Wounds & Wisdom

Stephane Shepherd and I want to extend our deepest thanks to everyone who joined us for the launch of 16 Yards. Your presence made this milestone truly special, and we’re incredibly grateful for the time you took to be part of it. A special thanks to two of our 16 Yards consultants Zayd Safi, Kalijah Lovett who powerfully highlighted the importance of lived experience informed practice. A further thanks to guest speakers Jodi Henderson, Andrea Davidson, Liana Buchanan, Bonnie Dukakis and Lizzy Kuoth for their support on the night. We’re excited to share that the event sold out early, and we’ve received interest from many others who couldn't attend. Given the demand, we’re already planning another event in the near future and look forward to welcoming more of you next time. We were especially moved by the kind feedback on The Blueprint documentary, which laid the foundation for our journey with 16 Yards. It affirmed the importance of amplifying lived experience, not just as a voice, but as a professionalised insight with the power to reshape systems, services, and—most importantly—the lives of young people connected to the justice system or at risk of entering it. For those who are keen to bring The Blueprint to their services, schools, or communities, we are now offering documentary screening events designed to inspire real change. If you’re interested, please get in touch for more information. We are committed to making a lasting impact and would love to collaborate with those who share this vision. Please visit our website to explore how we can work together www.16yards.life. Also: A big thanks to David Walker and the team at Linktree for being incredible hosts and Rui Baptista for taking some great photographs for us.

Yesterday, I was in Frankston, running a session on Resilience & Coaching for Leaders at the Frankston City Council. We had some ‘real talk’ conversations about investing in personal development to build self determination in ourselves and others, especially in tough situations. The vibe was positive, and it was clear that there’s a lot of potential for growth and positive change. If you interested in booking a training, visit: https://lnkd.in/gGVVbDeW

Last Friday, I had the privilege of sharing Frontline Resilience training to the team at the Australian African Foundation for Retention and Opportunity (AAFRO) hosted at the Maurice Blackburn Lawyers offices. AAFRO’s mission to bridge the gap between CALD/POC communities, particularly those of African descent, and the wider Australian community, is commendable. Cultural-driven organisations like AAFRO are instrumental in delivering effective frontline education, community connected service delivery and practical working solutions related to CALD/POC communities and their experiences. I’m passionate about sharing my knowledge and expertise, but I also value being a perpetual student in these spaces. Learning from diverse perspectives enriches understanding and drives meaningful change.

Connecting with the Anchor teams again last week was truly valuable. After our collaborative efforts last year, we've been in the trenches, actively fine-tuning their practice model. This time around, I took the reins to beef up the approach with the Digging Deeper two-day coaching training program. The sessions, were 'real talk', delving deeply into the intricacies of navigating complex cases using practical, strengths-based practices. Seeing the practitioners' unwavering commitment, their sleeves rolled up to walk alongside young people grappling with complex disadvantages, keeps me inspired. Their genuine passion and resilience underscore the tangible long lasting impact we can have on the people who connect to services.