Learn what it takes to make change stick
How can you turn ambitious ideas into meaningful outcomes?
Across organisations, communities and systems, there is no shortage of good ideas. Leaders invest significant time in understanding challenges, designing new approaches and developing initiatives to create better outcomes. This is what so much of our work focuses on at ThirdStory.
Yet even the most promising ideas can struggle in reality. A new service model may show early promise but fail to gain support from those who will put it into action. A reform effort may lose momentum when leadership changes. An innovation may deliver results in one place but prove difficult to sustain elsewhere.
Frequently the challenge is whether the conditions exist to enable change. In complex human systems, lasting change depends on the relationships, capabilities, structures and environments that allow new approaches to survive, adapt and grow.
Shift thinking to build change that lasts
ThirdStory’s upcoming online workshop will explore how leaders can create these conditions needed for change to take hold.
The workshop is designed for people leading change in human systems - CEOs and executive leaders, program and service leaders, reform and transformation teams, innovation and strategy practitioners, policy teams, funders, commissioners and systems stewards.
Implementation is sometimes viewed as the final stage of change, the point where a strategy becomes action and a plan becomes delivery. But in reality, implementation begins much earlier. It requires leaders to ask different questions — not only what needs to change? but what needs to be true for change to stick?
For leaders working in government, community, social services and other complex environments, this shift in thinking can make the difference between a promising initiative and sustainable impact.
A practical online workshop
The two-hour online workshop, facilitated by ThirdStory CEO and Founder Keren Caple and Director Innovation Practice Jethro Sercombe, will introduce participants to ThirdStory’s Roadmap for enabling systems change — a tool designed to help leaders understand the factors that influence whether change succeeds or stalls.
The Roadmap Tool draws on implementation science and systems change practice. ThirdStory practitioners have refined the tool through experiences in a wide range of contexts across education, early years, out-of-home care and other fields in Australia and internationally. Roadmapping was vital in the reform of Bermuda’s public education system; it has underpinned education sector projects with AISNSW, AISWA and the Department of Education WA, and supported social sector organisations including St Pat’s to plan implementation strategically.
Rather than focusing only on project plans, timelines and milestones, the tool takes a broader view of implementation. Participants will explore practical approaches, including how to identify barriers, strengthen readiness and build the foundations needed for long-term impact. They will leave with new ways of thinking about change, practical prompts to apply immediately and a tool they can continue using beyond the session.
Make change stick will be held online on Wednesday 2 September 2026, 10am AWST / 12pm AEST for two hours.
Limited tickets for $45 plus GST are available via Humanitix. Book your place now.