We are a group of passionate locals who want to improve our democracy. We feel that our voices are not being heard and as a result we, as a society, are not reaching our potential. We are a non-partisan community group. We are not a political party. We want to engage people in the issues that affect us all and create a voice that results in representation that truly expresses who we are in Warringah.
These values guide our actions and decisions. These are the means to ensure our actions are transparent and honest.
Welcome to Voices of Warringah
Many people in the electorate of Warringah are disheartened with the current political process and what it says about our democracy.
Rather than sliding into despair, we believe that each one of us can play a constructive role in lifting standards of behaviour, focusing on ideas and policies and strengthening the way we are represented.
The Voices of Warringah committee was set up by a group of people in Warringah to provide a simple and effective process by which people across the electorate can give voice – where their interests, concerns and ideas are heard, respected and taken up by candidates presenting for election.
Such a process will help to create an electorate with a range of strong and competitive candidates; and develop leadership with vision that truly represents and delivers for the people of Warringah.
We are a non-partisan group. We’re interested in getting better outcomes from our democracy, and representation that reflects who we are and what is important to us.
Kitchen Table Conversations are simple and powerful – helping people discuss what really matters in a comfortable environment. Hosts (who are self-selecting) invite small groups to have conversations based on focused themes. Participants might be friends, neighbours, family, workmates or people known from community networks. The conversations are usually shaped around starter questions.
Everyone is welcome to participate. But the key to this happening is a number of people stepping forward and agreeing to host a ‘kitchen table conversation’. These people then bring together small groups of up to 9 others, but can be fewer. These might be friends, neighbours, family, workmates, or people they know from community networks. They meet around the kitchen table, their workplace, or wherever is easiest for them. The only proviso is the place needs to be quiet enough for everyone to be heard easily.
The hosts facilitate a conversation for a couple of hours focused on the three themes included in this pack. Participants’ ideas and thoughts will be collated by the hosts and forwarded to the Voices of Warringah team for processing and integrating with all the other conversations throughout the electorate.
The Steps to Hosting a Kitchen Table Conversation
Invite participants to register on the website if they are interested in becoming involved in our movement
Handy Tips for Hosting the Kitchen Table Conversation
Some Simple and Effective Ground Rules for Running the Meeting
Meetings full of people with good intent can still come unstuck. A simple and balanced set of ground rules will go a long way to achieving a productive meeting.
It is important the host establishes the ground rules as soon as introductions are over. The following five such rules are tried and well-tested:
It is important that people at the meetings are provided with the chance to hear these suggested ground rules; and that they indicate their willingness to adhere to them during the course of the discussion. If necessary, the host can draw people’s attention back to them all or some in particular.
Voices of Warringah acknowledge the The Victorian Women’s Trust and Voices for Indi in creating and refining the Kitchen Table Conversation model.
3/33 North Head Scenic Drive,
NSW, 2095