What happens when the people closest to a problem help create the solution?

For decades, top-down, one-size-fits-all approaches have failed to meet the needs of diverse communities across Australia. Disadvantage remains entrenched – not because communities lack solutions, but because they’re rarely asked what they need.

Across Australia, that is changing. Communities are bringing together local leaders, government, service providers, and philanthropists to design and fund solutions that actually work over the long term.

Making Place Matter is a podcast from Partnerships for Local Action and Community Empowerment (PLACE), a national organisation that champions community-led approaches to social and economic challenges.

This season, Who Decides, is all about shared decision making - a foundation of place-based work. You'll hear what that process really looks like, what gets in the way, and what becomes possible when communities are genuinely at the table.

Keep up to date with Making Place Matter: Who Decides by following PLACE on LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

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Making Place Matter is a podcast from PLACE, produced by Deadset Studios.

PLACE acknowledges Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to lands, waters skies, and communities. We pay our deepest respects to Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and the land on which this show was made.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For too long, decisions about communities have been made without them. Shared decision making offers a different way – where communities aren’t just consulted, but are empowered to shape the services and systems affecting their lives.

You will hear from the residents of Millgrove in regional Victoria, who decided to stop waiting for change and start leading it. In this episode, they share their process for shared decision making, and how it has transformed their community.

Partnerships for Local Action and Community Empowerment has been established to help communities like Millgrove, and CEO Luke Craven explains why shared decision-making matters.

To learn more, explore our guide to shared decision-making, 'Sharing the power to make change.'

Keep up to date with Making Place Matter: Who Decides by following PLACE on LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

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Making Place Matter is a podcast from PLACE, produced by Deadset Studios.

This episode was produced by Ellen Leabeater with sound design by Craig Schuftan. The Executive Producer is Kellie Riordan. Ann Chesterman is the Production Manager.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some of the most complex challenges facing communities today don’t sit neatly within one organisation, one sector, or one level of government. Solving those problems requires something that doesn’t come easily: sharing power.

Do what does sharing power looks like in practice and why is it so important?

“For philanthropists, it’s going in with that strengths and asset focus, and understanding what’s already in place. Philanthropy needs to think: what more can I bring?” says Penny Dakin, Executive Director Communities at Minderoo Foundation.

It might be new ground for organisations, but the benefits of sharing power are profound.

Keep up to date with Making Place Matter: Who Decides by following PLACE on LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

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Making Place Matter: Who Decides is a podcast from PLACE, produced by Deadset Studios.

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the land on which this show was made.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.