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This episode explores what cultural responsiveness looks like in practice. Guests share approaches for recognising and celebrating cultural identity, building staff capability, and ensuring all students feel respected and included. You will hear practical ideas for classrooms, staffrooms, and family engagement, plus ways to track impact over time.

Guest: Dr Beau Hu-Jia, National School Partnerships Manager, Together for Humanity and Simangaliso Nyoni, Cultural Practice Lead, MacKillop Family Services
Produced by: The MacKillop Institute

Suggested chapter markers
 00:00 Why cultural responsiveness, the case for change
 03:55 Identity, belonging, and classroom practice
 09:40 Staff capability, language, and reflective tools
 15:25 Family partnerships and community voices
 21:00 Reducing bias, nudges that work in schools
 26:15 Monitoring progress, what to measure
 29:20 First steps for your improvement plan

If themes in this episode affect you, support is available in Australia
Griefline 1300 845 745, Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636, Lifeline 13 11 14.

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Professor Yong Zhao challenges us to rethink the purpose of schooling. He explores why traditional measures of success are no longer enough, and how creativity, adaptability, and student agency should guide future outcomes. Expect a lively discussion about personalised learning, entrepreneurship in education, and redefining what counts as success.

 Guest: Prof Yong Zhao
 Produced by: The MacKillop Institute

Chapter Markers
00:00 Why reimagine schools now
04:45 Beyond test scores, broader outcomes that matter
10:30 Agency and entrepreneurship in learning
16:20 Personalisation without fragmentation
22:05 Creativity and adaptability, designing for the future
27:10 What leaders can change this year
30:00 Resources and further reading

If themes in this episode affect you, support is available in Australia, Griefline 1300 845 745, Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636, Lifeline 13 11 14.

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We hope you enjoyed this episode of That’s TMI: The Meaningful Insights Podcast.

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Child safety is a shared responsibility. This episode focuses on the role of leaders in embedding safe practices across the whole school, understanding emerging risks, and ensuring student wellbeing is always central. The hosts discuss culture, policy, everyday supervision, and how to create psychologically safe environments for students and staff.
 
Guests: Anne Henderson, Shannon Tyrer
Produced by: The MacKillop Institute

Chapter markers
00:00 Safety as culture, not a checklist
03:40 Governance, policy, and transparent processes
09:20 Everyday practice, supervision, and safe routines
15:05 Responding to emerging risks, digital and onsite
20:30 Student voice in safety, listening and responding
25:10 Staff wellbeing and psychological safety
29:30 Practical next steps for leaders

If themes in this episode affect you, support is available in Australia, Griefline 1300 845 745, Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636, Lifeline 13 11 14.

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Dr Beau Hu-Jia explores the links between identity, belonging, and learning. The discussion considers how cultural diversity shapes school experience, why belonging must celebrate uniqueness, and what leaders and teachers can do to make inclusion tangible, from curriculum choices to everyday interactions.


Guest: Dr Beau Hu-Jia, National School Partnerships Manager, Together for Humanity
Produced by: The MacKillop Institute

If themes in this episode affect you, support is available in Australia: Griefline 1300 845 745, Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636, Lifeline 13 11 14.

Support the show

We hope you enjoyed this episode of That’s TMI: The Meaningful Insights Podcast.

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Welcome to That’s TMI: The Meaningful Insights Podcast, where we explore the heart of human-centred and caring professions. This series creates space for honest conversations that support educators and practitioners working with children and young people. Expect a blend of research, real stories, and reflective practice, plus inspiring guests who are making a difference every day.

Brought to you by the MacKillop Institute.

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We hope you enjoyed this episode of That’s TMI: The Meaningful Insights Podcast.

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International student-voice advocate Dr Russ Quaglia unpacks what authentic voice really means, and why it strengthens, not replaces, teacher and leader voice. He shares a practical definition schools can adopt, voice as thoughts shared in trust, realistic suggestions for the good of the whole, and responsibility for what happens next. Backed by decades of research, Russ explores self-worth, engagement, and purpose, and the daily habits that make voice the air we breathe.
 
 Guest: Dr Russ Quaglia
 Produced by: The MacKillop Institute

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What does it really take to help someone feel safe and welcome when they are new? 

The hosts unpack the human side of onboarding, beyond checklists to everyday interactions that shape culture. Drawing on Dan Hughes’ PACE, they explore practical ways to connect, when to pause rather than fix, and how small moments of attunement change a day. The team leans into vulnerability, compassionate candour, and structures that support reflective practice.

Produced by: The MacKillop Institute

If themes in this episode affect you, support is available in Australia: Griefline 1300 845 745, Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636, Lifeline 13 11 14.

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We hope you enjoyed this episode of That’s TMI: The Meaningful Insights Podcast.

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Cultural Practice Lead Simangaliso Nyoni joins the hosts to talk about cultural responsiveness in human-centred work. Beginning with an Acknowledgement of Country, the conversation explores why language matters, how to decolonise documentation and practice, and the discipline of deep listening. Simangaliso shares her journey from Zimbabwe to Australia at 19, a backpack-full-of-dreams story of courage, representation, and leadership responsibility. A practical takeaway: shift from calling out to calling in, so change lasts beyond the room.

Guest: Simangaliso Nyoni, Cultural Practice Lead, MacKillop Family Services
Produced by: The MacKillop Institute

If themes in this episode affect you, support is available in Australia: Griefline 1300 845 745, Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636, Lifeline 13 11 14.

Support the show

We hope you enjoyed this episode of That’s TMI: The Meaningful Insights Podcast.

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This launch episode sets the tone for That’s TMI, a podcast that delves into the heart of human-centred and caring professions. This series creates space for honest conversations that support teachers, school leaders, and practitioners who work with children and young people every day. Listeners will hear how the podcast blends research, practice, and real stories, why reflective practice matters, and what to expect from future guests and topics..

Produced by: The MacKillop Institute

If themes in this episode affect you, support is available in Australia: Griefline 1300 845 745, Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636, Lifeline 13 11 14.

We hope you enjoyed this episode of That’s TMI: The Meaningful Insights Podcast.

Contact us:
We’d love to hear from you. Email us anytime at [email protected]
.
If you’d like to be a guest on our podcast, we’d love to hear your story.
Just email us at the same address.

Follow us:
Join the conversation and stay connected through our social media platforms @themackillopinstitute.

Support the show

We hope you enjoyed this episode of That’s TMI: The Meaningful Insights Podcast.

Contact us:
We’d love to hear from you. Email us any time at [email protected]
.
If you’d like to be a guest on our podcast, we’d love to hear your story.
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