A reminder to you that the Canberra workshop from ‘bystanding to action’ is in a few weeks time. We would love to see you! The workshops focus on developing a ‘partnership mindset’ that enables you to take a greater interest in the organizations and social systems that impact on your life, and help you work with others in partnership to take action. I encourage you to take a look at the new website that has the latest details of workshops, feedback from participants, and Peter talking about the main ideas and approaches shared through the workshop.
We all need to learn how to encourage ‘bystanders’ to take action, particularly in NRM, so take the time to check out what this course has to offer. If you have any queries, please drop me a line.
Siwan
The Bystanding to Action workshops run by Peter Rennie from Leadership Australia, and his partners in different regions of Australia, are recieving very positive feedback.
‘Let me thank you again for running a wonderful workshop, replete with insight, example and praxis. I enjoyed it immensely and found it stretched my thinking, strengthened my understanding and clarified my direction.’ Anthony Howard, CEO, The Confidere Group
‘I have come back to the workplace refreshed and re-invigorated thanks to the 2 days spent with you and Soren. I thoroughly enjoyed your approach to facilitation and have spent the first 45 minutes of this morning talking through the highlights with the HR team.’ Clare Dunnicliff, Executive Manager, Human Resources, Maitland City Council
The workshops focus on developing a ‘partnership mindset’ that enables you to take a greater interest in the organizations and social systems that impact on your life, and help you work with others in partnership, to take action, rather than trying to do this on your own. I encourage you to take a look at the new website that has the latest details of workshops, feedback from participants, and Peter talking about the main ideas and approaches shared through the workshop.
We all need to learn how to encourage ‘bystanders’ to take action, particularly in NRM, so take the time to check out what this course has to offer. I will be running the Canberra workshop with Peter in November so if you have any queries, please drop me a line.
Siwan
| Receive $5,000 scholarship to study in 2012!In the context of current economic downturn, the International WaterCentre(IWC) is seeking new ways to support the world’s future water leaders.IWC is offering partial-tuition scholarships to the first 50 students who enrol in an IWC Integrated Water Management program(Masters, Graduate Diploma, Graduate Certificate) for 2012.The scholarship is available to Australian or international students who do not receive any external full-tuition scholarship or full-tuition funding from other sources.
Each partial scholarship is valued at AU$5,000 for the Masters program, payable per semester towards tuition fees (directly to The University of Queensland):
- Semester 1 (Graduate Certificate): AU$1,550
- Semester 2 (Graduate Diploma): AU$1,550
- Semester 3 (Masters): AU$1,900
To receive this partial scholarship you need to
- apply for the program
- receive an unconditional offer from The University of Queensland (UQ)
- be one of the first 50 students to enrol in the program (enrolments open in Dec 2011/Jan 2012)
Application deadlines
- 15 Oct. 2011 for category 3 & 4 countries
- 15 Nov. 2011 for category 1 & 2 countries
- 18 Feb. 2012 for Australian/NZ citizens or Australian permanent residents
The program commences in Semester 1 (Feb/March 2012) at The University of Queensland.
We look forward to welcoming you in 2012!
Terms and conditions
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As the regular readers of this site know, Siwan and I regularly run a workshop called Connecting Through Conversation and Story and one of the things that has struck me recently is that without a conversation, we cannot build a relationship. That conversation may not be face to face – it may be via email, text message (as all teenagers are well aware of), or via Skype. Conversation is how we work out how the other person fits into our world and what our commonalities are, as well as our differences.
In the environment sector (as in most sectors) we are all trying to build those relationships of trust that enable us to share our beliefs, values and aspirations for the planet in order to make a difference. The most effective way to do this is by having a conversation. The importance of this initial conversation tends to be largely underestimated. If you get it right so many wonderful things can be achieved. But, if you get it wrong, it may take years to correct the damage created in this poorly managed interaction.
Today I came across a wonderful blog posting from Ron Donaldson on how to create new links by breaking individuals out of their comfort groups. I love the way this series of conversations came together and was so impressed that they too were using Anecdote Circles.
We will be running our next Connecting through Conversation workshop in Brisbane on the 30th of September in conjunction with the International River Symposium 2011. If you would like to attend please register here.
Nerida
The last two weeks have been spent focusing on helping the Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA, and the Office of Hawkesbury Nepean, with ideas and approaches for engaging with their communities. I spent a great day at Sydney Airport (very quiet due to the ash cloud) with Amanda Bigelow and Wendy Miller from the Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA, brainstorming ways to ensure that their upcoming Catchment Action Plan consultation processes really ‘hits the mark’ in terms of getting people involved in thinking about and planning for their catchment’s future.
Following my meeting with the Border Rivers-Gwydir team, Nerida finally got back from Los Angeles where the ash cloud had meant an extra two day stay (!), and we were off to the Office of Hawkesbury Nepean, based in Penrith. We had a good day facilitating and working with the Office of Hawkesbury Nepean’s new Stakeholder Committee, exploring how this group of committed individuals can work together as a team and effect real change in their catchment. We developed a number of different strategies and actions with the Committee that will ensure the group can be an effective advisor, communicator and knowledge broker with the Office of Hawkesbury Nepean.
If you want to know more about the work we have been doing in the area of community and stakeholder engagement, drop us a line. We also intend to develop some new resources for you as a result of these meetings, so stay in tune for more knowledge sharing ARRC style!
Siwan and Nerida
Events, Resources, Training and Development | Siwan Lovett | 
9 November 2011 2:19 pm | 
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