Two years into our new strategy, we are partnering with a number of communities that are achieving real gains. We call them “lighthouse communities” because they are shining a light on how to make better use of new and existing resources, and driving the change they want to see.
Key highlights of the year for us included regular time with the change makers in Bourke NSW, Logan QLD, Doveton VIC, Kabulwarnamyo, NT and Dubbo, NSW. Being invited to participate in their challenging work has enabled us to see and value the positive impact these initiatives are now having on young people and their families’ daily lives.
We’ve produced story-portraits with these communities and asked them to reflect on what the change processes have meant to them. You’ll find these compelling portraits throughout the report.
Their stories further illustrate a common principle shared by these lighthouses. Real community ownership, decision-making, knowledge and action all play a key role, and are the vital ingredients for the success of place-based, social change.
This journey has taken us deep into the heart of remarkable, resilient communities that are generating positive impacts in people’s lives and driving changes in inequitable systems that work against collaboration and self determination.
This year the Forum embarked upon a new five-year strategy that supports a holistic approach to young people’s development, to deliver improved education, health and social outcomes for vulnerable children, their families and communities.
A few of our favourite partners and friends share their reflections, success, and lessons from a year that has been equal parts challenging and hopeful.
We’ve developed a series of digital storytelling campfires – workshops aimed at building a network of Australian place-based community-led evaluators, communicators and storytellers that share, learn, and connect around system change storytelling and are supported to address the opportunities and challenges of communicating collective, long-term stories of change.
From a one-teacher classroom to three independent registered schools – the Nawarddeken Academy is now operating its unique bi-cultural education in three communities in remote west Arnhem Land.
Dusseldorp Forum acknowledges the First Peoples of Australia and the Traditional Custodians of the Country on which we work and live. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and to Elders past, present and future.
