In a culture that rewards self-promotion over self-mastery, what does it actually take to lead meaningful change? Drawing on the work of David Brooks, Angela Duckworth, Jonathan Haidt and Robert Greenleaf, this article explores why character is the foundation of effective leadership in healthcare and community change work, and why humility may be the most important capability that change leaders still need to develop.
Why aren’t your team following the procedure you agreed on? The COM-B model — Capability, Opportunity, Motivation — offers a practical diagnostic framework for healthcare and organisational leaders. Pair it with co-design and you have both the diagnosis and the method to fix it.
In change work, the people who listen hardest tend to get the furthest. Drawing on Schein’s humble inquiry and Scharmer’s four levels of listening, this article explores why asking — not telling — is the foundational discipline of genuine co-design, and how to practise it in healthcare and community settings.
A great idea is not enough. Winning funding, permission and momentum requires a pitch that speaks to the rational, emotional and financial realities of your audience — all three, in the right order. The Head, Heart, Hip Pocket framework is a battle-tested structure for change-makers in healthcare and beyond, grounded in decades of co-design practice and the best of behavioural science.
Social capital has been quietly collapsing across Australia for fifty years. Volunteering is at an all-time low, loneliness now carries health risks equivalent to smoking fifteen cigarettes a day, and trust in government continues to fall. Drawing on research from Robert Putnam, Andrew Leigh, Hugh Mackay, and Julianne Holt-Lunstad, this article examines what we have lost, why it matters for the health and wellbeing of Australian communities, and why genuine co-design may be the most practical path toward rebuilding the social fabric we have allowed to unravel.
Half a century of equity reform has produced real gains — and real resistance. From the gender pay gap to the rise of the manosphere, this article examines where Australia stands on gender equality, what the evidence tells us about coercive control and online radicalisation, and why structured co-design at community level may be one of our most practical tools for rebuilding common ground.
What Does Success Look Like? A Year of Recognition Over the last 12 months it has been a privilege for our team at Inala Primary Care to be recognised in numerous ways. First, we won an inaugural Stronger Medicare Award, which recognised our work delivering innovative care to disadvantaged patients. A night in Canberra at … Read more
Co-Design In Place Is Better, as a sense of place has captivated humankind for millennia. For many, where we come from provides a deep sense of meaning, security and identity. However, for an increasing number of people where they come from is a determinant of lifelong prospects. Our postcode determines how well we live because resources are not equally distributed.
The Democratic Power of Co-Design. The world is full of need. Our resources to respond are limited. Scarcity prevails. We need to unlock better solutions. Beyond the limits to budgets to address need, there are also limits to how people understand each other. Communication theory and teachings on strategy are replete with reminders to: