The workshops are effective because…
- Content is tailored to local issues
- Generic course outline defines main issues/messages for Council across LGA
- detailed content and issues specific to catchment and participants’ properties tailored for each course
- Builds on other works in the catchment and shows participants that their actions can be complementary to other programs in the catchment
- Builds group dynamic and shared goals; participants have some common denominator which relates to outcomes we’re trying to achieve. In our case it was, ‘we live in the same small catchment’.
- Behavioural changes modelled in the course are demonstrated to have real environmental benefits
- Learning based on receiving/sharing information among ‘peers’
- presenters also participate as part of group and are local residents and familiar with catchment
- the participants are recognised by us as local ‘experts’ and are encouraged to contribute
- ‘Can do' approach — outline of theory and issues followed by practical advice to provide skills (explanation and demonstration) and tools (compost bin, plants, detergent rating sheet) to achieve positive outcomes/ build confidence that they can do it.
- Team dynamic promotes a shared enthusiasm for course
- Reinforcement to encourage change — skills and knowledge from course applied to property plans and reinforced by property site visits to encourage application to their properties and situations
The Seven Doors Model: elements of a behaviour change program, © Les Robinson Nov 2007. This theoretical approach captures what we do in Mountain Living courses. The pathways to behavioural change and learning are mirrored in the tenets of Mountain Living courses.