In this four-week Deep Dive, we will explore the role of storytelling for shaping our individual identities and our cultures.

Over four weeks, course material will highlight the intersection between the stories we tell and the way we live, work and interact with one another. With some very special guests, we will develop tools to help tell good stories in our personal lives, and reconsider how we're publishing on media platforms to affect culture change.

The guest speakers joining this journey are leading creative mavericks who have pioneered their storytelling craft across music, film, poetry and literature: Padraig O’Tuama, Maya Newell, Lydia Fairhall, Danielle Caruana (Mamma Kin) and Sarah Darmody.

Supported by these extraordinary guests we will explore:

The role of storytelling in shaping our individual identities
Story as a healing force and the role of listening
Learning from the past, taking ownership of the present and imagining the future
Becoming discerning about the stories told in our media and how they affect us
The interplay of story and cultural shifts through history
Courage, vulnerability and whole-hearted storytelling
How to harness the stories we’re telling collectively to shape our future

How has story been used in the past to shape the collective and how can we use stories going forward to affect change? What is our vision for the world and what are the stories that will help us get there? What is the role of storytelling in our lives to help us make sense of our past, feel agency in our present and become the fullest expression of ourselves moving forward?

Join us for this immersive exploration to identify the power of our own stories and realise the opportunity to shape the narrative we’re creating for our future.

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Structure

Storytelling for Change is a four-part online course delivered via Zoom. There will be a 3 hour session held every week for four weeks. There will also be a pre-reading pack sent to participants ahead of the course and follow up resources to continue in your journey when the course concludes.

About our facilitator, Nathan Scolaro:

Nathan is our Head of Storytelling and Editor of Dumbo Feather. He enjoys getting elbow-deep in sentences, pressing and pricking them like a Chinese doctor until the blood is flowing just right. He hails from Western Australia, where he first experienced the joy of putting together a magazine, and now indulges his love of thoughtful, life-giving storytelling by helping bring Dumbo Feather to life once a quarter.

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Guest Speakers:

Pádraig Ó Tuama is a poet and theologian whose work demonstrates an interest in conflict, religion and form. His work has been published in Poetry Ireland, the Harvard Review, Gutter, and has been broadcast widely on RTÉ, BBC, NPR, ABC and RNZ. Born in Cork on the south coast of Ireland in 1975, he has lived in Belfast since 2003. He publishes in both poetry and prose. Feed the Beast, his latest collection, is forthcoming in 2022. Pádraig presents Poetry Unbound from On Being Studios and co-founded the Tenx9 storytelling project with his partner Paul Doran. From 2014-2019 Pádraig led the Corrymeela Community, Ireland’s oldest peace community. He’s a registered mediator with speciality in group conflict; and uses mediation techniques alongside storytelling with groups exploring democracy, conflict, dialogue and argument.
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Maya Newell is a filmmaker, DP and impact producer who has directed award winning short documentaries; Richard (2007), TWO (2009) Growing Up Gayby (2013). Her first feature doc Gayby Baby (2015) made with Charlotte Mars screened at festivals internationally, was selected for GoodPitch² Aus, broke cinema-on-demand records, was nominated for Best Doc at the ACCTAs, won an ATOM award, AWGIE Award and sparked a national conversation when it was banned in NSW by the State Premier and Education Minister from screening in schools. Made in collaboration with those onscreen under Closer Productions, she recently directed acclaimed feature In My Blood It Runs (2019) about ten-year-old Arrernte/Garrwa boy Dujuan Hoosan and his community. It was selected for Goodpitch² Aus, a Sundance Institute Fellowship, nominated for Best Doc and Best Cinematography at the AACTAs, played at over 50 festivals around the world and continues work on an impact campaign led by Dujuan’s family tackling racism, First Nations education reform and juvenile justice reform.
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Lydia Fairhall is a Worimi woman, born on Bundjalung country, now living between the Kulin nations and Gubbi Gubbi country. From a challenging early life to a soulful, creative adult life as a mother, producer, curator and singer/songwriter Lydia is the embodiment of compassionate resilience. As the former Executive Producer and Co CEO of Ilbijerri Theatre Company, one of Australia’s leading companies showcasing the work of First Nations artists, she championed in a new era of maturity for the organisation. She has also worked as Producer for Queensland Performing Arts Centre and Head of Programming for Footscray Community Arts Centre.
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Danielle Caruana, known professionally as Mama Kin, is an Australian singer-songwriter. She has released two albums, Beat and Holler and The Magician's Daughter. She is one of Australia’s most loved musicians and has done a lot with us over the years.
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Sarah Darmody is the prize-winning author of the travel memoir Ticket to Ride – Lost and Found in America (Random House, 2005). She has worked as a journalist and film critic in the USA, and in the film industry in New York. Sarah returned home to write a book called Film: It’s a Contact Sport (New Holland, 2002), and later contributed to the travel story collection Take Me With You (Random House, 2005).

Sarah enjoyed a career in publishing with Penguin, before working for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Her fundraising story collection, Thanks for the Mammaries (Penguin 2009), included contributions from some of the world’s best–loved female authors to raise money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Previously a faculty member at The School of Life Australia, Sarah currently writes, consults, teaches and wonders about a great many things.

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Course Dates & Times:

Part 1: Wednesday 26th May - 5 - 8pm

Part 2: Wednesday 2nd June - 5 - 8pm

Part 3: Wednesday 9th June - 5 - 8pm

Part 4: Wednesday 16th June - 5 - 8pm

Concession Rate:

We offer concession rates to support those who are studying or working for non-profits and B Corporations. Please check out using the concession ticketing option.

Accessibility:
If you require Auslan Interpretation, please contact us at info@smallgiants.com.au at least 2 weeks prior to the course. We will be very happy to arrange this for you.

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The Small Giants Academy

Our vision at Small Giants Academy is for a just and inclusive transition to a global economy that supports human flourishing while living in harmony with the natural world. Through articles, podcasts, conversations and masterclasses that illuminate the work of global thought leaders, Small Giants Academy is leading its communities towards a hopeful future, the Next Economy.