Designing for Impact: Strengthening a Regional Childcare Vision

I recently tested the Project: CreateChange approach with Angela Cochrane, founder of The Future Care Project, in regional Queensland — a dynamic woman tackling one of the most critical issues facing regional communities: access to childcare.

It’s a challenge with real consequences for small towns, where waitlists often stretch beyond two years and 78% of local businesses report major workforce disruptions because reliable childcare just isn’t available.

Angela’s vision is bold, practical, and community-led. My role was to help her articulate it with clarity and confidence. Across two focused 30-minute sessions, we explored why the project exists, unpacked the problem it’s trying to solve, and discussed the external challenges that could affect its success.

I then took this insight back to my desk and shaped it into a clear, logical project narrative that links day-to-day activities to long-term community impact and produced a five-page report with a visual outcomes map, clearly articulated assumptions, and a draft set of indicators and measures Angela can use to monitor progress and demonstrate success - something many early-stage projects struggle to define.

What struck me most was how quickly clarity can accelerate confidence. When founders see their ideas organised into a compelling story of change, the project stops feeling overwhelming and starts feeling actionable. That shift matters — especially for community leaders working in complex environments.

Angela captured the value of the process beautifully:

“Your input has given me the expertise and direction I need to confidently match my project to the priorities of partners and stakeholders.”

It was a privilege to work with someone so committed to strengthening regional communities. When leaders like Angela are given the right structure to express their vision, the path to change becomes clearer — and far more achievable.

If you’re shaping a community project and want support to turn a great idea into a clear, compelling story of change, I’d love to help. 💬

🔗 Explore Angela’s work: www.thefuturecareproject.com.au to find out more about her fabulous work.

From idea to impact: Growing a project from a seed

At Project: CreateChange, we help small not-for-profits create impact through simple, smart project design. By blending human facilitation, strategic thinking, and AI support, we help turn great ideas into clear, achievable project plans. This is an example of our work.

Murnong First Peoples’ Gathering Place (MFPGP) in Glen Iris is an Aboriginal-led hub for culture and connection. It provides a safe gathering place for First Peoples in Melbourne’s Inner East and creates opportunities for non-Aboriginal community members to deepen their understanding and walk together in reconciliation.

As a non-Aboriginal person and a strong ally, I love spending time with other volunteers in the Wominjeka Garden, in the office and at events. It is such a special place for everyone to learn, to connect and to show respect for country and for the First People who have cared for this place for 1000’s of generations.

Wominjeka Garden

The Wominjeka Garden, Murnong’s outdoor community space, is central to it vision - a place where people gather, yarn, learn, and connect with Country. Yet despite its importance, the garden and gathering place lack a clear visual identity. The main street entrance is hard to recognise and doesn’t feel inviting, making it easy to overlook. Many locals don’t realise Murnong is an Aboriginal-led organisation open to all.

As both a Project: CreateChange facilitator and a Murnong volunteer, I was recently part of an ideation session to explore ideas for a new grant opportunity. Together, we identified visibility and identity as the top priority. I then met with the project coordinator and a volunteer to discuss the project’s scope, intent, and key activities.

Back at my desk, I refined the project with AI support — clarifying its purpose, defining outcomes and activities, and mapping pathways to impact. The result was a clear, fundable plan with a set of impact measures aligned with Murnong’s strategy and vision. As one volunteer reflected:

“Wow Carina. This is amazing. So insightful and spot on… I cannot honestly think of anything to add.”

Although the group ultimately decided not to submit the grant due to documentation requirements, they left with a strong, fundable project they truly owned. For me, that’s the real success — a project grown from the heart of community, ready to attract the right funding and make its vision visible.

5th November 2025