The reason most rural committee meetings go nowhere. And the small changes that can fix it.
A free written guide plus a 15-minute training video from Julia Spicer OAM. Built for rural Australians on boards, committees and community groups.
As featured in
Rural leaders who have been through Julia's governance and group effectiveness training.
Industry agnostic, geography specific. Tied to place, not sector.
Julia Spicer OAM, AICD graduate, former Deputy Chair of Australia's Economic Accelerator and Goondiwindi Regional Councillor.
The pattern
Sound familiar?
Across rural Australia we hear the same stories from committees, boards and community groups.
- Meetings that decide nothing. The same item comes back for six months.
- Ten-page reports dropped on the table with no time to read.
- The same three or four people doing all the work. Everyone else means well but never gets given a job.
- People who quietly drift away because the meetings wear them down.
- Decisions that get made but never followed up. Nobody remembers who was doing what.
- Conversations that get personal when they should be about the group.
- New members who never quite know what their role is.
If any of that sounds like your last meeting, you're not alone. The pattern is common. And it's fixable.
Nearly 40% of Australians live outside major cities. But the boards, committees and leadership tables that shape policy, funding and strategy are still dominated by metro voices. Not because rural leaders aren't capable, but because the system hasn't given them the same preparation.
What you get
What you get when you sign up
Two assets that work together. Read the guide in ten minutes. Watch the training video in fifteen. Both together fit in a lunch break.
The Three Ds framework
A short written guide, ten minutes to read. Something you can print and take to your next meeting.
15-minute training video
Julia Spicer OAM walks through each of the three Ds in depth, with examples from rural committees she has worked with over 25 years.
Practical changes to try
Simple shifts you can try at your next meeting. Small changes that change how your group works together.
Who it's for
Who this is for
For anyone on a rural committee, board or community group who wants their meetings to run better and their group to work better together.
No formal governance training required. No years on a board needed. If you've been in a meeting that went nowhere and thought there has to be a better way, this is for you.
- Chairing your first P&C or sports club committee
- On the board of a local landcare group or community organisation
- Serving on a state or national advisory panel
- Working with committees as part of your paid role
The Three Ds work the same way whether the meeting is in a country hall or a boardroom. The framework applies.
About the facilitator
Delivered by Julia Spicer OAM
Julia is co-founder of The Connection Table. She has trained thousands of rural leaders across Australia over 25 years. She is an AICD graduate, former Deputy Chair of Australia's Economic Accelerator, a Goondiwindi Regional Councillor and a former Chair of Motherland Australia.
She wrote this guide because the same three things go wrong in most rural meetings she walks into. This is what she teaches to fix them.
Questions
Common questions
Is this really free?
Yes. No credit card. No trial. The guide and the training video are yours to keep.
Who is this for?
Anyone on a rural committee, board or community group. Whether you're volunteering or paid. With or without formal training.
How long does it take?
About ten minutes to read the guide. Fifteen minutes for the training video. Both together fit in a lunch break.
Do I need governance experience?
No. The guide is written to make sense to someone new to committees. It also has depth for people already on boards.
What happens after I sign up?
You get immediate access to the training video on the next page. The guide lands in your inbox straight away. You'll also get a short series of practical emails from Julia over the next couple of weeks.
Ready to run better meetings?
Get the free written guide and 15-minute training video from Julia Spicer OAM.
Immediate access. Developed for rural Australia.
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