How well do you really know Australia?

As a Performance Coach and Talent Manager for Campbell Page, I experienced one of the most significant growth periods of my life. My travels suddenly took me through vast swathes of this wonderful country - yet far from the tourist routes. From Warwick to Moruya, Moe to Elizabeth (and 54 other places, if we're counting ✈ ) I watched dedicated managers trying to make a difference in their local communities.

Now, 'Employment Services' and the related government policies are under A LOT of scrutiny; and in my informed yet admittedly dated opinion...very rightfully so....

So when I did meet humble yet fiercely resolved local leaders, in places that could easily be written off as "down and out", genuinely helping jobseekers and employers connect and grow together...honestly, it was life changing. Based on what I've seen in my career so far, it sets the benchmark for "grit."

You might be curious...what exactly does #performance mean in this context? The short answer: the manager and their team really knowing their community and region.

The managers who had happy and capable teams that met the goals obliged of them by management types like me, were the ones who (often quite literally) walked the extra miles to make authentic connections in their community.

Most critically, after successfully role-modelling, these managers empowered and rewarded their team to do the same.

(The longer answer on performance in our organisational context, is fascinating too; DM me and I can talk you through the 'performance framework' we co-created and built to give visibility from 'floor to boardroom')

And hence, this work by SGS Economics and Planning with a full stack ranking on #wellbeing by suburb in Australia, resulted in me intensely analysing the interactive graph and retracing meaningful journeys, expensed long ago.

Click around and you'll very quickly see the tapestry of varying fortune and fairness, in our lucky country. The definition of wellbeing is a multi-faceted one, which is what makes interesting reading.

Living in City of Victor Harbor myself, some of the #data I knew...other aspects properly startled me. I've now distracted myself with several post it notes of questions for the Regional Development Australia Adelaide Hills Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island Incorporated.

The policy implications and improvement opportunities that sit behind all this, are far beyond the scope of this nostalgic post - though I will pester my Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) colleagues at Apricot about them!

Let's just say a simple thank you, to all those who are truly making a difference in Regional Australia. It ain't easy, but we see you. #thankyou