Innovate for Impact

Dan Bentley and Tracey Newman

A podcast for leaders in the social sector who want to deliver more impact through innovation. Each week we deliver tips on how you can be more innovative and speak to leaders from across the sector to share best practice.

  1. 05/11/2025

    Ep #155 - Bryony Tucker & Abi Cooper - How batyr meaningfully include lived experience in everything they do

    In this episode, Tracey Newman and Dan Bentley speak with Bryony Tucker, the COO and Abi Cooer, the Youth Advocacy Lead at Batyr. This discussion explores how their organisation meaningfully incorporates young people's lived experiences into every aspect of their mental health work, from organisational decision-making to program design. They share practical strategies for creating safe spaces, sharing power, and ensuring that young people's voices are not just heard, but actively shape the organisation's mission and approach. Here is a taste of what Tracey and Dan cover in the conversation: Batyr's mission to create mentally healthy lives for young peopleStrategies for incorporating lived experience into organisational processesImportance of creating safe spaces for young people's voicesApproaches to systems reform and youth-led advocacyPeer-led learning and organisational cultureBatyr focuses on addressing mental health stigma through storytelling and educationThe organisation has a dedicated team and roles for lived experience advocacyKey strategies include: National Youth Advisory Group, Young people on the board of directors, Continuous consultation with young people, Peer-to-peer learning initiativesCreating safe spaces involves sharing power and actively listening to young peopleLinks from the episode: Batyr website: Click hereBatyr LinkedIn: Click hereBatyr Facebook: Click hereBatyr Instagram: Click hereBatyr TikTok: Click hereBatyr X: Click hereBatyr Bluesky: Click hereBatyr YouTube: Click hereIf people want to get involved in our latest fundraising campaign they can jump over to Stigma Free Streamers Instagram, which features our latest digital gaming campaign: Click hereThe Impacto Consulting website: Click hereImpacto Consulting on LinkedIn: Click hereInnovate for Impact Workshop: Click here

    36 min
  2. 04/27/2025

    Ep #154 - Rohan Feegrade: How Lutheran Care’s Bold Vision is Delivering Results

    In this episode, Tracey Newman and Dan Bentley speak with Rohan Feegrade, the CEO at Lutheran Care. This discussion explores the organisation's innovative approach to social services, highlighting their strategic focus on creating systemic change through collaborative partnerships and holistic support across child protection, homelessness, and allied health services. They also discuss about the Lutheran Care's award-winning initiatives, such as the "Be the Village" foster care program and the Toward Home Homelessness Alliance, which demonstrate their commitment to addressing community vulnerabilities by amplifying the voices of those most in need. Here is a taste of what Tracey and Dan cover in the conversation: Lutheran Care won the South Australian Not-for-Profit of the Year awardDeveloped a strategic plan focused on four key pillars: Best for People, Growth for Impact, Sustainability, and Reputational GrowthLaunched the "Be the Village" foster care campaign, co-designed with lived experienceLeads the Toward Home Homelessness Alliance, supporting 5,500 people annuallyImplemented the Adelaide Zero Project, housing 1,200 people since 2018Expanded Allied Health services, including psychology and speech pathologyCommitted to advocacy and systemic change in child protection and homelessnessFoster care program with dedicated Aboriginal cultural workersHomelessness alliance with innovative service modelAllied Health services under the "Better Self" brandEmergency relief services supporting 6,000-7,000 people annuallyLinks from the episode: Lutheran Care website: Click hereLutheran Care LinkedIn: Click hereLutheran Care YouTube: Click here2025 Gala Dinner link: Click hereElcies Thrift Stores Facebook: Click hereLearn more about how you can help: Click hereRead more about the 2024 Not for Profit of the Year Award: Click hereRead more about the AMI national marketing award finalist: Click hereThe Impacto Consulting website: Click hereImpacto Consulting on LinkedIn: Click hereInnovate for Impact Workshop: Click here

    39 min
  3. 01/26/2025

    Ep #153 - Lucas Patchett: How Orange Sky Laundry Empowers Their People To Continuously Improve Their Service Delivery

    In this episode, Tracey Newman and Dan Bentley speak with Lucas Patchett, the CEO at Orange Sky Laundry. This discussion explores how Orange Sky Laundry, a non-profit organisation that provides free laundry and shower services to people experiencing homelessness, has empowered its people to continuously innovate and adapt to meet the evolving needs of the communities they serve. Lucas also highlights Orange Sky's culture of giving things a try, celebrating both big and small innovations, and maintaining a focus on connection and community impact, even as the organisation has grown significantly over the past 10 years. Here is a taste of what Tracey and Dan cover in the conversation: Origins of Orange Sky Laundry and how it has grown to provide services across Australia and New Zealand.The discussion focuses on the importance of connection and community over just providing laundry services.Lucas explains how Orange Sky Laundry has embedded a culture of innovation, where people are empowered to try new ideas and learn from failures.Discuss the challenges of scaling and maintaining a culture of innovation as the organisation grows, and shares examples of how they have adapted to changing community needs.Lucas shares the story of how Orange Sky Laundry innovated to use solar power for drying clothes, significantly improving the efficiency and sustainability of their operations.Highlights the importance of connection and listening, sharing a personal story that exemplifies the meaningful impact of their work.The organisation has mechanisms in place to celebrate both big and small innovations, helping to build a culture of continuous improvement.Links from the episode: Orange Sky Laundry Australia: Click hereOrange Sky Laundry New Zealand: Click hereInnovate For Impact Workshop: Click hereThe Impacto Consulting website: Click hereImpacto Consulting on LinkedIn: Click here

    30 min
  4. 01/12/2025

    Ep #152 - Tony Wai - How Third Age Health's big goal has empowered their people to continuously improve

    In this episode, Tracey Newman and Dan Bentley speak with Tony Wai, the CEO at Third Age Health. The discussion explores on how Third Age Health, a medical provider in New Zealand, has been able to achieve significant growth and improvements in their aged care services. It also covers Third Age Health's focus on providing consistent, high-quality care, implementing Kaizen methodology, leveraging digital systems, and addressing workforce challenges - all with the goal of better supporting older people in their care. Here is a taste of what Tracey and Dan cover in the conversation: Tony discusses his vision to improve aged care services when he joined Third Age Health and the initial challenges the organisation was facing.Explains the company's focus on providing consistent, high-quality care for older people in various living situations.Describes how the organisation adopted the Kaizen methodology to drive incremental improvements and changes.Shares how the implementation of digital systems helped reduce administrative burdens and improve staff retention.Acknowledges the challenges of workforce shortages and discusses the company's approach to navigating these issues.Emphasizes the importance of building trust with staff and clients by actively listening and responding to feedback.Reflects on the successes and challenges of the past few years and shares the company's future plans, including potential expansion to Australia.Links from the episode: Third Age Health Website: Click hereThird Age Health LinkedIn: Click hereInnovate For Impact Workshop: Click hereThe Impacto Consulting website: Click hereImpacto Consulting on LinkedIn: Click here

    36 min
  5. 12/08/2024

    Ep #151 - Niki Rittinghausen & Magda Ojeda Amplifying Diverse Voices in Aged Care

    In this episode, Tracey Newman and Dan Bentley speak with Niki Rittinghausen and Magda Ojeda from Center for Cultural Diversity in Aging. The discussion explores on how they amplify the voices of diverse seniors in the aged care system. Through collaborative community engagement, they were able to capture valuable insights and recommendations to improve cultural inclusivity and accessibility in aged care services. Here is a taste of what Tracey and Dan cover in the conversation: Explain the goal of the project to ensure diverse seniors' voices are heard in the aged care reform process.The team leveraged partnerships with various community organisations to reach and engage multicultural senior communities.The consultations yielded positive outcomes, including seniors gaining new insights and the valuable contribution of an interpreter.Genuine community engagement and strategic use of resources, such as translators, were key to the success of the project.The report outlines five key recommendations to enhance culturally appropriate care, expand language services, and improve access to information and support.The team discusses the importance of an intersectional approach and the challenges faced by multicultural seniors, such as language barriers and social isolation.Links from the episode: Center for Cultural Diversity in Aging website: Click hereInnovate For Impact Workshop: Click hereThe Impacto Consulting website: Click hereImpacto Consulting on LinkedIn: Click here

    42 min
  6. 11/24/2024

    Ep #150 - Charli English: How Oaktree are creating the future they want to create

    In this episode, Tracey Newman and Dan Bentley speak with Charli English, the CEO of Oaktree. The discussion explores how the youth-led organisation Oaktree is creating the future they want to see. They are taking a decolonial approach to funding grassroots youth-led initiatives across the Asia Pacific, and co-creating their strategy with young people and partners to challenge perceptions about youth leadership in the development sector. Here is a taste of what Tracey and Dan cover in the conversation: Oaktree supports grassroots youth-led organisations across the Asia Pacific through their Oaktree Youth Solidarity FundThey have made a bold decision to take a decolonial approach to their funding, providing unrestricted grants to partners rather than tying the funding to specific projectsThis allows the grassroots organisations to use the funds in the way that best meets their needs, whether that's registering the organisation, paying staff salaries, or implementing their programsOaktree has also co-created their organisational strategy with young people and their partners to ensure it is truly youth-led and responsive to local needsThey are working to change perceptions about young people's capabilities and leadership in the development sectorLinks from the episode: Oaktree: Click hereInnovate For Impact Workshop: Click hereThe Impacto Consulting website: Click hereImpacto Consulting on LinkedIn: Click here

    40 min
  7. 10/27/2024

    Ep #149 - Allison Wainwright: How Family Life use client-centricity and place based approaches to deliver better outcomes

    In this episode, Tracey Newman and Dan Bentley speak with Allison Wainwright, the CEO of Family Life. The discussion explores the innovative, community-centered approaches of Family Life's strategic focus on community listening, designing community-driven solutions, empowering local leaders, and collaborating with other place-based organisations to drive systemic change. Here is a taste of what Tracey and Dan cover in the conversation: Family Life focusing on supporting families and building community networks and has a deep interest in working with children and helping them thrive.Talks about the common anxiety people have about community support for vulnerable individuals and the importance of practical ways to create community models of support.Highlights the importance of community abundance and the need to shift from a scarcity mindset to recognising community solutions.Discuss the importance of a social contract with the community and embedding community listening in strategic planning.Family Life has a formal community listening program, including community listening tours to understand the impacts of events like COVID-19.Explains the methodology of gathering data and hosting events to sense-make community challenges and strengths.Family Life uses a backbone function to help drive community solution plans and connect people and organisations.Creating Capable Leaders program, which helps community members develop the skills and confidence to make a difference and Young Leaders for Change Program, which focuses on upskilling young people in community leadership.Family Life uses technology-based tools like Map Your World to help community members map and address local issues.Allison highlights the need to move away from competition and work together to support community better.Allison introduces Family Life's innovation pillars, which include community activation, addressing loneliness and social isolation, and supporting families.Emphasises the importance of a curious lens and asking "I wonder" questions to drive innovation and community-centered work.Links from the episode: Family Life: Click hereAllison Wainwright LinkedIn: Click hereInnovate For Impact Workshop: Click hereThe Impacto Consulting website: Click hereImpacto Consulting on LinkedIn: Click here

    34 min

About

A podcast for leaders in the social sector who want to deliver more impact through innovation. Each week we deliver tips on how you can be more innovative and speak to leaders from across the sector to share best practice.