What if leadership wasn’t about titles or positions, but about choosing to act on what matters? That’s the question Tanya Lehmann invites us to explore in the very first episode of the ARLF Changemaker Series.
Broadcasting from her home on Irrawirrung Country in South Australia’s Riverland, Tanya brings decades of experience in health, leadership, and rural resilience. As one of the key minds behind the Changemaker Workshops, she’s not just a facilitator. She’s a listener, a learner, and a firm believer in the power of local people to lead meaningful change.
Tanya didn’t set out to become a leader. Growing up in Wagin on Nyoongar Country, she simply saw her parents consistently show up for their community. That sense of service stuck. Over time, Tanya found herself stepping into roles where she could influence change, always guided by a simple question: What can we do to make things better?
This episode sets the tone for the entire series. It unpacks how the Changemaker Workshops came to life and what makes them such a powerful experience for regional and rural Australians.
“Leadership is a verb. It’s an action. It’s a choice to stand up and do something and mobilise others to work on shared goals.”
The workshops are immersive, practical, and grounded in place. Over two days, participants come together to build a clearer picture of their region. They explore what really matters to them, connect with others who care deeply, and walk away with new ways to tackle shared challenges.
“We move from this idea of solving problems to making progress. You don’t have to have all the answers. You just have to be willing to have the conversations.”
Tanya describes these workshops as spaces where stories matter just as much as strategies. Where humour, vulnerability, and courage go hand in hand. And where change is not just talked about, it is felt.
“Stories are sticky. They help us connect. They remind us we’re not alone.”
Through the Changemaker approach, people begin to see each other and themselves differently. They realise that leadership isn’t about being the loudest in the room. It’s about being the one who chooses to step forward, to listen, to collaborate, and to care.
“Our people in regional communities are resourceful and resilient. We just don’t always know each other as well as we think we do.”
In this episode, Tanya reminds us that when people come together with open minds and shared purpose, real progress becomes possible. It’s an energising conversation and the perfect way to kick off a series all about courageous, community-led change.
If you’re ready to be inspired by what’s possible when everyday people become changemakers, this episode is for you.
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