My inspiration for being a connector – Victoria’s first women Premier, Hon. Joan Kirner, AM, and one of my first bosses BEING A CONNECTOR – Hutch Hussein, BSL

SOMEONE ALWAYS KNOWS SOMEONE!

ACHIEVEMENTS – Professional & Personal Political Campaigns Professional & Personal connections Personal Match-making Policy Reform - Abortion Law Reform Case Study ACHIEVEMENTS – Professional & Personal

CASE STUDY - Abortion Law Reform

KEY ADVOCACY PRINCIPLES United voice & common middle ground 1. One crucial first principle is to present as united a voice as possible to Government on your key demands. 2. Ensure you have a wide a base as possible for support as you can across interests, across agencies and across organisations.

United voice & common middle ground EXAMPLE : Executive Director of Women’s Health Victoria, Marilyn Beaumont, today announced that a growing number of organisations are throwing their support behind Model C, one of 3 models outlined in the Victorian Law Reform Commission Report into the decriminalisation of abortion. “These highly regarded organisations have carefully considered each model and come to the unanimous conclusion that Model C is the only model to support the freedom and autonomy of women for the duration of their pregnancy,” said Ms Beaumont. Signatories to the statement below include Women’s Health Services from across Victoria, VCOSS, The Royal Women’s Hospital, Liberty Victoria, Robert Richter QC and the Health Services Commissioner, Beth Wilson.

Network across the state/country depending on whether it is a state/federal issue

4. Settle on 5/10 key points and every organisation includes these amongst their other specialist issues. EXAMPLE: Abortion Law Reform – Women’s Health Victoria, Pro-Choice Victoria, EMILY’s List and various other women’s organisations sent a consistent message about people lobbying their MPs and the Government about the eventual bill featuring 3 main components We support the decriminalisation of abortion in Victoria in a way that is consistent with the Government’s Terms of Reference for the Victorian Law Reform Commission. This will: • modernise and clarify the law, • reflect current community standards and • not alter current clinical practice. 5. Strength in unity of a common voice across organisations - which demonstrably represented women of all social classes and demographic backgrounds, convinced the Govt that they had to listen to what the people wanted.

DECRIMINALISATION OF ABORTION The DECRIMINALISATION OF ABORTION represented the sector identifying the existing social need that the Govt. was refusing to acknowledge ………. Eventually leading us to the point of <-THIS HEADLINE

ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO BE GOOD CONNECTORS Ask for HELP - Don’t be afraid to tap into your networks OR your friend’s/ colleagues networks Mentoring around how to network/ build alliances Role model, using my role to bring others together to expand their networks and provide opportunities for networking ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO BE GOOD CONNECTORS

TIPS FOR BEING A GOOD CONNECTOR Ask for people’s business card and maintain your address book and transfer it from job to job – ICT help! Connect up with new acquaintances on LinkedIn – QR code If you don’t know, ask colleague/friend, tap into the hivemind of your friendship networks – via Facebook, Twitter, org/ sector email, Linked In Think back – school/uni, mother’s groups, first/subsequent jobs, groups who’ve been involved in Remember, Melbourne is 1 degree of separation! TIPS FOR BEING A GOOD CONNECTOR

YOU CAN STILL GET GOOD AT IT! WHEN A KID GROWS UP, HE HAS TO BE SOMETHING. BUT A TIGER GROWS UP AND STAYS A TIGER. WHY IS THAT? NO ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT OF ALL THE LUCK, MY PARENTS HAD TO BE HUMANS. DON’T TAKE IT TOO HARD. HUMANS PROVIDE SOME VERY IMPORTANT PROTEIN. HE CAN’T JUST STAY THE WAY HE IS. YOU CAN STILL GET GOOD AT IT!

Senior Manager, Diversity Unit Brotherhood of St Laurence Hutch Hussein Senior Manager, Diversity Unit Brotherhood of St Laurence Find me on LinkedIn and Twitter @HutchHussein or Email hutchussein@bsl.org.au Cross-Cultural Training www.bsl.org.au/xcrt ASK PEOPLE FOR THEIR DETAILS & PLUG!