How can two days change the way you view leadership? For Willanna Morris, a Changemaker Workshop in Mount Isa was more than professional development. It was a profound personal shift- an epiphany that reshaped how she sees systems, community, and her role within both.
As the manager of Ngukuthati Children and Family Centre, Willanna has a long history of supporting vulnerable families in Mount Isa. But after two decades working in child protection, she made the leap to prevention and early intervention. The Changemaker Workshop arrived just as she was finding her feet in this new space and it brought unexpected clarity.
“It was like I was working inside a system I couldn’t unlock. Changemaker helped me step back, see the bigger picture, and realise we could create new systems.”
The workshop brought together people from all corners of the community: government, non-government, health, education, and social services. As the group explored topics such adaptive leadership and the experiential learning styles, something shifted. Willana began connecting the dots between big issues like housing, workforce challenges, and public perception. She saw how the systems intersected and how they might be reshaped through collaboration and community leadership.
“That was my epiphany. I wasn’t the only one trying to make change. We each held a piece of the puzzle. And together, we could reimagine what Mount Isa could be.”
For Willanna, that meant letting go of perfection, inviting others in, and testing new ideas.
“I realised it was okay to try something different. Even if it didn’t work, we would learn from it. That mindset shift gave me courage.”
What followed was a ripple effect. Willanna helped create Mount Isa’s first large-scale back-to-school event, bringing together over 30 services and nearly 500 community members. Families accessed free haircuts, uniforms, hearing screenings and more all in one place. It was practical, empowering, and built on the belief that when health and education are supported, better life choices follow.
“When you live out bush, small things make a big difference. A smile. A lift home. A pencil case. That’s what community looks like.”
To hear more about Willanna Morris’s story and leadership experience you can listen to her episode on our Changemaker podcast series.
About the series
This conversation is part of a new series exploring the impact of the Changemaker Workshops delivered across more than 30 regions by the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation and the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal, through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund. These workshops were a part of the Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought Initiative.
To listen to this episode visit our website or search for Rural Leadership Unearthed on all major streaming platforms.
