by Louise | Jul 27, 2018 | Green Skills Inc. - Sustainability Non-Profit
We are animals, we eat, we love, we fight, we poo, we feel. We dress it up to appear that we are above nature and our natures.
A butterfly is more beautiful, it does not destruct as it goes.
My eye is drawn to a piece of plastic rubbish cast aside at the edge of camp paradise. A symbol of thoughtless impact with every step we take.
Why not a pause before footprint, to place the foot oh so softly looking to minimize disturbance, to observe the imprint, to learn before the next step.
by Basil | Jul 23, 2018 | Green Skills Inc. - Sustainability Non-Profit
Report from WA Landcare Network Forum
By Basil Schur
On Friday 20th July he WA Landcare Network held a members and Stake-holders forum at the Cockburn Wetlands Education Centre. Around 90 people attended the event. The Welcome to Country by Marie Taylor, a Whadjuk Noongar Elder, included some special story telling – and this complemented a latter presentation by Oral McGuire about Noongar enterprise and Caring for Country at Avondale Park, near York.
Marie Taylor, a Whadjuk Noongar Elder, giving the Welcome to Country. at the Forum
While Alannah MacTiernan, Minister for Regional Development, Agriculture and Food, did indicate at at the forum her support for the work of landcare, it was perhaps a missed opportunity to challenge her for the paltry $7m a year the WA Government is allocating to State NRM programs.
Two presentations from Katanning Landcare and Blackwood Basin Group related to landcare groups setting up enterprises ( a nursery in the case of Katanning, and the Perup Nature’s Guest House in the case of the Boyup Brook based Blackwood Basin Group.) Green Skills, with its long history of running community based enterprises (ie Eco Jobs, Denmark Tip Shop), has something to offer other community groups keen to embark on income generation through running enterprises.
I gave a presentation on Bailjup Sanctuary Citizen Science program ( pdf attached), which complemented Dr Nic Dunlop’s presentation on Citizen Science in relation to NRM outcomes.
A rewarding presentation covering social entrepreneurship, and integrated agricultural/biodiversity programs was given by Lachy Ritchie of Odonata ( http://www.odonata.org.au/)
Lots of valuable ideas, and it would be great for Green Skills to potentially be part of an emerging partnership between Odonata and Gondwana Link.
Another useful presentation was by Dr Guy Boggs of the WA Biodiversity Science Institute (https://wabsi.org.au/) – a possible opportunity to get more university students and researchers to link with Green Skiils’projects and programs
At the networking level, I found it useful to connect with folk from the Warren catchments Council, the Conservation Council of WA, the Cockburn Wetland Centre, and reps from a wide range of other groups.
Basil Schur, Projects Manager, Green Skills
A selection of slides from the Balijup presentation…
by | May 29, 2018 | Green Skills Inc. - Sustainability Non-Profit
What to Expect
The one-day Women in Leadership Workshop as part of the Symposium will provide a variety of leadership methods and tools designed to enhance and empower your personal life and participation in the sector.
Regardless of our level of experience we can always learn more. Be prepared to be challenged, surprised or affirmed. It is up to you to embrace the experience and your own leadership development and style.
This is an opportunity to practice new learnings and tools in a shared and confidential setting.
Through the day we will cover the topics listed below with discussion, practical application and exploration.
In the morning
- Definitions & Styles of Leadership.
- The power of story – Guest speaker. Possible Topic (a) A personal reflection on leadership: challenge, choice and outcome in past, present and future. Or Topic (b) Overcoming work and personal barriers and sustaining effort long term- the four roles of a campaigner.
- Gender and position of women in the workplace.
- Barriers to leadership – structural and personal.
In the afternoon
- Overcoming personal barriers: mood/emotions; using language effectively.
- Building relationships: using relational meetings.
- The power of story: story of self.
- Coaching: for yourself and others for work and personal change.
- Next steps: post event mentoring; networking; specific skill workshops.
What to Bring
- A self-commitment to be open minded with a willingness to listen and share.
- Note pad and pens or highlighters to suit your own note-taking needs.
- As we work through some of the material relevant templates of tools will be provided.
(PDF version of above example HERE)
In the second half of 2017 Green Skills delivered four “Supporting Women in Leadership” one-day workshops. Participants gave very positive feedback on the value of the workshops and how their participation helped them to become more effective in their NRM, environment, Landcare and community building efforts.
“Inspiring and uplifting program for women – not only in the environmental industry but in their/our daily life.” (Stacey M)
“A great experience’! It reaffirmed some things & awakened others. It has refreshed, re-energised & revitalised me, as I hoped it would.” (Nerrilee B)
“It was very useful to meet other local environmental leaders – similar take on leadership roles and issues, especially in local community and the region.” (Rosie S)
Would you like to partner with us to support women in leadership in your region? Please CONTACT US and let’s talk about the possibilities.
by | May 29, 2018 | Green Skills Inc. - Sustainability Non-Profit
At Green Skills we are passionate about leadership capability and mentoring.
We are committed to sharing our skills with current and emerging leaders, especially with women, in the environmental, Landcare, NRM and Sustainability and Community Development sectors.
We have more than three decades of experience in this sector. Our dedicated staff and project contractors, in partnership with external consultants, develop and deliver successful leadership programs for regional community leaders both within Western Australia and interstate.
We continue to be leaders in our own projects. We appreciate the ongoing development of leadership skills as necessary to our own constant growth and improvement.
Our experienced facilitators offer a range of specific skills and leadership development workshops. These can be developed to suit organisational and/or individual needs and delivered in the work place or for self-organised groups at independent locations.
Leadership Skills Development
The following list of development workshops are 1.5 to 2 hrs and delivered in blocks of two at a venue to suit you or your organisation’s needs. (PDF Available Here)
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Managing Crucial Conversation’s Successfully |
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Managing Gender Issues |
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Group Dynamics |
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Workplaces and Groups |
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Relational Meetings |
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Effective Fundraising |
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Using Story-telling in Your Projects |
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Campaign Strategies |
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Mapping & Building Networks |
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Setting Life Goals |
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Visionary/ Manager / Artist – roles |
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Public Speaking |
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How to Intervene Successfully in the Status Quo |
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Conflict Resolution
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Mapping your Community Well-being and Resilience in the face of a Changing Climate |
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Working Together for Country: Successfully working with Indigenous Aboriginal peoples (with Indigenous facilitator)
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As an experienced, highly competent and passionate team of sustainability practitioners we are committed to making a difference, taking the lead for a sustainable future, and actively engaging, encouraging and supporting others to do the same.
If you would like to find out more about these services or get more information of how we can be of service to you please contact us.
by | Dec 15, 2017 | Green Skills Inc. - Sustainability Non-Profit
It is exciting to see women taking the lead in many different forms in their professional and personal lives. The recent Women in Leadership Workshops in Bunbury Western Australia were testament to the many diverse roles women play in regional and rural communities, and the relevance of relational and life-affirming leadership styles.
With a cross section of women from state and local government departments, community organisations, utilities providers and independent business owners the workshops sparked some lively and vulnerable story-sharing. Among all these stories we do find common paths as women. As leaders, current and emerging, we also realise that leadership skills are as relevant at work as they are in the community, at home and in many of our other daily relationships.
By far the biggest takeaway of these workshops is the fact that as we lead we empower other women to step up also.
As we increase awareness of, and embrace, our own styles, strengths and areas for growth we increase our individual appreciation of self and our capacity to self-manage in meaningful and positive ways.
Increased self-awareness enhances our empathy, social awareness and positive management of social relationships in all areas of our lives and the communities we live in.
Perhaps we could sum this up as leadership action through active self-awareness. Subtle, supportive and strong changes in our own behaviour ripples out to influence the many others with whom we interact.
A willingness to embrace uncertainties and possibilities supports us to move from states of anxiety and resignation in to more active states of curiosity and motivation. This is powerful and empowering for ourselves, and those around us, as we perform roles as changemakers, reformers, occasional rebels and everyday citizens.
We are very grateful to the women who made the time to show up, be present and share their stories at these regional workshops. All of them had a unique voice and perspective, and contributed to the success of the workshops just by being there, being themselves and being willing to participate.
Whether we are leading from the front, or leading from behind the key to life-affirming relational leadership is self-awareness and a willingness to be who you truly are not what someone or something else wants you to be.
Be great at being you!
We look forward to following up and doing more in 2018. Until then best wishes to all.
The Bunbury workshops were hosted by South West Catchment Council (SWCC)
If you are interested in hosting leadership workshops in your own community or organisation please get in touch with Dawn Atkin or Louise Duxbury on (08) 9848 3310 or by email [email protected]
