Time to make new stuff!!

Posted by Carolyn Lockett on 20 August 2010 | 0 Comments

 

After weeks and weeks of thinking, looking, writing and researching we are now ready to co-create possibilities with and for families.  Our story has changed many times along the way, which has taken some time for me to get used to. However, every iteration is a little better than the last and takes us one step closer to enabling South Australian families the opportunity to thrive.  So now we’ve finished the “Look” phase what does thriving actually mean? Initially we were thinking that this may be some amazing end point or goal families would reach, but this now seems less important.  Obviously we want families to “get good stuff” but what’s more important is how they go about getting it and behaviours, connections and learning’s they pick up along they way.

So how do we create these opportunities for learning, connection and experience?  My old brain would tell me to refer them to a playgroup, or a mothers group, counselling, psychologist – my new brain tells me that this is only one piece of the puzzle.  With families we hope to create a range of experiences for mums, dads, grandparents, carers, brothers, sisters, men, women and most importantly – families!  Experiences that challenge a person’s daily routine, or lack of, that challenge a person’s comfort zone and enables them to develop a vision for their future and their families future.

This week our creative hats are on!  We’ve been to the zoo, the bookshop, toyshops, played games, brainstormed ideas, all to discover new ways to provoke new thinking and possibilities.  In conjunction with this we are also dedicated to understanding a day in the life of practitioners.  It's vital that what ever we create can be grounded, integrated or supported by services such as Families SA, City Councils and Non Government Agencies.  It is imperative that practitioners are also immersed in an environment that promotes thriving.  So with a relatively rigid system, restricted budgets and constant crisis how can this happen?  When I find out I’ll be sure to let you know.  But I do know that we need to look at the concept of ‘balance’ for families and practitioners – exposure to lots of things, people, environments and the knowledge to then transfer that knowledge into everyday life.

Tomorrow we start the “co-creation” phase, in homes with families!  Stay tuned for the next update.