Thoughtful conversations over dinner.

Facilitated community dinners where we go deeper than small talk and connect across perspectives.

Everyone is welcome.

The world feels more divided than ever. We're losing the ability to truly listen, stay curious, and connect across our differences.

Dinners with a Difference exists to bring people back together.

Each month, we host a community dinner where people gather over a shared meal to talk about things that matter. We slow down, share perspectives, and practise the art of thoughtful conversation.

Because connection is a skill and good conversation is an art worth practising.

Upcoming Dinners

October & November 2025

To finish the year with a bang, we’re cooking up something extra special.

Ticket will go on sale in September.

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Join us for dinner!

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    About Your Host

    Gretel Van-Lane facilitating Dinners with a Difference

    Gretel Van Lane

    I’m passionate about creating spaces for genuine connection and meaningful conversation. That’s what inspired me to start Dinners with a Difference, a facilitated gathering designed to move beyond small talk and into deeper, more reflective dialogue. Whether it’s a themed dinner or a community event, my goal is always the same: for people to leave feeling seen, nourished, and uplifted.

    With more than 15 years’ experience as a facilitator and communications specialist, I’ve worked with purpose-led organisations to spark engagement, build community, and explore complex social issues with care and clarity. My strengths lie in bringing people together, nurturing relationships, and making space for the stories that often go unheard.

    Outside of work, I’m deeply invested in personal growth, embodiment, and practices that reconnect us to ourselves and each other. Creating environments where people can drop their guard, speak their truth, and feel truly heard is my greatest joy.

    To learn more about my professional work, visit: www.gretelvanlane.com.au

    What to Expect

    Dinners with a Difference is a facilitated space where you’re encouraged to listen deeply, share openly, find shared meaning, and appreciate different perspectives. There are no experts. Everyone brings their own lived experience and insight.

    Before the dinner, you’ll receive a short pre-event questionnaire to help set the tone. Your responses, along with those from fellow guests, gently shape the conversation on the night.

    We recommend arriving 15 minutes early to check in, grab a drink from the bar, and settle in before we begin.

    The evening starts with a welcome and introduction to the night’s theme, including a few reflections submitted by attendees. From there, you’ll take part in a series of guided small-group conversations, designed to help you explore the topic in a thoughtful and meaningful way.

    There will be moments to pause, reflect, and hear insights from across the room, as well as opportunities to connect with different people throughout the night. Questions are provided as gentle prompts, not a checklist, and you're always invited to follow the threads that matter most to you.

    A selection of shared plates will be served throughout the evening. Dietary needs are gladly catered for, and drinks are available to purchase at the bar.

    We wrap up the facilitated part of the evening by 9:00pm, but the venue remains open, so you’re welcome to stay and continue the conversation.

    If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch via the contact form below. We’d love to hear from you.

    Dinner Topics

    Truth

    Community

    Commitment

    Freedom

    Perfection

    Wonder

    Legacy

    Privilege

    Resilience

    Rest

    Belonging

    Joy

    Testimonials

    • Everything was incredible! A truly great concept and execution of an event!

    • Gretel! You truly have a gift. The way you model courage in a really authentic way helps everyone in the room to be brave and also show up authentically. You are also really funny! I loved listening to you speak - it was entertaining and reassuring.

    • A rare opportunity to connect with warmth & curiosity without risk.

    • In the midst of adulting, when conversations can often either be surface-level or we just don’t have time to go much deeper, this format gave us a really well facilitated forum in which to dive-deep and build new connections in a unique way.

    • As a young Aussie guy, most of the conversations I have are surface level, sports-based, or just entirely sledging, which I love, but I don't really have the opportunity to philosophically explore topics or share meaningful (and related) anecdotes in a respectful forum where I could be challenged, encouraged and introspective, just for the sake of good conversation.

    • Such a great night. Main take away for me is there’s more discussion to be had and with different perspectives and experiences there’s more understanding and a lot more common ground than we think.

    • So many fun people to share with. Great listeners & questioners as well as talkers. We were only just getting started on the topic. Could have chatted for hours longer. Such disparate views. Wonderful!

    • I had such an amazing night and felt so safe, seen and heard. Love it and looking forward to the next one.

    • The dinner was warm, connecting, and very enjoyable. A place to share food and connect on a meaningful topic and experience a lovely diversity of knowledge and opinions.

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