Articles and Insights
Do we really want "strong leadership"?
"Strong leadership" might be the most overused compliment in public life. It's also rarely examined. This short piece explores why our narrow idea of strength (certainty, command, refusal to look rattled) might be doing more harm than we realise, and why the problem isn't just leaders themselves. This article draws on emerging research, including PhD work by our Head of Operations and Principal Consultant (Andrew Wills), and current events to explore emerging ideas about what’s shaping public institutions.
2026: Holding purpose in a hardening political climate
Social purpose leaders feeling the weight of 2026 are not alone. With rising public accountability, major reforms landing, and global signals that social service issues are becoming topical in the political landscape, leadership is getting harder - but also more important than ever. In this piece we offer a grounded, optimistic lens that explores what 2026 demands - the “inside work” that makes reform survivable. Plus we offer three questions to help you focus, prioritise and lead with confidence when accountability is high.
Social Sector in 2025: A Year of Reform, Reckoning and Renewal
2025 brought both pressure and progress across aged care, disability, and social services - reshaping the social sector in profound ways. From the new Aged Care Act to shifts in disability policy and workforce expectations, organisations have navigated change at every level.
In our wrap-up of the year, we reflect on these, the challenges and cultural shifts that shaped the sector, and what they mean for leaders preparing for 2026. Amid uncertainty, one thing is clear: the opportunity to build stronger, more values-aligned organisations has never been greater.
Will 2026 take the sector beyond the challenges reform, and provide opportunities for real transformation?
Reflecting on leadership: When change initiatives fail
Change can be complex. Not just the change itself but the speed and frequency of change, particularly in the disability and social sector (such as NDIS and aged care). When you overlay the fatigue, burnout and frustration with the constant pace of change, it is a recipe for things to go wrong. Read our top tips for fostering a positive change experience, and for making change stick.