Founding Director’s Message
“It is a gift to lead and grow SIP and to motivate change in a relational and connected style. I believe that the SIP way of working will nourish creative, contextual and deep impacts for individuals and communities and ultimately co-contribute to the growth of vibrant and hopeful communities where all people have opportunity to thrive.”
-Belinda Clarke, Founding Director
SIP uses collaboration and co-creation to drive improved individual and community wellbeing. We use the term ‘co-creation’ to describe what we do because we are making things happen together through cooperation across previously separated areas of activity.
Wellbeing and change at the community level is complex. To address these complexities, SIP works across 7 interconnected domains – Education, Housing, Safety, Economics, Health, Spirituality and Community Engagement. SIP works across these domains in specific place and time. Deep impact for SIP is measured by positive social and environmental changes in the community.
SIP is focused on co-creating with partners to:
- Identify gaps and barriers to wellbeing, across the seven domains.
- Identify opportunities and assets, across the seven domains to strengthen and amplify.
- Connect, link and support individuals and groups on identified positive initiatives.
- Co-create vibrant responses where gaps and barriers exist.
- Challenge and disrupt current ways of doing things if they are not effective.
- Learn by sharing experiences.
- Advocate for policy and structural change to enhance positive social impact.
- Share and learn with others to improve wellbeing in other communities, sectors and systems.
SIP represents a paradigm shift from focusing on separate program approaches to recognising that the impact of activities and initiatives are interdependent and together contribute to social change that will address persistent and entrenched disadvantage. The SIP approach to individual and community wellbeing is holistic, reflecting the individual needs of people and communities, not systems. This people-centred approach is inspired by Jesus and grounded in Catholic social teaching which values each person’s dignity and worth.
SIP aims to both amplify existing assets and opportunities through more effective linkages, as well as to co-create new innovations and disruptions that drive positive change.
All members of the community are part of SIP, however priority is given to children and young people (0-24 years) in recognition that this group faces unprecedented uncertainty and risk, as well as holding the greatest potential.
SIP is a place-based way of working. We also have learnings that are transferrable. It is our hope that what we learn and is evidenced through our SIP way of working can be shared to other communities, sectors and systems.
