Our region’s spirit and rich history of collaboration and innovation was celebrated by over 50 local changemakers and community champions from across the Gladstone Region at Together in Action 2025 on Thursday 27 February.
Together in Action 2025 Fireside Chat- February 2025
Local storytellers and community members with lived experience showcased the strengths of our community working together for improved long-term wellbeing and shared insights and learnings of courageous and creative approaches to changemaking. Event participants were encouraged to step into their own authority, challenge the usual ways of doing things, take small steps and dream big to create meaningful impact.
Linda Arnall, a Gladstone Region Systems Leader, shared a poem she had written in reflection to stepping into the work of community-led change and shaping local opportunities for improved outcomes for children and families in the Gladstone Region. The poem inspired a deep call to action, ‘What will you do?’ This call to action was carried throughout the events activities and shared conversation.
Together in Action - Shared Stories
The Rites of Passage event is a community-wide embrace of our First Nations Youth, wrapping support around our Year 12 graduating students and celebrating their achievements as they transition from high school to adulthood and embark on the next chapter of life with positivity and confidence, ready to grasp life’s opportunities
A pioneering project, marking Australia’s first community-owned and operated beach accessibility mat. Proving that with a unified effort and a focus on local strengths and contributions, communities can indeed thrive.
A Thriving, Inclusive Community: Gladstone Regional Council Access and Inclusion Plan 2024-27, Gladstone Regional Council and Gladstone Disability Community Network (DCN)
The Gladstone Regional Council Access and Inclusions Plan Project demonstrates the positive impact of working in partnership with community to include diverse voices in shaping our region’s roadmap for improved accessibility and inclusion.
An innovative program designed to engage First Nations primary school students in the world of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through connection to country.
These stories demonstrated how community-led action starts in places where people come together, united by a shared purpose and a deep commitment to improve equity, opportunity and quality of life for everyone in our community.
Everyone has something valuable to offer. The power of change lies not in titles or formal roles and structures but in the collective effort of people working together towards a common goal.
Participants acknowledged that they felt inspired, proud of our community and energised by the shared stories.
“Fabulous things happening in our community” said one participant.
Another said they were surprised to learn “how much passion people have for taking action in our community.”
Open, transparent sharing from storytellers encouraged participants to speak up about their own experience participating in and leading change.
The worry of 'stepping on toes’, feeling like an imposter and negative critics were discussed as common barriers that get in the way of collaboration. Participants said that an important takeaway from the stories was learning to turn challenges as opportunities.
“It was inspiring to learn about the different projects happening in our community and learn that I'm not alone in experiencing some of the challenges particularly in regard to critics.”
Others said the stories inspired them to:
“Keep passionate about the things that I know are so important.”
“Not worry about stepping on toes. Ask questions and put myself out there with big ideas!”
“Be more loud and proud about the changes I am creating in the community.”
The community-led Together in Action 2025 event emerged through the aspirations of the Gladstone Region System Leaders of Gladstone Region engaging in action Together (GRT), who formed in 2024. The group includes over 23 local changemakers who have attended GRT enabled training and learning experiences. These include Deep Collaboration - Power and Equity Training, the Systems Leadership Development Program and/or ChangeFest. They gather to collectively share systems leadership concepts and shape opportunities to inspire more locals to participate in and lead change for improved wellbeing outcomes.
Members of the working group have visited other regions in recent years to hear stories from other communities leading change. They have seen the power of shared storytelling showcase the great strengths of community working together, fostering resilience, and inspiring forward momentum of collaborative efforts.
Together in Action is not just an event – it’s a movement that celebrates the innovation and collaborative efforts of our community.
Together, we can continue to create lasting impact and shape a brighter future for everyone in the Gladstone Region.
For further information or to learn more about Together in Action 2025, please contact GRT:
P: 07 4970 7382