396 Danielle Mifsud: Beyond Survival - How the Academy Helps Women Thrive

My guest this week is Danielle Mifsud - Community Director at Humans of Purpose Academy, an extraordinary coach and advocate who plays a transformative role in the lives of our members. At the Academy, Danielle leads with compassion and vision, creating a safe and empowering space for women who have experienced domestic and family violence. She curates masterclasses with our amazing partners, equipping members with practical tools for recovery, growth, and job readiness, while also linking them with employment opportunities and networks of support. Beyond her leadership role, Danielle is a gifted coach who provides 1-to-1 guidance for Academy members. Her deep listening, encouragement, and practical strategies have helped many women rebuild confidence, reclaim their independence, and take powerful steps toward new beginnings. In this episode, we explore Danielle’s journey into coaching and community leadership, the unique vision behind Humans of Purpose Academy, and how safe, supportive environments can spark lasting transformation for survivors. 🔗 Explore more from Danielle's work and our Academy here:  https://www.humansofpurpose.com/academy Growing Your Business and Impact Talk to us today about how we can grow your capacity to level up your business and impact with our fully trained and managed outsourced marketing solutions - delivered by our digital heroes armed with good strategy, the latest tech and big smiles.  Learn more at humansofpurpose.com Promotional Partnerships Like what we are serving up on Humans of Purpose? Our promotional campaigns have delivered great marketing and sales outcomes and ROI for our partners to date.  Whether you're seeking a 1-month, 2-month or season sponsorship, follow the flow below to become a partner before we run out of our remaining promotional slots.  Click Here to learn more about collaborating on a custom campaign package. Ready to partner? Just complete this short Partner Enquiry Form and we'll be in touch. Gold Membership Want a premium listening experience that directly supports us to keep making the podcast?  Join current members Michael, Pravati, Noel, Kathy, Andrew 1, Andrew 2, Chris, Nikki, Margaret, Ben, Misha, Sarah and Geoff and enjoy our range of member benefits:  Premium dedicated podcast feed Removal of all three ads per episode Early access to all episodes Full transcripts of all episodes Brokered intros to all podcast guests Ask me anything page access To take up this great offer, just head to our Gold Member page today. CREDITS Music intro and outro on this podcast was written and performed by Keyo Rhodes, with Harrison McGregor on drums and percussion. Sound engineering and mastering by Lachlan McGregor.

My guest this week is Luan Lawrenson-Woods - women’s health advocate and host of the Regarding Me podcast, which helps women build the confidence and tools to self-advocate in their healthcare. At 46, Luan received a breast cancer diagnosis that changed the course of her life. Her experience navigating the health system inspired her to create Rewritten Me, Australia’s first podcast on post-mastectomy reconstruction, and later Regarding Me, where she shares her Six Self-Advocacy Steps alongside expert interviews and lived stories. Her story has been featured on Nine News and The Today Show, and she is building platforms that ensure women are heard, informed, and empowered in decisions about their bodies and health. In this episode, we explore Luan’s journey from personal health crisis to public advocate, why self-advocacy is vital for women navigating complex systems, and how sharing her story has inspired a movement for change. 🔗 Explore more from Luan and her work here:  https://www.luanlawriewoods.com.au/ Growing Your Business and Impact Talk to us today about how we can grow your capacity to level up your business and impact with our fully trained and managed outsourced marketing solutions - delivered by our digital heroes armed with good strategy, the latest tech and big smiles.  Learn more at humansofpurpose.com Promotional Partnerships Like what we are serving up on Humans of Purpose? Our promotional campaigns have delivered great marketing and sales outcomes and ROI for our partners to date.  Whether you're seeking a 1-month, 2-month or season sponsorship, follow the flow below to become a partner before we run out of our remaining promotional slots.  Click Here to learn more about collaborating on a custom campaign package. Ready to partner? Just complete this short Partner Enquiry Form and we'll be in touch. Gold Membership Want a premium listening experience that directly supports us to keep making the podcast?  Join current members Michael, Pravati, Noel, Kathy, Andrew 1, Andrew 2, Chris, Nikki, Margaret, Ben, Misha, Sarah and Geoff and enjoy our range of member benefits:  Premium dedicated podcast feed Removal of all three ads per episode Early access to all episodes Full transcripts of all episodes Brokered intros to all podcast guests Ask me anything page access To take up this great offer, just head to our Gold Member page today. CREDITS Music intro and outro on this podcast was written and performed by Keyo Rhodes, with Harrison McGregor on drums and percussion. Sound engineering and mastering by Lachlan McGregor.

My guest this week is Claire O’Rourke - campaigner, communicator, and author of Together We Can, a book that shines a light on everyday Australians taking action on climate change. Claire is dedicated to helping people and communities respond to the climate crisis with hope, courage, and practical solutions. She currently works with the Climate Council and has held leadership roles with Solar Citizens and the Every Australian Counts campaign, driving grassroots action and national conversations that create meaningful change. Her work draws on more than two decades of experience in journalism, communications, and social change, spanning Australia and overseas. Through her storytelling, writing, and advocacy, Claire helps people see that climate action isn’t just possible - it’s already happening all around us. In this episode, we explore what it takes to build a hopeful movement for change, how ordinary people can find their place in tackling the climate crisis, and Claire’s journey from journalism to becoming a national voice for climate solutions. 🔗 Explore more from Claire and her work here:  https://claireorourke.com/ Growing Your Business and Impact Talk to us today about how we can grow your capacity to level up your business and impact with our fully trained and managed outsourced marketing solutions - delivered by our digital heroes armed with good strategy, the latest tech and big smiles.  Learn more at humansofpurpose.com Promotional Partnerships Like what we are serving up on Humans of Purpose? Our promotional campaigns have delivered great marketing and sales outcomes and ROI for our partners to date.  Whether you're seeking a 1-month, 2-month or season sponsorship, follow the flow below to become a partner before we run out of our remaining promotional slots.  Click Here to learn more about collaborating on a custom campaign package. Ready to partner? Just complete this short Partner Enquiry Form and we'll be in touch. Gold Membership Want a premium listening experience that directly supports us to keep making the podcast?  Join current members Michael, Pravati, Noel, Kathy, Andrew 1, Andrew 2, Chris, Nikki, Margaret, Ben, Misha, Sarah and Geoff and enjoy our range of member benefits:  Premium dedicated podcast feed Removal of all three ads per episode Early access to all episodes Full transcripts of all episodes Brokered intros to all podcast guests Ask me anything page access To take up this great offer, just head to our Gold Member page today. CREDITS Music intro and outro on this podcast was written and performed by Keyo Rhodes, with Harrison McGregor on drums and percussion. Sound engineering and mastering by Lachlan McGregor.

My guest this week is Dr Hannah Tonkin - lawyer, international human rights advocate, and the inaugural NSW Women’s Safety Commissioner. Dr Tonkin took up the role in February 2023 and now leads efforts across the NSW government to strengthen responses to domestic, family, and sexual violence. Her work focuses on fostering collaboration between government, non-government organisations, and the broader community, ensuring victim-survivors have a meaningful voice in shaping policy and programs. Prior to this appointment, she worked as an international human rights lawyer with the United Nations, served as Director of Disability Rights at the Australian Human Rights Commission, and practiced as a barrister in London and Adelaide. She also brings exceptional academic credentials, holding a PhD in International Law and a master’s in civil law from the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, along with law and science honours degrees from the University of Adelaide. In this episode, we explore whole-of-government leadership in reducing gendered and family violence, how human rights principles can inform safety policy, and Dr Tonkin’s journey from international advocacy to becoming NSW’s foremost advocate for women’s safety. 🔗 Explore more from Dr Hannah and her work here:  https://dcj.nsw.gov.au/legal-and-justice/our-commissioners/womens-safety-commissioner.html Growing Your Business and Impact Talk to us today about how we can grow your capacity to level up your business and impact with our fully trained and managed outsourced marketing solutions - delivered by our digital heroes armed with good strategy, the latest tech and big smiles.  Learn more at humansofpurpose.com Promotional Partnerships Like what we are serving up on Humans of Purpose? Our promotional campaigns have delivered great marketing and sales outcomes and ROI for our partners to date.  Whether you're seeking a 1-month, 2-month or season sponsorship, follow the flow below to become a partner before we run out of our remaining promotional slots.  Click Here to learn more about collaborating on a custom campaign package. Ready to partner? Just complete this short Partner Enquiry Form and we'll be in touch. Gold Membership Want a premium listening experience that directly supports us to keep making the podcast?  Join current members Michael, Pravati, Noel, Kathy, Andrew 1, Andrew 2, Chris, Nikki, Margaret, Ben, Misha, Sarah and Geoff and enjoy our range of member benefits:  Premium dedicated podcast feed Removal of all three ads per episode Early access to all episodes Full transcripts of all episodes Brokered intros to all podcast guests Ask me anything page access To take up this great offer, just head to our Gold Member page today. CREDITS Music intro and outro on this podcast was written and performed by Keyo Rhodes, with Harrison McGregor on drums and percussion. Sound engineering and mastering by Lachlan McGregor.

My guest this week is Laura O’Reilly – entrepreneur, disability sector innovator, and co-founder of Hireup, Fighting Chance, and Avenue, three groundbreaking ventures transforming opportunities for people with disability across Australia. Laura has dedicated her career to creating solutions inspired by the experiences of her brother Shane – building the kinds of services and opportunities that would benefit him, and in turn, countless others. Her work is fuelled by a family united in purpose, each contributing their strengths to create positive, lasting change for people with disability. Drawing on her background in law, advocacy, and social enterprise, Laura has built organisations that challenge the status quo and centre the voices and needs of people with disability. Through relentless advocacy and creative problem-solving, she and her family have shown what’s possible when love, determination, and vision come together. In this episode, we explore how personal experience can spark powerful social innovation, the importance of designing services that enable people to live full and self-directed lives, and why Laura believes community-led solutions are the key to lasting change. 🔗 Explore more from Laura and her work here:  Fighting Chance: https://fightingchance.org.au/about-us/ Hireup: https://hireup.com.au/ Avenue: https://avenuecoworking.org.au/ Growing Your Business and Impact Talk to us today about how we can grow your capacity to level up your business and impact with our fully trained and managed outsourced marketing solutions - delivered by our digital heroes armed with good strategy, the latest tech and big smiles.  Learn more at humansofpurpose.com Promotional Partnerships Like what we are serving up on Humans of Purpose? Our promotional campaigns have delivered great marketing and sales outcomes and ROI for our partners to date.  Whether you're seeking a 1-month, 2-month or season sponsorship, follow the flow below to become a partner before we run out of our remaining promotional slots.  Click Here to learn more about collaborating on a custom campaign package. Ready to partner? Just complete this short Partner Enquiry Form and we'll be in touch. Gold Membership Want a premium listening experience that directly supports us to keep making the podcast?  Join current members Michael, Pravati, Noel, Kathy, Andrew 1, Andrew 2, Chris, Nikki, Margaret, Ben, Misha, Sarah and Geoff and enjoy our range of member benefits:  Premium dedicated podcast feed Removal of all three ads per episode Early access to all episodes Full transcripts of all episodes Brokered intros to all podcast guests Ask me anything page access To take up this great offer, just head to our Gold Member page today. CREDITS Music intro and outro on this podcast was written and performed by Keyo Rhodes, with Harrison McGregor on drums and percussion. Sound engineering and mastering by Lachlan McGregor.

My guest this week is Dr Dionne Payn – social entrepreneur, impact investment specialist, and Founder of Women4Homes, a groundbreaking initiative working to end homelessness for women by 2030 through values-aligned property investment. Dionne has spent her career designing ethical investment solutions that prioritise both social and financial returns. With a background in chemistry, property development, and social enterprise, she brings a rare interdisciplinary lens to one of Australia’s most urgent challenges: housing justice. At the heart of Dionne’s work is a bold vision – to empower a million women to invest in homes for other women, while building financial security themselves. Her approach blends systems thinking, community-led design, and inclusive investment models to unlock new pathways from crisis to stability, and ultimately, ownership. In this episode, we explore the structural drivers of housing inequality, what a more equitable system could look like, and why dignity, choice, and long-term thinking must be at the centre of every housing solution. 🔗 Explore more from Dr Dionne and her work here:  Women4Homes: https://www.women4homes.com Free Downloadable Book: https://www.women4homes.com/complimentary_book_digital High Impact Property Investments: https://hipi.global/ Dr. Dionne's Podcast, Financially Empowered Women: https://financiallyempoweredwomen.podbean.com/ Growing Your Business and Impact Talk to us today about how we can grow your capacity to level up your business and impact with our fully trained and managed outsourced marketing solutions - delivered by our digital heroes armed with good strategy, the latest tech and big smiles.  Learn more at humansofpurpose.com Promotional Partnerships Like what we are serving up on Humans of Purpose? Our promotional campaigns have delivered great marketing and sales outcomes and ROI for our partners to date.  Whether you're seeking a 1-month, 2-month or season sponsorship, follow the flow below to become a partner before we run out of our remaining promotional slots.  Click Here to learn more about collaborating on a custom campaign package. Ready to partner? Just complete this short Partner Enquiry Form and we'll be in touch. Gold Membership Want a premium listening experience that directly supports us to keep making the podcast?  Join current members Michael, Pravati, Noel, Kathy, Andrew 1, Andrew 2, Chris, Nikki, Margaret, Ben, Misha, Sarah and Geoff and enjoy our range of member benefits:  Premium dedicated podcast feed Removal of all three ads per episode Early access to all episodes Full transcripts of all episodes Brokered intros to all podcast guests Ask me anything page access To take up this great offer, just head to our Gold Member page today. CREDITS Music intro and outro on this podcast was written and performed by Keyo Rhodes, with Harrison McGregor on drums and percussion. Sound engineering and mastering by Lachlan McGregor.

My guest this week is Mike Davis – social entrepreneur, systems thinker, and Head of Social Innovation and Impact at Good Shepherd, one of Australia’s leading organisations supporting women, girls and families. Mike is best known as the founder of Humans of Purpose and has spent the past decade working across sectors to embed strategy, storytelling, and systems change in the heart of purpose-led organisations. Now at Good Shepherd, he’s focused on harnessing innovation – including the emerging role of AI – to drive scalable, sustainable outcomes for communities. With deep roots in the for-purpose ecosystem, Mike brings a rare combination of practical experience, strategic foresight and values-driven leadership. He’s passionate about helping mission-led organisations embrace the future with clarity, confidence, and compassion. In this episode, we explore Mike’s definition of innovation, his vision for inclusive tech adoption in the social sector, and why now is the time for courage, systems thinking, and bold experimentation. 🔗 Explore more on the Good Shepherd Australia website:  https://goodshep.org.au/ Growing Your Business and Impact Talk to us today about how we can grow your capacity to level up your business and impact with our fully trained and managed outsourced marketing solutions - delivered by our digital heroes armed with good strategy, the latest tech and big smiles.  Learn more at humansofpurpose.com Promotional Partnerships Like what we are serving up on Humans of Purpose? Our promotional campaigns have delivered great marketing and sales outcomes and ROI for our partners to date.  Whether you're seeking a 1-month, 2-month or season sponsorship, follow the flow below to become a partner before we run out of our remaining promotional slots.  Click Here to learn more about collaborating on a custom campaign package. Ready to partner? Just complete this short Partner Enquiry Form and we'll be in touch. Gold Membership Want a premium listening experience that directly supports us to keep making the podcast?  Join current members Michael, Pravati, Noel, Kathy, Andrew 1, Andrew 2, Chris, Nikki, Margaret, Ben, Misha, Sarah and Geoff and enjoy our range of member benefits:  Premium dedicated podcast feed Removal of all three ads per episode Early access to all episodes Full transcripts of all episodes Brokered intros to all podcast guests Ask me anything page access To take up this great offer, just head to our Gold Member page today. CREDITS Music intro and outro on this podcast was written and performed by Keyo Rhodes, with Harrison McGregor on drums and percussion. Sound engineering and mastering by Lachlan McGregor.

My guest this week is Elloise Bridge – a proud Gija woman, emerging community leader, and Gender Officer at SURGE (Support Unit for Gender Equality), where she provides technical and administrative support to strengthen gender equality outcomes in Australia's development programs. Elloise is deeply committed to social justice and cultural empowerment. With a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Gender Studies and a background in politics, she has pursued a career in international development as a junior Gender Equality and Social Inclusion specialist. Her work spans grassroots not-for-profit organisations in the First Nations and Gender-Based Violence sectors. Elloise also serves on the Australian Government's Prevention of Gender-Based Violence Youth Advisory Group, contributing to initiatives aimed at decreasing gender-based violence in Australia. At SURGE, Elloise collaborates with a team dedicated to providing high-quality, responsive technical assistance that supports and improves the quality and effectiveness of Australia's investments and programming related to gender equality and women's empowerment. In this episode, we explore Elloise’s journey into the field of gender equality and social inclusion, her experiences working at the intersection of Indigenous advocacy and international development, and how she is contributing to systemic change through her roles in SURGE and the Unity of First People of Australia (UFPA). 🔗 Explore more from Elloise and her work: https://surge4genderequality.com.au/about https://www.ufpa.org.au/about Growing Your Business and Impact Talk to us today about how we can grow your capacity to level up your business and impact with our fully trained and managed outsourced marketing solutions - delivered by our digital heroes armed with good strategy, the latest tech and big smiles.  Learn more at humansofpurpose.com Promotional Partnerships Like what we are serving up on Humans of Purpose? Our promotional campaigns have delivered great marketing and sales outcomes and ROI for our partners to date.  Whether you're seeking a 1-month, 2-month or season sponsorship, follow the flow below to become a partner before we run out of our remaining promotional slots.  Click Here to learn more about collaborating on a custom campaign package. Ready to partner? Just complete this short Partner Enquiry Form and we'll be in touch. Gold Membership Want a premium listening experience that directly supports us to keep making the podcast?  Join current members Michael, Pravati, Noel, Kathy, Andrew 1, Andrew 2, Chris, Nikki, Margaret, Ben, Misha, Sarah and Geoff and enjoy our range of member benefits:  Premium dedicated podcast feed Removal of all three ads per episode Early access to all episodes Full transcripts of all episodes Brokered intros to all podcast guests Ask me anything page access To take up this great offer, just head to our Gold Member page today. CREDITS Music intro and outro on this podcast was written and performed by Keyo Rhodes, with Harrison McGregor on drums and percussion. Sound engineering and mastering by Lachlan McGregor.

My guest this week is Al Jeffery – psychotherapist, meditation guide, group facilitator, writer, and Co-Founder of Turning Ground. Al is a regenerative practitioner working at the intersection of inner and outer transformation. In a world that is hyperconnected yet deeply fragmented, he is dedicated to restoring connection - within ourselves, our communities, and the systems we live and lead in. As Director at Turning Ground, Al designs and facilitates spaces for reconnection, weaving together psychotherapy, group process, and leadership development to cultivate belonging, purpose, and systemic change. With a creative career that began at age 12, Al has twice been named one of Australia’s Top 30 Entrepreneurs Under 30 and was a nominee for Young Australian of the Year. He serves on the Advisory Councils for Meditation Australia and Synthesis Institute, and in 2022, was awarded the IKON Institute’s National Award for Clinical and Academic Excellence. In this episode, we explore Al’s journey from youth entrepreneurship to regenerative leadership, the vital role of inner work in social impact, and why belonging might just be the most radical form of leadership today. 🔗 Explore more from Al and his work: http://aljeffery.com Growing Your Business and Impact Talk to us today about how we can grow your capacity to level up your business and impact with our fully trained and managed outsourced marketing solutions - delivered by our digital heroes armed with good strategy, the latest tech and big smiles.  Learn more at humansofpurpose.com Promotional Partnerships Like what we are serving up on Humans of Purpose? Our promotional campaigns have delivered great marketing and sales outcomes and ROI for our partners to date.  Whether you're seeking a 1-month, 2-month or season sponsorship, follow the flow below to become a partner before we run out of our remaining promotional slots.  Click Here to learn more about collaborating on a custom campaign package. Ready to partner? Just complete this short Partner Enquiry Form and we'll be in touch. Gold Membership Want a premium listening experience that directly supports us to keep making the podcast?  Join current members Michael, Pravati, Noel, Kathy, Andrew 1, Andrew 2, Chris, Nikki, Margaret, Ben, Misha, Sarah and Geoff and enjoy our range of member benefits:  Premium dedicated podcast feed Removal of all three ads per episode Early access to all episodes Full transcripts of all episodes Brokered intros to all podcast guests Ask me anything page access To take up this great offer, just head to our Gold Member page today. CREDITS Music intro and outro on this podcast was written and performed by Keyo Rhodes, with Harrison McGregor on drums and percussion. Sound engineering and mastering by Lachlan McGregor.

My guest this week is Sherilee McManus - a proud Wiradjuri woman and the Director of Engagement & Outcomes at Life Without Barriers, a national social purpose organisation committed to partnering with people to change lives for the better. Sherilee brings a deep commitment to cultural connection and equity. In her current role, she plays a key part in shaping inclusive practice across the organisation, and in 2024, led the Life Without Barriers Head Office NAIDOC Week event - designed to help non-Indigenous Australians experience NAIDOC as a true celebration of culture. Prior to this, Sherilee served as Acting National Manager of Stakeholder Relations within Hearing Australia’s First Nations Services. There, she worked to improve hearing health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children through culturally safe engagement and service design. Across all her work, Sherilee is guided by respect for Country, Culture, and Community - ensuring that First Nations voices are not only heard but centred in the decisions that impact their lives. In this episode, we talk about Sherilee’s leadership journey, the importance of cultural celebration and inclusion, and how she’s helping shape a more respectful, just, and connected Australia. 🔗 Explore more from Sherilee and her work: https://www.lwb.org.au/ Growing Your Business and Impact Talk to us today about how we can grow your capacity to level up your business and impact with our fully trained and managed outsourced marketing solutions - delivered by our digital heroes armed with good strategy, the latest tech and big smiles.  Learn more at humansofpurpose.com Promotional Partnerships Like what we are serving up on Humans of Purpose? Our promotional campaigns have delivered great marketing and sales outcomes and ROI for our partners to date.  Whether you're seeking a 1-month, 2-month or season sponsorship, follow the flow below to become a partner before we run out of our remaining promotional slots.  Click Here to learn more about collaborating on a custom campaign package. Ready to partner? Just complete this short Partner Enquiry Form and we'll be in touch. Gold Membership Want a premium listening experience that directly supports us to keep making the podcast?  Join current members Michael, Pravati, Noel, Kathy, Andrew 1, Andrew 2, Chris, Nikki, Margaret, Ben, Misha, Sarah and Geoff and enjoy our range of member benefits:  Premium dedicated podcast feed Removal of all three ads per episode Early access to all episodes Full transcripts of all episodes Brokered intros to all podcast guests Ask me anything page access To take up this great offer, just head to our Gold Member page today. CREDITS Music intro and outro on this podcast was written and performed by Keyo Rhodes, with Harrison McGregor on drums and percussion. Sound engineering and mastering by Lachlan McGregor.