Groupwork Blog
Whether you want to improve your team’s communication, leadership, collaboration, or strategic planning, read the latest thoughts and strategies from our experienced facilitators.
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Facilitation
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Leadership
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Collaboration
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Strategic planning
Facilitation, Democracy, and Climate Action: Nick Willis on Building Power Through Community
Rising Tide volunteer facilitator Nick Willis reflects on how Groupwork Centre’s facilitation training shaped his organising, deepened community care, and strengthened one of Australia’s most inspiring climate movements.
Two Days, Twenty Two People, and One Big Learning Curve
Albi recounts his experience in Groupwork Centre’s immersive Facilitation Training, where circle work, micro-skills, and heartfelt facilitation revealed the depth and humanity behind the craft.
Janet Rice Reflects on Collaboration in Politics at Stories from the Field
Former Senator Janet Rice shared how collaboration, consensus, and good facilitation can make politics – and any group – work better together.
Working in a new country: what does it feel like?
“What is it like to work in a different country?” I’ve always wondered that since I was a kid.
Facilitators have feelings too!
Impartiality. Facilitators hear that word and - usually - know that it’s one of the keys in your job when working with groups; an independent voice, someone without bias or any skin in the game who can help a group do great work together. But what can we do about it?
Why we need to stand by each other in these ‘times we are in’
We are living at a time where the rush to judge, cancel and isolate each other is being supercharged through the algorithms of social media.
Group agreements: permission to be different
In this article, Steve reflects on his many years as a facilitator and explains why he sees the process of creating group agreements as the most important cornerstone for any group wanting to do meaningful work together.
Newsroom principles served me well
Jim Buckell muses on how his background as a journalist influenced his approach to group work
A book about self-awareness is coming
Jim Buckell foreshadows a major work on the Community of Selves and how you can contribute.
How to run effective team meetings and project meetings?
Is your project or team stuck? Virginia Gough shares tips on how to run effective team meetings and how to get past ‘stuckness’.
All groups need brain breaks
A common trap for many of us who lead or facilitate groups is to become so fixated on getting through the agenda, and so enthralled in talking about a topic, that we forget to read the room and check how engaged people are.
A growth spurt at Groupwork
And so we are truly excited to be able to officially welcome some new faces to Groupwork Centre in 2025. All have been at one time, participants of our long facilitation course, stretching right back to 2001. Each of them brings unique experience, ideas and perspectives with them
Inclusive and equitable group spaces need nurturing
As facilitators, we play a vital role in fostering inclusive environments where all participants feel empowered to contribute in ways that are comfortable and meaningful for them. Inclusion means ensuring that everyone—regardless of their background, ethnicity, identity, sexuality, role, status, or abilities—feels heard, seen, and valued.
Hold your values close
Inspired by Brené Brown, Jim Buckell dug deep to explore his values. He found a quick way to identify his key values and call them up when needed