"This is an incredible true story of personal courage." ​ The fact “everyone does it” doesn’t make it right. Leaders are those who see a problem and address it - they change things. This trait caused diabolical disruption to Simon’s personal and professional life. ​ ‘Filthy Rat’ is an Australian best seller and is the story of Simon’s stand against police corruption and Melbourne’s gangland war. The book is a ‘brutally honest and action-packed account of the fight against Melbourne’s gangland crooks and the corrupt cops who were in their pockets. Illingworth’s decision to speak out would change the face of the Australian justice system forever. ​ Simon was a detective sergeant in the Victorian Police Force. He was bashed, threatened and intimidated by bent cops and underworld criminals, all in the line of duty. Our context is increasingly stark. Journalists worldwide are frequent targets of violence for exposing governmental or commercial malpractice; Australia is prosecuting Witness K over our illegal spying on Timorese oil and maritime boundary negotiations; and whistle blowers generally face grave personal risk. ​ Simon's personal story is powerful and challenges the status quo. He is a truth teller and will help us examine our values and give us ways to make the hardest decisions under pressure. - - - Video produced by Stella Martin, Radford College - - - #dirrumfestivalCBR 2019 Faces of Change | 17 August 2019 For more information about #dirrumfestivalCBR 2019, visit https://dirrumfestival.org/cbr19 - - - #dirrumfestival is an artefact of Dirrum Dirrum, a movement encouraging young people’s engagement in service to the common good. Dirrum Dirrum is a way of seeing others and ourselves bound in respectful relationship, standing in a wide circle of compassionate engagement. It acknowledges a common ground and is an active choice for life beyond the smallness of self-interest. Dirrum Dirrum is the sound of red in Ngunnawal language: the colour of blood and earth. For more information about Dirrum Dirrum, visit https://dirrumdirrum.org/about - - -

Maalika trained as a nurse in Sydney. Almost by accident she landed in Africa straight after. It was 1973. Now it is her home. ​ Her husband, Ismael, is an Afar elder. The Afar are pastoralists and follow their herds of sheep, goats cattle and camels across the Horn of Africa. The Afar region is one of poorest places on earth where temperatures regularly hit 50 degrees and one in three children die before the age of five. ​ Drought and disease and hunger are not new. Hardship for the Afar almost seems normal. Four rainy seasons being reduced to two is a new cruelty. Living at the margins is challenging at the best of times, but with climate change, it is now extreme. ​ Should the Afar be able to continue their ancient nomadic way of life? And can they? Does climate change, international boarders and erratic local governance make it all but impossible? What have we to learn from the Afar? ​ Maalika has been described by Channel 9’s 60 Minutes’ as “one of our unsung national treasures." She was a part of the very first speaking panel at the inaugural Dirrum event in 2013. - - - Video produced by Stella Martin, Radford College - - - #dirrumfestivalCBR 2019 Faces of Change | 17 August 2019 For more information about #dirrumfestivalCBR 2019, visit https://dirrumfestival.org/cbr19 - - - #dirrumfestival is an artefact of Dirrum Dirrum, a movement encouraging young people’s engagement in service to the common good. Dirrum Dirrum is a way of seeing others and ourselves bound in respectful relationship, standing in a wide circle of compassionate engagement. It acknowledges a common ground and is an active choice for life beyond the smallness of self-interest. Dirrum Dirrum is the sound of red in Ngunnawal language: the colour of blood and earth. For more information about Dirrum Dirrum, visit https://dirrumdirrum.org/about - - -

Kevin Hines is an outspoken suicide prevention advocate, best-selling author, global public speaker and award winning documentary filmmaker. Whatever it is that pushes a person to jump off of the Golden Gates Bridge, less than 1% survive from it. Kevin is part of that percentile. His story is remarkable and miraculous. ​ What he discovered in himself and other survivors is transformative; "The moment my feet left the rail I knew I wanted to live." ​ Ever since that day in 2000, Kevin has dedicated his life to unearthing the reality behind suicide, building networks of people to resolutely declare, no matter what takes you to the rail, suicide isn’t the answer; ‘be here tomorrow.’ ​ Kevin’s testimony creates hope. He is honest about his mental illness, as well as the pathway to managing and living with it. Kevin has a remarkable range of achievements, including multiple features on network giants like CNN, ABC, BBC; a Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Council of Behavioural Health; The Clifford W. Beers Award which is the highest honour from Mental Health America; a Lifesaver award from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention; as well as holding a number of seats on international boards including the International Bipolar Foundation. His film ‘Suicide: The Ripple Effect’ has won international acclaim and multiple awards. - - - If you or anyone you know needs help, contact- Lifeline on 13 11 14 (https://www.lifeline.org.au) Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800 (https://kidshelpline.com.au) - - - #dirrumfestivalCBR 2019 Faces of Change | 17 August 2019 For more information about #dirrumfestivalCBR 2019, visit https://dirrumfestival.org/cbr19 - - - #dirrumfestival is an artefact of Dirrum Dirrum, a movement encouraging young people’s engagement in service to the common good. Dirrum Dirrum is a way of seeing others and ourselves bound in respectful relationship, standing in a wide circle of compassionate engagement. It acknowledges a common ground and is an active choice for life beyond the smallness of self-interest. Dirrum Dirrum is the sound of red in Ngunnawal language: the colour of blood and earth. For more information about Dirrum Dirrum, visit https://dirrumdirrum.org/about - - -

Sophia is a woman working the innovation and entrepreneurship landscape. She weaves together five impressive threads: COO of a company that transforms carbon dioxide into building products, operations manager of a global health innovation database, Curator of the World Economic Forum’s youth volunteer group Global Shapers Canberra, Ambassador for the charity OzHarvest Canberra and Co-founder of a cohousing project aiming to improve housing affordability for young people. That’s right. Impressive. Sophia shares not so much ideas about what we need to be doing but can reflect on what is actually happening. She is passionate about driving change: “Most of my work is looking at the big picture. Developing new solutions to the major challenges facing society is the most important and exciting part of being involved in innovation.” It can be a bit irksome sometimes listing all the amazing things about a person, but you do want to know the one you are listening to is actually the real deal. So, learning that Sophia runs a company that transforms carbon dioxide into building materials is not so much about puffing her up, but pointing to her feet that are on the ground. Taking Australian innovation to the world and working with global industries like steel and cement to view their carbon dioxide emissions as a resource and not just a harmful waste can make a significant impact on emissions and create new global markets. - - - #dirrumfestivalCBR 2019 Faces of Change | 17 August 2019 For more information about #dirrumfestivalCBR 2019, visit https://dirrumfestival.org/cbr19 - - - #dirrumfestival is an artefact of Dirrum Dirrum, a movement encouraging young people’s engagement in service to the common good. Dirrum Dirrum is a way of seeing others and ourselves bound in respectful relationship, standing in a wide circle of compassionate engagement. It acknowledges a common ground and is an active choice for life beyond the smallness of self-interest. Dirrum Dirrum is the sound of red in Ngunnawal language: the colour of blood and earth. For more information about Dirrum Dirrum, visit https://dirrumdirrum.org/about - - -

Recipient of six honorary doctorates and now fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, Professor Ian Chubb has been a successful advocate for government and industry support of teaching and research in science, technology, engineering and mathematics over many decades. Throughout his career, he has made significant contributions to improving the infrastructure for scientific research. ​ We asked Professor Chubb numerous important questions. One for example, “Why does science fail to be a convincing argument?” His response: “...people have many reasons to hear what they want to hear and disregard what they don’t... scientists mostly do science, not story telling ... sceptics only have to sow doubt.” ​ It was a privilege to have Professor Chubb as one of the key presenters for the Dirrum Festival Canberra 2019. His talk was challenging as it is urgent and visionary. As a long and passionate advocate for excellence in education, evidence based decision making and multidisciplinary collaboration, his talk covers some of the present and coming challenges. - - - Video produced by Stella Martin, Radford College - - - #dirrumfestivalCBR 2019 Faces of Change | 17 August 2019 For more information about #dirrumfestivalCBR 2019, visit https://dirrumfestival.org/cbr19 - - - #dirrumfestival is an artefact of Dirrum Dirrum, a movement encouraging young people’s engagement in service to the common good. Dirrum Dirrum is a way of seeing others and ourselves bound in respectful relationship, standing in a wide circle of compassionate engagement. It acknowledges a common ground and is an active choice for life beyond the smallness of self-interest. Dirrum Dirrum is the sound of red in Ngunnawal language: the colour of blood and earth. For more information about Dirrum Dirrum, visit https://dirrumdirrum.org/about - - -

Matthew Pye is a teacher working at Bundarra Central School. Over the past two and a half years he and his team have been developing an alternative education strategy and curriculum for disengaged, predominantly indigenous youth. The resultant program is called Crossing the Divide and draws on the expertise of many different organisations in the community in an integrated and holistic fashion to address the well-documented inequity that exists in his target demographic. The program operates out of a newly developed trade training centre at the back of the school. It is a non-traditional education centre engaging teens that are sliding out of, or, have already dropped out of, the traditional education settings. His work provides them with the opportunity to attain an HSC as well as offering skills and industry recognised tickets in areas such as first aid, metals and engineering, heavy machinery operation, automotive and so on. It is a multi-faceted approach. In short, Crossing the Divide is challenging, difficult, messy. Despite the program's infancy, early indications suggest that it works. Crossing the Divide has stemmed from Matthew and his team's unending belief that the system should change to meet the needs of those who fall outside the square. He works strongly with the support of his local community as well as the NSW state government. - - - Dirrum Dirrum Conference 2014 Be the Change | 1-4 August 2014 For more information about the Dirrum Dirrum Conference 2014, visit https://dirrumfestival.org/cbr14 - - - Dirrum Dirrum seeks to foster a greater humanity. If it is authentic then it will be a gift to others, measurable in the power and life it bestows. There are three activities: the development of humble leadership; creating a climate of inspiration; fostering a cycle of responsibility. Dirrum Dirrum is the sound of red in Ngunnawal and represents the earth. We belong to the earth, we belong to one another, and we belong to the human and ecological communities from which we draw nourishment. Belonging infers accountability. Dirrum Dirrum invites an accountability to the way it enriches community and empowers people. Simply, may we do justice, act with compassion and walk humbly together upon the earth and with our God. For more information about Dirrum Dirrum, visit https://dirrumdirrum.org/about - - -

#belcobyondborders - - - Dirrum Dirrum Conference 2015 Living Into Our Name | 31 July - 3 August 2015 For more information about the Dirrum Dirrum Conference 2015, visit https://dirrumfestival.org/cbr15 - - - Dirrum Dirrum seeks to foster a greater humanity. If it is authentic then it will be a gift to others, measurable in the power and life it bestows. There are three activities: the development of humble leadership; creating a climate of inspiration; fostering a cycle of responsibility. Dirrum Dirrum is the sound of red in Ngunnawal and represents the earth. We belong to the earth, we belong to one another, and we belong to the human and ecological communities from which we draw nourishment. Belonging infers accountability. Dirrum Dirrum invites an accountability to the way it enriches community and empowers people. Simply, may we do justice, act with compassion and walk humbly together upon the earth and with our God. For more information about Dirrum Dirrum, visit https://dirrumdirrum.org/about - - -

Sarah Bachelard is a pilgrim and meditator, theologian and philosopher. She is a teacher of meditation and leader of a contemplative community, representative to the United Nations on the status of women and author (Experiencing God in a Time of Crisis (2012) and Resurrection and Moral Imagination (2014)). She has been a lecturer in spirituality and ethics and notes the last few years have moved her from ideology towards ontology, that is, away from the practice of being good to the art of being loved. This, she suggests, is the way to participate in lasting change. Sarah advocates stillness and silence as an important pillar in sustainable, lifelong, ethical practice. - - - Dirrum Dirrum Conference 2014 Be the Change | 1-4 August 2014 For more information about the Dirrum Dirrum Conference 2014, visit https://dirrumfestival.org/cbr14 - - - Dirrum Dirrum seeks to foster a greater humanity. If it is authentic then it will be a gift to others, measurable in the power and life it bestows. There are three activities: the development of humble leadership; creating a climate of inspiration; fostering a cycle of responsibility. Dirrum Dirrum is the sound of red in Ngunnawal and represents the earth. We belong to the earth, we belong to one another, and we belong to the human and ecological communities from which we draw nourishment. Belonging infers accountability. Dirrum Dirrum invites an accountability to the way it enriches community and empowers people. Simply, may we do justice, act with compassion and walk humbly together upon the earth and with our God. For more information about Dirrum Dirrum, visit https://dirrumdirrum.org/about - - -