Instructional Design

**Who Wants to be a F&^%ing Design Leader?** Fresh off their high-energy takeover at **The Design Leadership Roundtable**, the duo you didn’t know you needed, **David Bacon** and **Amir Ansari**, are bringing their hit gameshow to Melbourne Design Thinking. Let’s be real: transition into leadership is messy, loud, and full of questions no one actually answers in textbooks. On **May 14th**, we’re ditching the dry slide decks for a fast-paced, interactive gameshow that puts your instincts to the test. **What’s on the line?** Too many talented designers hit a ceiling not because they lack skill, but because they’re playing by the wrong set of rules. In this session, David and Amir will help you navigate the chaos of leadership with a "no-BS" approach. **What you’ll experience:** * **The Hot Seat:** Watch (or join!) as we tackle the real-world dilemmas that make or break a design leader * **Strategy over Guesswork:** Move past overthinking and learn how to make decisions that actually move the needle for your team and career. * **Identifying Your Edge:** Pinpoint the specific leadership patterns and "unfair advantages" that set the greats apart. * **Visibility Without the Noise:** Learn how to signal credibility and value to stakeholders without just being the loudest person in the room. **The Details** * **Date:** 14th May * **Host:** Melbourne Design Thinking Meetup * **Special Guests:** David Bacon & Amir Ansari Whether you’re already leading a team or just wondering if the "F&^%ing Design Leadership" life is for you, this is the roadmap you’ve been looking for, delivered with a lot of laughs and full fluff. **Are you ready to play?**

**Event Confirmation Form (NEW LOCATION)!** ➡️ We kindly request you fill out this **event confirmation form** to confirm your attendance for the event and your dietary requirements - [https://forms.gle/3KHTRMddqW2RXvig9](https://forms.gle/3KHTRMddqW2RXvig9) \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- ## **What's On? 👀** **Speaker:** Paul McCarty **Title:** Rise of the AI Anti-Patterns **Abstract:** AI full-stack “vibe coding” platforms repeatedly converge on the same default stacks and the same failure modes. When your agent encounters an obstacle, it chooses the easiest path to get around it, which often means doing the bad security thing. If you know where to look, these "bad things" coalesce into several standard "AI anti-patterns". This talk will dive into these anti-patterns and underscore why you need consistent security tooling, because the agent can (and will) make insecure choices to satisfy the prompt. ## **Location** 📍(NEW!) Origin Melbourne M01, Ground Floor 321 Exhibition St Melbourne VIC 3000 ## **Agenda ⏰** * 5:30 - Food is served * 6:15 - Session start * 7:30 - Post-event networking \-\-\- Note: Please complete the event confirmation form: [https://forms.gle/3KHTRMddqW2RXvig9](https://forms.gle/3KHTRMddqW2RXvig9)

**Social Pickleball - All Levels Welcome!** \*\* [Instagram: @rmit_pickleball](https://www.instagram.com/rmit_pickleball/) [WhatsApp: RMIT Pickleball Club](https://chat.whatsapp.com/G7VE0NcThWWIgLnnJBVQBq)\*\* \*\* Paddles and balls provided! Beginner friendly - simply show up and we’ll teach you the basics \*\* Grab a paddle, play pickleball, and meet new people! \*\* Who is it for?\*\* * Members of public and RMIT students * Complete beginners * Intermediate players * Advanced players (up to DUPR 4.5 expected) **✅ How to join?** 1. **Become a club member** [at the RMIT Store](https://store.rmit.edu.au/pages/club/pickleball) (one-off payment) 2. **RSVP** on Meetup to join the session 3. When marked as **“Going”**, pay for the session: **\- Payment link** is in the **comment section below** (posted 1-3 days before) \- Use your RMIT Store account with a club membership \(from step 1\) 4. Can’t attend? Update your RSVP to “Not Going” **⏳ Priority on waitlist** 1. Clear Meetup profile with name and photo 2. RMIT students 3. Regular attendees \*\* On the day\*\* * New players, please **introduce yourself to the host** * New players wanting a **rules intro**, please arrive on-time and ask a host * Have your **emailed ticket receipt ready** \- it will be checked on the day \*\* Cancellations and Refunds\*\* * No refunds for change of mind, non-attendance, or no-shows * Refunds only if the event is cancelled (weather or court availability) * Credit for a later session may be offered by agreement in case of event cancellation * Pay only when we share the payment link in Meetup - using old links is at your own risk Whether you are new to pickleball or a regular player, this is a great way to get some games in and connect with the community. Come solo or bring a friend - everyone is welcome! \*\* Spots are limited, so RSVP early! \*\*

Too many kids as well as teenagers and adults have problems with study. Today's meetup will inform you about the basics in STUDY TECHNOLOGY that provides an understanding of the basics of learning and supplies exact ways to overcome all the pitfalls one can encounter during study. This is applicable to young children, teenagers (or their parents that are trying to help them) and adults alike. Study Technology shows how one studies in order to comprehend a subject so one can apply it. Laws on which learning is based and workable methods have also been discovered for anyone to apply for themselves or when teaching others. Too many students graduate from school and college unable to put to use what they’ve learned in school. It’s not that they’re stupid or that their teachers didn’t know how to teach. More than likely it traces back to the one thing missing from most educations—learning how to learn in the first place. We all went to school, yet isn’t it odd that no one taught us how to study? The information presented at this meetup can help anyone improve others or his own ability to learn. It is a practical tool that parents and teachers alike can use to enhance a child's study performance. You’ll learn the barriers that lie between your own or a child's education. And you will very quickly learn how to overcome them. This technology will enable you or a child to pursue any subject with skill and confidence. Teachers who have "hard to handle/distributive " or slow learners in class will absolutely love the amazing turn around most often seen in improved behaviour and student performance in class. If you or your child has difficulties at school (or learning new things at work or online) than this meetup is important to you. If you can not make it to our meetup than contact the organizer and arrange it to suit your time. This technology can if one was to live far away be taught online. (extension course) You may offcourse also opt to have this technology taught to your own child by experienced volunteeer staff or learn about this yourself and transfer this knowledge to those you want to have better grades. Yes it is possible to improve anyone's study performance. All it takes is just 5 steps. See you at this meetup. Pam

Our regular monthly presentation night on the second Thursday of the month from 6:30pm! Thanks to Mantel Group for hosting us again this month. If you're coming in person we're there with food and drinks from 6pm. We will be live streaming the presentations as usual from 6:30pm at [http://www.melbournecocoaheads.com/live](http://www.melbournecocoaheads.com/live) \-\-\- In an unusual turn of events we have two AI-related talks this month — but I think both will be speaking to the state of our industry and offering perspective on where we are and maybe where we're going. **Agenda** \| 6:00pm \| Food \+ Networking \| \| 6:30pm \| Event begins\. Introductions \| \| 6:40pm \| Andrew Murphy — The five stages of losing our craft \| \| 7:15pm \| Rob Amos \(Bok\) — Forging a Sword Spirit: From AI skeptic to autonomy \| \| 7:55pm \| Wrap up \+ social time at a nearby venue \| \* All times are approximate. Presentation order will be confirmed on the night. \-\-\-\- We are always looking for speakers and believe everyone has an interesting talk hiding inside themselves. If you are interested in letting that talk out at a future event you can get in touch on the website [https://www.melbournecocoaheads.com/talks](https://www.melbournecocoaheads.com/talks) or on Slack.

Join me for a Thursday Night Cardio Blast. This 1 hour Dance Mixx class features the best routines to get you moving. Cardio dance routines for 30 mins followed by Strength and resistance training. $10 trial available, with the option of 2 months unlimited classes for just $99. Suitable for all ages and fitness levels.

**Generative AI for Developers Meetup 2026** ***Building AI Applications with Agentic AI, GenAI Workflows & Multi-Agent Systems*** We’re gearing up for another massive night on **Thursday, 14th May**. We’ve got an incredible lineup of speakers, a hands-on agenda, and our wonderful MC, **Annemarie Boicovitis**, to guide us through the evening. **📅 AGENDA** 1️⃣ **Implementing Voice AI Agents** **David Galtieri (DepthNode)** David has been deep in the trenches implementing AI chatbots for enterprise. He’ll share insights on moving beyond text and the mechanics of deploying production-ready Voice AI. 2️⃣ **Round Table Discussion: Is software engineering dead?** **Featuring event host Dr. George Vossos** A community-wide debate on the existential questions facing developers today. George will be joining the panel to dive into how AI-augmentation is shifting the role of the engineer. 3️⃣ **The New Agentic Skill Set & Hiring Trends** **Joh Leonhardt** Our regular AI futurist breaks down what "agentic skills" actually look like in practice and exactly what the industry is looking for in its next wave of AI hires. 4️⃣ **Zero to markermate.ai: The Reality of Building an AI SaaS** **Ryan Sinnott** One of our founding members, Ryan, tells the "real story" of building and launching his own AI SaaS—the technical hurdles, the pivots, and what it actually takes to get to market. *** Whether you're a seasoned dev or just curious about the agentic future, come for the technical insights and stay for the networking with Melbourne’s AI community. *** 🌍 **Live-streamed globally** — YouTube link shared on the day (EU + US welcome!) \-\-\- **Why attend?** If you’re building (or about to build) agentic AI systems, this is the room where you’ll pick up reusable patterns, avoid common traps, and meet others shipping in the same space - developers, data folks, founders, and technical leaders. RSVP here: https://www.meetup.com/genai-for-developers/

A casual catch up ladies - relax by the water

# 🌟 *Breat Procrastination and Staring at The Crowd When at Social Events with Taking a Minimum Viable Step!* Do you want to feel confident stepping into group conversations, knowing exactly what to say, when to say it, and how to build momentum naturally? Do you want a clear structure that makes socialising feel *doable*, while still allowing real, organic, human connection? This session blends **structure with spontaneity**, so you can practise social confidence in a way that actually works for your brain. *** # 💬 **WHAT THIS SESSION IS ABOUT** This is a **guided practice lab** for group interaction. Instead of guessing what to say, you will work with: • specific topics chosen by the group on the day • simple, powerful questions to guide conversation • structured rounds that make it easier to start and continue interactions You are not performing or “being social” on command, you are learning a **repeatable process** that helps you enter conversations naturally and build depth from there. The structure gives you clarity. Your responses stay *real, personal, and fully your own.* *** # 🧠 **WHY THIS WORKS** ## *Minimum Viable Steps (MVS)* Starting conversations is often the hardest part. So instead of forcing yourself to “be social”, we focus on: ### ***Minimum Viable Steps (MVS)*** Small, achievable actions like: • approaching a group • listening for context • asking one simple question • sharing one small response These steps reduce overwhelm and help you build momentum naturally. You are not powering through, you are **following a chain of small wins** that lead into flow. *** # 🔄 **HOW THE SESSION RUNS** This session is structured into **timed rounds (approx. 8 minutes each)**. Each round gives you a clear, simple objective. ## 🔹 *Structured Group Rounds* • You will begin in small groups with a defined topic • Each round includes suggested questions to guide interaction • You are free to respond in your own way, nothing scripted ## 🔹 *Rotations* At the end of each round: • two people rotate out of each group • each joins a different group This creates: • clarity on where to go next • repeated practice starting new conversations • exposure to different dynamics and people *No guessing. No awkward hovering. Just clear next steps.* *** # 💡 **TOPICS & QUESTIONS** At the start of the session, we will: • gather topics participants are genuinely interested in • write them down and use them throughout the rounds Each round will include **simple, open questions** related to the topic, designed to: • spark conversation easily • create direction without rigidity • allow natural sharing and depth You follow the structure, but what you share is always your own. *** # 🌱 **WHAT YOU WILL PRACTISE** • starting conversations decisively (again and again) • entering groups with clarity instead of hesitation • listening before contributing • asking simple questions that open conversation • building flow through small, manageable steps • rotating between groups with confidence • staying present without overwhelm Over time, this becomes **automatic**. *** # 📝 **BEFORE & AFTER** At the beginning: • you will complete a short reflection on meaningful connection in your life At the end: • you will share what worked, what did not, and what could be improved This helps shape future sessions based on what actually supports you. *** # 👋 **A NOTE FROM THE FACILITATOR** This is not about being the most confident person in the room. It is about learning a structure that helps you: • take action • reduce overwhelm • build real connection step by step You do not need to get it perfect. ## ***You just need to take the next small step.***

Hey, mates! We'll be having a 5-a-side match **at Monash University every Sunday, from 11:30-12:30 pm!** To join us, download the Stranger Soccer app and register for free. If this is your first time playing with us, use the code **WELCOME** to book your first game for free! Book your slot now and get involved!

Join **RMIT Pickleball Club x RUMA** for a fun, beginner-friendly pickleball session. No experience needed — we’ll provide paddles, balls, basic coaching, and plenty of social games. Come along, meet new people, and try one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. **What’s included:** * 3-hour pickleball session * Beginner coaching * Paddle and ball hire * Social games with RUMA members

The Basic building blocks to learning and communicating is the written and spoken language. If you or your child cannot express your thoughts and ideas well, you will be shut off from the fruits of understanding and success in life. The fundamentals of speech and writing (grammar) has always been taught as a complicated, confusing and constricting set of rules. We have simplified it for you. If you or your child are struggling with English then this briefing is for you. See you there!

**Social Pickleball - All Levels Welcome!** \*\* [Instagram: @rmit_pickleball](https://www.instagram.com/rmit_pickleball/) [WhatsApp: RMIT Pickleball Club](https://chat.whatsapp.com/G7VE0NcThWWIgLnnJBVQBq)\*\* \*\* Paddles and balls provided! Beginner friendly - simply show up and we’ll teach you the basics \*\* Grab a paddle, play pickleball, and meet new people! \*\* Who is it for?\*\* * Members of public and RMIT students * Complete beginners * Intermediate players * Advanced players (up to DUPR 4.5 expected) **✅ How to join?** 1. **Become a club member** [at the RMIT Store](https://store.rmit.edu.au/pages/club/pickleball) (one-off payment) 2. **RSVP** on Meetup to join the session 3. When marked as **“Going”**, pay for the session: **\- Payment link** is in the **comment section below** (posted 1-3 days before) \- Use your RMIT Store account with a club membership \(from step 1\) 4. Can’t attend? Update your RSVP to “Not Going” **⏳ Priority on waitlist** 1. Clear Meetup profile with name and photo 2. RMIT students 3. Regular attendees \*\* On the day\*\* * New players, please **introduce yourself to the host** * New players wanting a **rules intro**, please arrive on-time and ask a host * Have your **emailed ticket receipt ready** \- it will be checked on the day \*\* Cancellations and Refunds\*\* * No refunds for change of mind, non-attendance, or no-shows * Refunds only if the event is cancelled (weather or court availability) * Credit for a later session may be offered by agreement in case of event cancellation * Pay only when we share the payment link in Meetup - using old links is at your own risk Whether you are new to pickleball or a regular player, this is a great way to get some games in and connect with the community. Come solo or bring a friend - everyone is welcome! \*\* Spots are limited, so RSVP early! \*\*

Join us for a transformative 4-week immersion workshop in Authentic Relating and practice of **deeper listening**, designed to enhance your experience of intimacy and aliveness within connection, and **cultivate the embodied skills** required to navigating deep connections. Each week, we will explore themes, including self-awareness, vulnerability, empathy, and **artful communication**. Through experiential learning, group discussions, in a supportive environment, you will learn be able to practice "active listening", express yourself authentically, and cultivate more meaningful exchanges. There will also be a deeper dive into the practice of artful reflecting and responding to others, and how to respond to someone's sharing in a way that makes them feel seen while expresses the core of what you wanted to share. This is an ongoing process of learning these skills, but we will be covering some of the core foundations of this skill, through discussion and practice. There will be a strong emphasis on slowing down, tuning into the body, and allowing the habitual communication patterns to relax, while organically giving space for the novelty of spontaneous truths to be spoken and revealed. Having a closed group of participant and journeying over **4 x 3 hour classes**, over 4 weeks, will allow for a new level of depth and practice to extend and expand your capacity for more aliveness and more realness. This is a workshop for people who seek for more depth in their relating, for those who have a curiosity that calls them forward into the mystery of life. The workshops will consist of core authentic relating practices, but with the continuation of participants and familiarity it will allow for greater depth, nervous system regulation and greater sense of safety. some other practices that usually won't be run in one-off events, will also be able to be explored due to the increased depth of the group. If this sounds like something you want to explore, I look forward to sharing the space with you and others. If you have any questions, please reach out. \*\* people in challenging financial situations are welcome to reach out and we work something out The pricing of the event is done in a way which hopefully makes it accessible to most people; however it is more expensive than the monthly AR nights per session. This for few reasons: -the level of space holding and depth that the deep dive facilitates requires more space holding -there is a cap on the group as to not make it too large -there is more actually teaching and coaching around the authentic relating practice compared with the Monthly. all bookings must be made through [https://events.humanitix.com/authentic-relating-deep-dive](https://events.humanitix.com/authentic-relating-deep-dive) If you need to talk to me, please email me at authenticcmelb@gmail.com or FB [Authentic Connection Melbourne ](https://www.facebook.com/authenticmelb/) Looking forward to journeying with you! Daniel - Authentic Connection Melbourne Details Cost $250 early bird. $300 General admin DATES 4 Sundays MAY 17th, 24th,31st, JUNE 7th 5:30PM-8:30PM \*\*Participants will need to arrive on time, and the door will be closed by 15 minutes after starting. This is done to set the energy and foundations of the evening as a group. \*\*If you miss one of the sessions, you will still be able to attend the other sessions.

QA or the Highway is a one-day, affordable, regional, professional conference featuring real-world experience and thought leadership in the QA and testing industry. This is a ticketed event please register here: https://www.qaorthehwy.com/ Featured Keynote Speakers: **Matthew-Hope Eland** **(Wizard at Leading EDJE)** \- An AI Specialist and Wizard at Leading EDJE who is known to teach software engineering\, AI\, and data science concepts in the most ridiculous ways possible\. Matt has used machine learning to settle debates over whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie\, reinforcement learning to drive the behavior of digital squirrels\, data analytics to suggest improvements to his favorite TV show\, and AI agents to play board games and create an AI agent with the personality of a dog\. Matt is the author of "Data Science in \.NET with Polyglot Notebooks" and "Refactoring with C\#" as well as several LinkedIn Learning courses\. Matt helps organize the Central Ohio \.NET Developer Group\, runs several blogs and a YouTube channel\, has a Master’s of Science in Data Analytics\, and is a current Microsoft MVP in AI and \.NET\. **Tatyana Arbouzova** **(CEO at Innovate QA)** \- Tatyana Arbouzova is an engineering and business leader with a strong background in Quality Engineering across multiple industries\, including Big Tech\, Healthcare\, and Entertainment\. She has held leadership roles at world\-class companies such as Microsoft\, VMware\, Disney\, and The Pokémon Company International\, where she focused on building quality\-driven cultures and scaling teams to deliver high\-impact products\. With decades of experience\, Tatyana has helped organizations transform their quality practices so teams can deliver software efficiently\, confidently\, and with measurable business outcomes\. Today\, Tatyana advises software companies on adopting AI to optimize quality practices and improve how software is delivered at scale\. She is also a passionate community builder and the founder of Innovate QA\, a thriving Seattle\-based community and conference for quality professionals\.

**Building a great product is one thing—building momentum behind it is another.** Join **Senior Product Manager Adam Solaiman** and **User Experience Manager Tyson Smith** for a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to turn complex ideas into scalable products inside large organizations. In this session, they’ll share how teams move from ambiguity to execution—navigating organizational complexity, aligning stakeholders, and continuously evolving products after launch. You’ll walk away with insights on how to: * Build and sustain momentum across teams * Adapt to changing priorities without losing direction * Scale products thoughtfully in complex environments Whether you're driving a new initiative or growing an existing product, this conversation will give you practical strategies to keep things moving forward. Come connect, learn, and swap stories with fellow product professionals. \-\-\- Food and drinks will be provided by Switchbox, our generous host. Free parking will be available at the front and back sides of the Switchbox Office.

We meet to learn and practice American Sign Language and to grow our familiarity with Deaf culture. Facilitated by hearing folks (with a connection to a professional interpreter) using Deaf-created content. People of all ASL skill levels are welcome! As we learn, we hope to connect more with the Deaf community in Central Ohio. Join us as you're able! Come regularly or just once - whatever you're looking for! Each meetup will explore different topics related to ASL/Deaf culture, and will feature time to practice conversation with one another. Just bring yourself and a willingness to learn!

**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you. The building address is 4450 Bridge Park The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400 You will need to scan your ID at the door to get a visitor badge. **Abstract** TBD **YouTube Link** TBD

**TBA**

Practical AI for Power BI Developers A year ago, “agentic AI” was mostly hype for Power BI teams. Today, it deserves your undivided attention. For Power BI pros, there is now a real opportunity to reduce repetitive development work, accelerate delivery, and help developers do more, but only when strong DataOps practices are in place to make AI workflows effective. This session is a no-nonsense introduction to effective AI patterns for Power BI and Fabric development. Along the way, we will make sense of the growing pile of terminology, including skills, plugins, hooks, and MCP. You will see examples of how modern AI tooling can help with development tasks across Power BI and Fabric, along with the prerequisites, guardrails, and DataOps principles needed to use it responsibly. Whether you're burned out on AI hype or already using Copilot CLI daily, this session will show you the foundations that are finally making AI-assisted development genuinely useful.

## Candle Making Night at The Arcane Foundry \| Design Your Own Custom Candle **SPECIAL PROMOTION**: Buy 3 and get 1 Free! Step into The Arcane Foundry and create your own custom candle from start to finish. This is a laid back, hands-on experience where **you’ll blend fragrances, choose your vessel, and pour your own candle using 100% soy wax**. Whether you’re coming solo or with friends, it’s designed to be simple, creative, and a good time. We’ll walk you through the entire process, from picking your scents to choosing between a traditional cotton wick or a crackling wood wick. You can go with one fragrance or mix your own blend to create something completely unique**. No experience needed**, just show up and we’ll handle the rest. While your candle sets, feel free to hang out, play a game, explore the shop, or just relax and talk. Drinks and snacks are available, and the atmosphere leans into the **fantasy**, **dark academia**, and **gothic horror** vibe The Arcane Foundry is known for. Learn More: [Candle Making in Columbus, Ohio at The Arcane Foundry](https://thearcanefoundry.com/candle-making/) *** ### What to Expect: * Guided candle making experience * Choose your own vessel, wax, wick, and fragrance * 100% soy wax candles * Optional drinks and snacks * Time to relax while your candle cools *** ### Important Notes: * Please arrive on time so we can start together * Candles will need time to set before taking home * This is a beginner-friendly event *** ### RSVP Required Reserve your spot on Meetup to lock in your seat. **Candle Making** (includes vessel, your choice of wick, wax, scented oil, labels and lids) 5oz Glass Jars $15 8oz Candle Tins $25 12oz Glass Candles $35 12oz Amber Jars $40 16 oz Skull or Jack o Lantern Candle Mugs $65 (Limited Edition!) **All materials included. You just bring yourself (and your drink of choice).** **Payments accepted:** * Credit Card * Venmo: @Daclaud-Lee * Cashapp: $DaclaudL