About Community Groundwork
and Why Leadership Matters
Better outcomes begin with better-supported leaders.
I’m Kris, founder of Community Groundwork. After years working alongside leaders, teams and organisations across community and social services, I created Community Groundwork because frontline and middle leaders carry enormous responsibility—yet are too rarely given leadership development and ongoing support designed for the realities of human services.
Watch: Why I created Community Groundwork
In this short video, I share why frontline and middle leadership matters—and why better support for leaders is essential to better outcomes for workers, organisations, government and the communities they serve.
Practice Based Evidence and Evidence Based Practice
We value practice-based evidence. Research, policy and professional knowledge matter—but they only become useful when they are tested, adapted and improved through the lived realities of care and support work.
We listen to leaders, workers and communities to understand what is working, what is getting in the way and what needs to change. Their insight is not an afterthought; it is essential evidence for better leadership, stronger services and better outcomes.
A message from Kris: Why I created Community Groundwork
Coming soon
What guides us
Human first
Leadership starts with people. We meet leaders and teams with respect, clarity and genuine curiosity.
Grounded in practice
Practice is where policy becomes real. We help leaders translate ideas, standards and reform into useful action in complex care and support settings.
Trauma Informed
We understand that people bring lived experience and the impact of complex work to leadership. Our support promotes safety, trust, choice and connection.
Built through listening
We listen to leaders and care and support workers, letting their feedback shape what we offer.
Stronger together
Better leadership is not a solo pursuit. We create opportunities for leaders to learn with, support and challenge one another..
Compassionate accountability
We lead with empathy and clarity—creating the conditions for people to take responsibility, grow and do their best work.
Looking ahead
Community Groundwork will grow carefully through reflective supervision, coaching, shared learning, and more ways for people and organisations to shape the support they need.
Explore how it works