Community of Practice Archives - Clover Hill Diaries

Have We Learned Anything? Reflections on Local Council, Then and Now

In the second half of the 19th century, when Kiama’s citizens weren’t happy with how they were governed, they didn’t just complain. They seceded.

They formed their own municipality. Twice. Jamberoo and Gerringong both separated from Kiama Council when they felt their needs were being ignored. And while the politics of secession were messy and sometimes opportunistic, they were also a bold assertion of local self-determination. People weren’t content to be governed poorly. They expected more.

And here’s the part that stays with me, they acted not from strength or surplus, but while they were broke. Struggling. They made the best decisions they could under hard conditions, and sometimes they got it wrong. But the stakes were understood, and the community took responsibility for its choices.

Fast forward to now, and I find myself wondering, have we learned anything?

Because if history has a habit of repeating, then so does complacency.

Now

🏘️ Our Housing Strategy: A Missed Opportunity

Our current council has just made the most important decision of its elected term: our housing strategy. This is the document that will shape how and where people live in our region for years to come.

And what do we have?

No social housing.
No affordable housing.
Housing affordability isn’t even on the table.

But the gaps run deeper than that. Our housing strategy:

Sets no targets for affordable or social housing.
Offers no solutions for renters or people experiencing housing stress.
Contains no actions or incentives for local affordability.
Doesn’t plan for infrastructure to match growth.
Fails to connect housing approvals to service upgrades.
Offers no real tools to ensure housing diversity actually gets built.
Provides no clear guidance on where housing types should go.
Includes no sustainability standards or climate resilience planning.
Fails to integrate green infrastructure, bushfire buffers, or water sensitivity.
Doesn’t follow up on public feedback or create future accountability.
Leaves renters, youth, and low-income voices out of the ongoing process.

It’s not just underwhelming, it’s dangerous. Because while the housing crisis deepens, we are left with a document that looks busy but delivers nothing.

🔍 Leadership Doesn’t Come With the Role

This is not just about policy. It’s about leadership. And we’re not seeing it.

But I don’t blame individuals so much as the system that pretends leadership is instinctual. It’s not. We aren’t all born leaders—but leadership can be taught. It can be mentored, supported, nurtured. We have extraordinary people in our community. We have access to world-class facilitators, democratic innovators, and frameworks that help communities think through complex decisions.

We have what we need to lead wisely. So why are we still afraid to use it?

💡 What Are We So Afraid Of?

Maybe this is the question worth asking.

What do we fear?

Do we fear letting go of control?
Do we fear what the community might say if we give them space to deliberate?
Or are we simply afraid that the answers they offer will make us uncomfortable?

Because here’s the truth: There is nothing more powerful than a community of citizens who are equipped with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions. Not just opinions, judgement.

And if we want our councils to reflect the best of who we are, then we need to invest in that capacity, not just for leaders, but for all of us.

🧭 Look to Our Past to Guide Our Future

We’re are still broke. And maybe, just maybe, it’s time to remember what our forebears already knew: that when governance fails, the people must step forward, courage, vision, and the willingness to lead differently.

#LeadershipMatters #CommunityLeadership #LocalDemocracy #DeliberativeDemocracy #EmpoweredCitizens #CivicEngagement #BetterCouncils #LeadershipTraining #PeoplePowered #DecisionMakingTogether #DemocracyInPractice #LeadersAreMade #CourageToLead

From Mass Opinion to Public Judgement, Why Our Local Councils Need a New Civic Skill Set

If there’s one truth about Australian democracy that too often slips beneath the radar, it’s this, leadership isn’t just about making decisions, it’s about helping the public act in its own collective interest. And that takes more than a vote count. It takes dialogue, patience, and a deliberate commitment to building public judgement.

We talk a lot about ‘community consultation’ in local government. But more often than not, this means opinion surveys, feedback boxes, and fiery public meetings, processes that capture mass opinion, but don’t help communities work through complex trade-offs or imagine shared solutions. And so we get stuck. Residents feel unheard, councils feel under siege, and everyone walks away frustrated.

But what if we approached civic participation differently?

Former South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill describes public opinion as existing on a continuum. At one end is magical thinking, “lower taxes and better services for all!” At the other is mature public judgement, a deeper understanding that real choices involve real trade-offs.

The job of democratic leadership, Weatherill argues, is to help the public move along that continuum. Not to pander to the loudest voices, and not to hide behind expertise, but to foster a space where ordinary people can grapple with the full complexity of public issues.

It’s also a skill set that too many of our local government councillors simply haven’t been supported to develop.

Ironically, local government may be the best place to embed deliberative practices like citizen juries, participatory budgeting, and facilitated assemblies.

These are forums where residents aren’t just asked what they want, they’re given the tools, time, and trust to work through why they want it, and what it will take.

We’ve seen these models work across Australia, in infrastructure planning, social policy, even urban greening projects. They build trust. They defuse conflict. They make better use of local knowledge. And most importantly, they move us beyond self-interest toward something more collective.

To do this well, councils benefit from shifting their mindset. Community engagement can’t be a checkbox, it has to be a conversation. Councillors, staff, and community members benefit from training in facilitation, listening, and deliberative process. Local media can help by framing debate, not fuelling division. And the state can play a vital role by supporting councils with frameworks, funding, and evidence-based models.

We’re not naïve. Democracy is messy. But there’s a world of difference between shouting matches and shared understanding, between consultation and collaboration, between mass opinion and public judgement.

And if we want local government to rise to the challenges ahead, climate transition, housing, population change, it’s time we gave our communities the tools to think together, not just speak louder.

#CitizenJuries #DeliberativeDemocracy #CivicEngagement #PublicJudgement #PolicyWithPeople #ParticipatoryDemocracy #DemocracyInAction #CommunityVoice #BetterPolicy #TrustInPolitics #PoliticalLeadership #DemocraticInnovation #LocalGovernment #VoiceOfThePeople

🎧 Shout-out:
Grateful thanks to ABC Radio National’s Big Ideas for the inspiration—especially the insightful episode on Can citizen juries put the people back in democracy? These conversations help remind us what democracy can be when we bring the public back into the process with purpose and respect.

#BigIdeas #ABCRadioNational

Embracing Community of Practice: A New Chapter in Charitable Work

After a two decades of dedication to a charity aimed at empowering young people, I’ve experienced a journey filled with highs and lows. While we achieved remarkable success in schools, our efforts in the agricultural sector didn’t yield the expected results. This mixed outcome has led me to a new chapter: joining a Community of Practice (CoP) aligned with our vision.

In schools, our project flourished, witnessing enthusiastic participation and significant impact. However, the agricultural sector presented unique challenges, teaching us that approaches successful in one area might not necessarily translate to another. This experience, though disheartening, provided invaluable lessons.

Seeking growth and alignment, I’ve decided to join a CoP, a platform where individuals with shared passions collaborate and learn.

Here are some principles of CoPs that resonate with our journey:

Shared Domain of Interest: Our CoP is united by a common goal of empowering young people and enhancing community engagement.
Community Engagement: Active participation and collaboration within the CoP will be crucial for shared learning and growth.
Collective Learning: Leveraging diverse experiences and insights within the CoP, we aim to enhance our knowledge and practices collectively.
Practice Development: Through activities like problem-solving and knowledge mapping, we will refine our approaches to better suit different sectors.
Value Creation: The CoP focuses on creating tangible value for its members, including knowledge enhancement and skill development.
Open Dialogues: Encouraging honest conversations about both successes and challenges will be key to our learning and development.
Respect for Diverse Perspectives: Embracing the varied experiences each member brings, enriching our collective understanding.
Evolutionary Growth: Being open to the CoP’s evolution as needs and interests change over time.
Facilitation and Leadership: Benefiting from both formal and emergent leadership within the CoP to guide our efforts.
Sustainability and Impact Measurement: Aiming for sustainable practices and measuring the impact of our collaborative efforts.

Joining the CoP will allow the charities involved to have a united voice, which is crucial in advocating for our shared goals and vision. This unity will enable us to amplify our message and have a greater impact on policy and practice.

The CoP will serve as a resource hub, providing a one-stop-shop for schools to access diverse resources. This consolidation of resources ensures that schools have easy and efficient access to the tools and information they need, enhancing the effectiveness of their initiatives. Additionally, by sharing resources, the charities involved in the CoP can share administrative costs. This shared approach will lead to more time, energy, and funding being available for the actual delivery of services, enhancing the efficiency and impact of our work.

Joining this CoP marks a new beginning in my journey. It’s an opportunity to build on past experiences, both the successes and challenges, and to move forward with a community that shares a similar vision. This collaborative and dynamic environment promises growth, learning, and the potential to make a more significant impact in the areas we serve.

This step represents not just a continuation of my commitment but also an evolution, adapting and learning in ways that a singular approach could not offer. Here’s to new beginnings, shared learning, and making a difference together.

#CommunityOfPractice #EmpoweringYouth #CharitableWork #Collaboration #SharedLearning #NonprofitGrowth #SocialImpact #EducationInitiatives #AgriculturalChallenges #ResourceSharing #NonprofitEfficiency #CommunityEngagement #SustainablePractices #LeadershipInCharity #VisionaryChange #PositiveImpact #LearningTogether #AdvocacyInAction #EmpowermentThroughEducation #CollaborativeLearning