What does peacebuilding mean in the Australian context, and what does it ask of each of us?
Thank you to everyone who joined this Lunch & Learn on community-led peacebuilding, facilitated by Laura Barnes with presentations from Anna Powell and Janine Dureau. Participants joined from Country right across the continent, bringing curiosity, lived experience and a shared commitment to walking this work together.
A journey from self to nation
Anna Powell opened with a personal story of peace-building and shared the learning that CFI has been doing with partners over the last few years on what peace-building means relationally and structurally. Anna also shared insights that came out of the Peace-building Dialogue that CFI and the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute for First Nations Gender Justice co-hosted at ChangeFest 25, including a call from people in the movement for more of these conversations and work through ChangeFest.
Janine Dureau shared the Kimberley Nation Rebuilding Framework, including her Four Levels of Peacebuilding & Healing model — Self, Family, Community and Nation. The model holds that peacebuilding “grows from within and ripples outward,” with each level strengthening the next. That framing became the arc throughout the conversation.
At the self level, participants reflected on the importance of inner work and healing — captured in the phrase “Lore before love,” shared by a participants and credited to Uncle Paul Gordon: that is understanding must come before action, even when intentions are good.
At the community level, curiosity and deep listening emerged as the clearest thread. Participants spoke about “curiosity over judgement, connection over division,” and the Wiradjuri concept of Yindyamarra — to seek to understand, not to be understood.
Looking toward nation and system, the conversation turned to how strengthened relationships create the conditions for cultural, service and systems reform — the foundation for First Nations self-determination through nation rebuilding.
The conversation built on our previous conversation at ChangeFest 25 and opened up important questions including:
- How do we hold ourselves and our organisations accountable for how they work together?
- While the concept resonates, how can it be applied practically?
How can we overcome the structural constraints on the relationship building required for peacebuilding?
Our small-group discussions were captured on a shared Miro board, which remains open as a living space for reflection. You’re invited to revisit the ideas shared during the session and continue adding your own questions and thoughts. See board here.
We closed by watching a video from the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute hosted Peacebuilding Co-design camp in the Kimberley which Janine and Anna were part of, highlighting what peace-building means to First Nations women across the continent.
Frameworks, tools and resources referenced
- CFI Peace-building Reflection Piece
- KROC Institute for International Peace Studies – Strategic Peacebuilding
- Three Leadership Gardens framework
- Wiyi Yani Thangani Institute – Peacebuilding Co-Design Camp – video and Camp Report.
Where to next
This conversation is just the beginning. Community-led peacebuilding doesn’t end with one conversation. Here are three immediate actions you can all take to be part of next steps:
- Continue the conversation: Visit the Miro board from our session here – add questions, ideas, thoughts – it all helps shape the shared thinking.
- Join the Action Group: Register your interest in the Community-led Peacebuilding Action Group. In the next few months, we’ll be bringing this group together to co-develop the ChangeFest learning and influencing agenda for community-led peacebuilding.
- Help build the shared resource library: Explore the peace-building action area on the ChangeFest Community Platform and importantly add resources that you know of by adding them here or email hello@changefest.com.au
Also - keep an eye out for upcoming Lunch & Learn sessions showcasing stories of peacebuilding and exciting ChangeFest27 news coming your way!
Deep thanks to everyone who brought their stories, questions and courage to this session. Community-led peacebuilding is lifelong, intergenerational work, and we're grateful to be walking this journey together - from self to nation.
