Jennifer Barrkman

Member
Brisbane, Australia

My work story is a varied one with many twists and turns. I wear many different hats.  Fundamentally my gift is to create safe places for people’s stories and experiences to be respected and valued. I have learnt the importance of play, movement, improvisation and embodied learning so I also bring this approach to my work.

I have facilitated and organised training, workshops, team development, forums and conferences as well as oral history, digital story and community projects. I am co-founder of Red Thread Stories Australia Inc, a not for profit organisation that engages people and communities through story and Playback Theatre. I work as a psychologist and supervisor in private practice using mindfulness and narrative based approaches. I am very slowly becoming more mindful and less critical of myself! Another passion is oral history and ancestral stories.

I started my working life in the business world but after several years decided to move to the community sector. I have worked alongside and with people with disability, mental health issues, people from diverse cultural backgrounds and LGBTI community members.

I have joined to Campfire because it strives openly to be congruent with its values - “we walk the talk” - and use processes and structures that model participatory leadership and genuinely value each person. Since I studied organisational psychology nearly 30 years ago, this is a rare example of where this actually happens. I can be challenged to meet the integrity set by Campfire and I truly value these learning opportunities. The world needs more places where people, regardless of their role or position, are respected as equal contributors.