Ep #149 - Allison Wainwright: How Family Life use client-centricity and place based approaches to deliver better outcomes

Innovate for Impact

In this episode, Tracey Newman and Dan Bentley speak with Allison Wainwright, the CEO of Family Life.
The discussion explores the innovative, community-centered approaches of Family Life's strategic focus on community listening, designing community-driven solutions, empowering local leaders, and collaborating with other place-based organisations to drive systemic change.

Here is a taste of what Tracey and Dan cover in the conversation:

• Family Life focusing on supporting families and building community networks and has a deep interest in working with children and helping them thrive.
• Talks about the common anxiety people have about community support for vulnerable individuals and the importance of practical ways to create community models of support.
• Highlights the importance of community abundance and the need to shift from a scarcity mindset to recognising community solutions.
• Discuss the importance of a social contract with the community and embedding community listening in strategic planning.
• Family Life has a formal community listening program, including community listening tours to understand the impacts of events like COVID-19.
• Explains the methodology of gathering data and hosting events to sense-make community challenges and strengths.
• Family Life uses a backbone function to help drive community solution plans and connect people and organisations.
• Creating Capable Leaders program, which helps community members develop the skills and confidence to make a difference and Young Leaders for Change Program, which focuses on upskilling young people in community leadership.
• Family Life uses technology-based tools like Map Your World to help community members map and address local issues.
• Allison highlights the need to move away from competition and work together to support community better.
• Allison introduces Family Life's innovation pillars, which include community activation, addressing loneliness and social isolation, and supporting families.
• Emphasises the importance of a curious lens and asking "I wonder" questions to drive innovation and community-centered work.

Links from the episode:

• Family Life: Click here
• Allison Wainwright LinkedIn: Click here
• Innovate For Impact Workshop: Click here
• The Impacto Consulting website: Click here
• Impacto Consulting on LinkedIn: Click here