Actioning Change in Brisbane

Leadership and learning for Logan’s Samoan Community
Media: Unlocking the potential of the local Samoan community through action learning

“Griffith University announced the second phase of its community partnership programme, Actioning Change, a celebration with the Samoan community in Logan City on Thursday, 28 October. Throughout 2010 the University partnered with the Voice of Samoan People (VOSP) in a series of workshops and projects to unlock the potential of the local Samoan community. Projects involving school and church communities targeted positive change.

As a means of sustaining changes, project teams embedded a system for action learning using the Global University for Lifelong Learning (GULL) model of community engagement. This model, developed by Dr Richard Teare, has been introduced in many countries around the world in the last three years, often in partnership with non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The model is based on equality and inclusivity rather than hierarchy and has been piloted for the first time in Australia with the Samoan community of Logan City.”

(Right) Actioning change a community partnership with the Voice of Samoan People, Griffith University and GULL in Brisbane, Australia

 

Church-led community mobilization in Logan, Brisbane
Pastor Samuela Afamasaga Pastor of Seventh Day Adventist Church:

“The GULL concept is a revolutionary idea. I always want to learn and this model for active or action learning will help us to think differently and explore new aspects of community development. I know that by re-discovering myself, I can do a better job and find new ways to learn. In terms of my community and a proposal that I should like to make to the President, Voice of Samoan People, I plan to involve the Ministers of all the Christian churches in Logan in an action learning group and thereafter to cascade our experience to the members and congregations of these churches.” Pastor Samuela Afamasaga

(Above left to right) Richard Teare, Ortrun Zuber-Skerritt, Regional President, GULL Australasia and Pastor Samuela Afamasaga

 

Community mobilization in Logan, Brisbane
Fairmalotoa John Pale President, Voice of Samoan People

“GULL has enabled me to re-connect with my training as a theologian and this helps me to reflect on the question 'Who am I?' – as a father, a husband and a leader of the community. I have realized that if my answers are the same today and tomorrow, it means that I am not progressing on my action learning journey. The journey to greater self-awareness and improvement drives me onwards and it is my hope that by trying to do better and discovery more about myself that I'll be able to help others by sharing my experience of this process.

For me, GULL is a vehicle and a light to help illuminate my journey and I have spoken to so many people about my experience – even to those of our community who are in jail. I have been telling them that this is not the end of the road for them, and when you come out, the GULL programme will be waiting for you.“ Fairmalotoa John Pale

(Left) Richard Teare and Faimalotoa John Pale, President, Voice of Samoan People

 

Liberating the community through action learning
Fairmalotoa John Pale President, Voice of Samoan People

“I‟m sure that action learning is the way forward for the community – it liberates people, in the sense that at the outset, participants might have relatively low self esteem and as they journey with this, they can move forwards and strengthen their self image and self worth. I also think that action learning offers the prospect of liberty from poverty because it facilitates a change in mindset. It is my belief that unless and until people are liberated from what holds them back, they will not develop and progress and I have discovered that the GULL action learning process does this.” Fairmalotoa John Pale

(Left) Members of the Voice of Samoan People Leadership group (Right) Richard Teare thanks John Wicks, Regional Vice President, GULL Australasia for his role in supporting the pilot group

 

Discovering the potential for self-directed action learning
Lemalu Felise Tautalasoo Leader, Voice of Samoan People

“When we started with GULL we had a lot of questions about the process and role of a personal learning coach and the wider web of support. We have discovered that the power of the process lies in the self-directed journeying process together with the wider team of participants and supporters. When we come together as a team, we feel empowered to sort out our own issues and we have learnt to work and learn together as a team. Once the concept is clear and your mind is set in an appropriate way, honest and personal daily reflections begin to make sense. Thereafter, the weekly summary is easier to compile and the process of reflection becomes a habit.

We have also been discussing how the GULL process can help refugees and migrants, especially as they work to improve their spoken English and find a role in the host society. Action learning has opened a new door for me because the GULL process is founded on daily and weekly reflection on activity and events. Strategically, the process encourages you to challenge yourself at a deeper level so as to develop the ability to analyze a problem from every perspective and make the necessary adjustments to address it. These are the main reasons why I am enjoying my GULL journey.” Lemalu Felise Tautalasoo

(Right) Lemalu Felise Tautalasoo, Leader, Voice of Samoan People and Richard Teare

 

Addressing community challenges by action learning
Sala Telemete Tito Leader, Voice of Samoan People

“We originally got together because one of our leaders had arranged a meeting with Griffith University to discuss ways in which the institution might assist Pacific Islanders and specifically, Samoans and to seek advice on how to encourage and inspire the youth to stay on at school and aim to secure entrance to university. At Griffith, we met Judith Kearney and later Ortrun Zuber- Skerritt who introduced us to the concept of action learning. We are using action learning to address the main challenges that our community is experiencing and in particular the fact that our youngsters are under- performing in educational attainment. It won‟t be easy and it will require a sustained effort by many people, with the active participation of our community leaders, but we are determined to mobilize our community so that we can advance and improve.” Sala Telemete Tito

(Right Sala Telemete Tito, Leader, Voice of Samoan People and Richard Teare