Making a Difference

On today's episode, we speak to Janet Cribbes, who took the bold step to solve her problems by running for local council. Janet is the former Port Phillip Councillor and Mayor. Steve and Janet discuss what actually happens after someone is elected to local council, why making change isn't always easy, and Janet's recommendations for running a successful campaign.

Key takeaways:

1. There are lots of different motivations for people to run for Council. People who have a particular issue they're passionate about, people who have a good connection with the community, career politicians, etc.
2. Once elected, there are so many competing demands and trade-offs. This means that it’s not always possible for an individual to be immediately effective on the issue that they campaigned on.
3. It’s important to understand the relationship between the budget and the council plan to be effective and to be able to negotiate the space.
4. 90% of the budget is already set for the year. Elected officials need to know how to work effectively as a group to get things done and lead a community. It's the compromise that gets the greater good going.

Resources and links:

• https://www.janetcribbes.com/

Connect:

• More information about Civic Mind
• Connect with Steve Cooper on LinkedIn

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

In this episode, we’re speaking with Hannah Kennedy from Cabrini Health. Hannah is a twenty-something, who would describe herself as a project manager, certainly not a doctor or a nurse. Early in 2020, out of the blue, Hannah was tapped to project manage the response to the coronavirus pandemic for a network of over 800 patient beds, across 5 sites. Most of us would do the human thing and panic, but not Hannah, who took on the project with empathy, intellect, and an inspiring ability to foster change.

Key takeaways:

1. Hannah has been responsible for the coordinated response to COVID across five Cabrini Health sites, which she's been doing for the last couple of months.
2. Cabrini Health has multiple sites but is best-known for Cabrini Malvern, a 400-bed acute care hospital with an emergency department, an ICU, maternity services and well-respected cardiac care and cancer care units.
3. There were two categories in Hannah's COVID project: (1) significant and real risk; and (2) anxiety-led risk. In the early days, there was a lot of uncertainty. She managed the anxiety by consulting with the experts within Cabrini Health and then bringing a consistent message to front-line staff.
4. Cabrini is a Catholic organisation and has Catholic values in its centre, which has shone strongly during these times of COVID.
5. As the first public health lockdown restrictions started to ease, people started wanting to come and visit their friends and family in hospital again. But Cabrini had to stay firm on the restrictions. Now that the case numbers have risen again, they are relieved that they did.

Resources and links:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-kennedy-1a98a986/
• https://www.cabrini.com.au/

Connect:

• More information about Civic Mind
• Connect with Steve Cooper on LinkedIn

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.