Living Learning Pakenham has welcomed their brand-new CEO, Audra Fenton, who is excited to take the reins of the organisation and develop new ideas to strengthen the community.
“I think it’s just a case of it almost feels like you’re giving back a little bit to the community,” Audra said.
After Miriam Cadwallader departed from the CEO role, it was then time to pick a new leader for the Living Learning Centre in Pakenham.
The change was significant after Miriam’s 12 years of service and there were many already at the community house who could potentially take on the role.
However, the person who would ultimately step up to the role is someone who has never worked in the sector before.
Audra Fenton assumed the role last month after decades in executive roles within the health industry.
She moved on from her former role as Director at Allied and Community Health in Warragul.
When she first saw the role, it wasn’t in her sector, so she dismissed it.
“I’ll be honest with you, first of all, it’s advertised and I just pressed delete on LinkedIn, because it wasn’t something I was interested in doing,” she said.
“But it came up again and I just thought, well, it’s something different.
“It’s different. I can use the skills I’ve got, but it’s a different area, much less resourced than healthcare.”
She has worked for the last 34 years primarily in health, starting as a nurse where she branched out into cardiology and mental health.
Audra moved to Australia 22 years ago from the United Kingdom, settling in Traralgon.
She grew up in West Yorkshire and her accent hasn’t quite waned in her time here.
Her nursing years would see her desire something higher, she would start taking on management roles in health from her twenties.
Decades later, her skills to get things done would see her in high-pressure executive roles in healthcare.
Though aware she is approaching retirement years, Audra doesn’t want to see out her career with the familiar.
“It had more of a community focus and I didn’t live in Baw Baw Shire, but I’ve worked there for 15 years, so it didn’t really make any difference where I live.
“I think it’s just a case of it almost feels like you’re giving back a little bit to the community.”
The difference between this role, for Audra, is that her previous roles see her in meetings mostly; this one sees her talking face-to-face with people and engaging with participants.
Pakenham was a town she was somewhat familiar with before the role. Doing her research before starting, she knew there were a lot of vulnerable families in the area.
“Whatever problems you deal with in one area, you can always adapt them for another.
“And the people have been so incredibly friendly, so welcoming, we have to chat to a lot of the customers, which has been nice.”
Audra will not only maintain the many services that Living Learning will provide, but also provide direction for future projects and expansion.
Instead of applying her own ideas, which she certainly has plenty of, Audra will soon oversee Living Learning’s new Strategic Plan.
The plan will inform the key goals and direction for the community house based on direct feedback from the community.
Audra’s direction will be both maintaining the organisation while promoting social health and wellbeing, but she will also remain open to the many ideas provided by participants and user groups.
The main objective is to provide for the needs of everyone.
“If someone comes here for a class, but it’s really not suiting them or we’ve got something else in social health and community connectedness, they can do more of it.”
Some ideas are being pursued at this stage. For instance, it’s hoped the Community Grocer, who sell fresh produce at Living Learning on Thursdays, can collaborate on a new cooking class that can help families pivot more to fresh produce and teach them to navigate it in a more affordable fashion.
Like all programs, they can only happen if a government body is willing to provide funds, but this will be one of many ideas to connect the community.
Audra knows somethings feel different at Living Learning, every new person brings their own method and priorities.
“It’s good to expand because I’ve got different ideas, but ultimately, it will be about the culture and it will be about what we deliver to the community.
“I get things done and I know how to do it efficiently and quickly, but I know how to consult as well.”
The development of a new Living Learning strategic plan will begin soon.
Living Learning Pakenham is open from 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday, 9am to 1pm on Fridays at 6B Henry Street, Pakenham.
You can learn more about Living and Learning at livinglearning.org.au
