Projects

Here are some of my favourite client projects...

Resource Guides

Spreading knowledge to strengthen the circular economy.

Sustainability Victoria’s community circular economy guides. 

Sustainability Victoria empowers Victorians to design their own circular future. On behalf of the state government, the organisation partners across industry and the community with the intent of reducing or stopping waste before it starts, in every part of the system.

As part of this strategy, Sustainability Victoria’s Community Solutions team developed a series of community circular economy guides to help community-based groups who are developing new circular economy initiatives.

The seven guides cover different types of community-based circular economy initiatives including Repair Hubs/Cafes, Bicycle repair/recyclers, Food rescue and distribution, Food waste organics/composting, Hard waste recovery, Textile Waste and Special waste streams.

These guides build emerging circular economy community leaders’ capacity to turn their technical skills and business acumen into an engaging business that changes consumption systems, as well as individual habits.

The information in the guides assumes a foundational knowledge of circular economy principles and helps the community leaders to apply that knowledge to an impactful business model.

The documents draw on the expertise and experience of the Sustainability Victoria team and their community based focus groups. Focus group representatives generously shared their practical knowledge and learnings gained from managing successful community-based initiatives.

The guides offer a logical, step-by-step approach with clear and helpful tips that highlight the opportunities, recommended key skills, and the challenges that require careful consideration. They also pose questions which encourage the reader to find solutions that match their organisational needs and resources, as well as community context.

Services: Communications strategy consultation, copywriting and proofing.

Reports

Celebrating diverse stories of sustainable impact.

Monash Sustainable Development Institute (MSDI)'s annual report demonstrates the breadth, complexity and impact of the sustainable development institute’s work. The stories in the report illustrate the organisation’s collaborative approach to create long-term and systemic change.

The annual report is an opportunity to inspire its varied audiences to participate in sustainable development. It is also a celebration of the many different voices who partner with MSDI in pursuit of its bold vision.

MSDI’s vision is to advance the wellbeing of people and the planet now and for future generations. The organisation works toward their vision by contributing to the UN’s global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). MSDI’s work engages with all levels of society from government, to industry, academia and the community to find real solutions to complex issues.

The annual report marks the year’s progression to achieve long term change – a challenge for any organisation measuring sustainable impact. And the annual report demonstrates how the institute’s diverse activities align with its ambitious strategy and vision.

The text based stories are concise descriptions of selected projects with links for further exploration. The stories reveal what the projects achieved, as well as why that is important.

As a web-based report, it takes advantage of the ability to tell stories through video content. The videos showcase different voices involved in creating the change, including project partners, graduates and community members. Each voice represents the organisation’s collaborative approach and adds to MSDI’s rich story.

Services: Research, copywriting and video production

Websites

Empowering children through sound art, storytelling and play.

Between Footsteps is a playful sound art experience for children that empowers them to tell their stories and connect with their world.

The website is a critical part of the project, as it performs many important functions. It is an instruction manual that teaches people how to use Between Footsteps. It is a place where they can access key tools; the music and activity sheets. And it acts as a community hub where people can share their creative responses. 

Between Footsteps is a sophisticated concept that needs to be expressed simply. And the website is used by children and their families. It needs to be informative, engaging and easy to use. Therefore the website uses a playful and inclusive tone to encourage its key audience, and it is structured along a straight, scrolling path to walk the reader clearly through the idea of Between Footsteps.  

So how does the sound art experience work? Between Footsteps composes original music in response to a remarkable and interesting space like an exhibition, a sculpture park, a garden or any other beautiful location. Children listen to this music, choosing their tracks as they move through the landscape. This self-guided activity sparks children’s imaginations and inspires endless games, artworks, storytelling and performances. Activity sheets can help them further express their creativity.  

The project is a partnership between composer/percussionist Elissa Goodrich and myself as the writer/dramaturg. There are expert contributions from childhood development specialist Dr. R.A. Goodrich, technical consultant Adrian Bruch, and musicians Elliot Folvig and Daniel Farrugia. 

An example of Between Footsteps can currently be experienced at Heide Museum of Modern Art, Bulleen, Melbourne.

Services: Concept development, Research, Copywriting, and Website development. 

Blog articles

Bringing the best renewable energy ideas to life.

Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA)’s blog is a powerful tool that helps the agency engage its diverse audiences and achieve its overall purpose. ARENA’s purpose is to accelerate Australia’s shift to an affordable and reliable renewable energy future.

The blog is a useful way to share information, discuss ideas and inspire further innovation. It informs Australia about the interesting renewable energy projects, initiatives and advancements that the agency is supporting. The blog also discusses the questions, challenges and potential solutions that are relevant in our current renewable energy landscape.

There is a variety of contributors who write about a number of different topics. Therefore there is a range of voices and styles to interest ARENA’s different audiences.

The blog articles can be thoughtful, conversational and informal by using language that is playful, plain-spoken and interesting. Articles can also employ more direct, informative and specialised language to explain clearly the technical, political and fast changing world of renewable energy.

A selection of my ARENA blog articles: 
Perfect conditions in a former no-go area
From Elvis to the moon and the stars; a small town’s solar powered adventure
Big business beckons for locals
Deputy PM breaks ground on the (solar) farm

Services: Research and Copywriting