From epiphany to action

This conversation is part of a series exploring the impact of the Changemaker Workshops delivered across more than 30 regions by the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation and the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal, thanks to the Future Drought Fund. These workshops are part of the Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought Initiative.

In this episode of Rural Leadership Unearthed, we chat with Willanna Morris to explore the role of epiphany in personal growth, and how to take that first step of action for change afterwards. Willanna is born and bred in Mount Isa and has been working to support young people for over 20 years. While she’s a passionate do-er, Willanna credits the Changemaker workshop in Mount Isa with sparking some powerful shifts in her perspective. Not least of which has been the epiphany that she and her team at the Ngukuthati Children and Family Centre are striving for the same things as countless other leaders, organisations and volunteers in Mount Isa, and that together, they can achieve amazing things.

One of those things was the back-to-school event that Willanna and her team – with support from a host of other organisations and businesses in Mount Isa – pulled together to equip more young people to get to school and help families to support their kids’ education. In this conversation, Willanna reflects on how just two days spent sharing and learning with fellow community members has given her access to resources, networks and solidarity in the quest to create a bright future for her town.

This episode is the second of an 8-part series within the Rural Leadership Unearthed podcast where we delve into stories from people passionate about transforming their communities. This is a practical resource designed to provide insight into what it takes to drive positive change in rural, regional and remote Australia.

Some highlights:

• Understand how moments of epiphany can spark a mindset shift

• How the adaptive leadership framework mobilises collaborative response to a challenge

• Willana’s heartening experience of asking for and accepting help

• The role of emotional shifts in fuelling tangible action

• Why having a strategy is key to dealing with setbacks

• The tools that can help us to take the first steps towards taking on a project or realising a vision

Our host:

Claire Delahunty, is a writer and journalist who has worked with the ARLF for more than ten years, interviewing leaders having a positive impact on rural and regional Australia.

Resources:

ARLF podcast blog:  https://rural-leaders.org.au/blog/ 

ARLF website: https://rural-leaders.org.au/                                      

Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought Initiative: https://rural-leaders.org.au/helping-regional-communities-prepare-drought-initiative/leadership-development-in-your-region/

Ngukuthati Children and Family Centre: https://www.nwqicss.org/services/ngukuthati-children-and-family-centre/