is uplifting to find optimists and optimism.

In “Liberty as a Life Philosophy”, Larry Reed advocated for “a bubbly optimism and exuberance about making a difference in the world."

Larry cites the 1968 "Prague Spring", as the genesis of his passion for liberty and has referred to the Czech cause as a "flowering of liberty".

Larry became President of the Foundation for Economic Education after serving as chairman of its board of trustees. He previously served for 21 years as President of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Midland, Michigan and taught economics at Northwood University in Michigan. In 2019, he retired to the role of President Emeritus at FEE, working as the Humphreys Family Senior Fellow and Ron Manners Global Ambassador for Liberty.

Now on Video and Transcript
John Hands

The Future of Humankind - Why We Should Be Optimistic: John Hands in Conversation

"THE FUTURE OF HUMANKIND Why We Should Be Optimistic" is a book by John Hands.

John will join us to talk about what makes him optimistic, what makes him feel optimistic, and talk about his book and his argument for optimism as we look to the future of mankind.

Now on Video and Transcript

Some Past Events 

  • Curtin Corner: The Case for Optimism

  • Yoga and Optimism

  • World Commerce and Contracting: Keynote Speeches by Victor Perton at the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific Summits.
  • Spring into Optimism
  • Northern Business and the Case for Optimism
  • The Tripe Club of Victoria Luncheon: Optimism - The How and Why

  • Optimism: Your Superpower for the 2020s with Telsta Purple.
  • Melbourne Business Network: Positive Leadership and Optimism

  • Lisa Leong and Victor Perton talking about New Year's Optimism on Weekend Mornings on ABC Radio.

  • Port Melbourne Optimists Breakfast: Joy and Optimism

  • What makes Victor Dominello Optimistic?
  • Athelstan Camberwell: The Power of Optimism
  • Auburn Probus: Optimism - The How and Why
  • The Power of Optimism with Glen Waverley Probus

Read More: Join our Optimism Movement Today

Connect With Us

We love to connect with everyone who is ready to open up and share their optimisim.