How it all began

The Quiet Voice Story

In 2014, JoJo, a former archaeologist, dedicated much of the year to researching, meditating, and exploring the possibilities of blending elements of emerging circular gift economies with socially connected Creative Placemaking. This exploration culminated in early 2015 with the launch of the first community-led Squilometre initiative.

While implementing the Squilometre project, JoJo encountered a significant challenge: reaching and engaging a wider cross-section of the community, particularly those beyond the well-resourced and highly motivated individuals already active in community-related activities.

This realisation inspired the development of the Quiet Voice Methodology (QVM)—an innovative and highly effective approach to encouraging participation from individuals and groups traditionally overlooked or underserved by conventional community consultation and engagement methods.

Quiet Voice Methodology ..

Empowers and animates those who don’t normally participate.
It rejects “hard to reach” as a description and reframes our role as community development workers

The Quiet Voice Difference

Quiet Voice - not 'hard to reach'

We believe that “Quiet Voice” is a more appropriate term as it captures both of these groups, including those experiencing more recognisable barriers to participation. It is, therefore, a more accurate reflection of the granularity of the 21st-century community.

Animation - not 'engagement'

It’s main benefit is that we do not seek to engage residents in our idea of what they should do or what needs to be fixed. Rather it means standing shoulder to shoulder with them, long-term, and asks “what would you like to do?” In this way we seek to encourage residents to become the active agents of their own change.

Inclusive - not 'Exclusive'

Many initiatives don’t require an understanding of how “community” breaks down into already animated voices and Quiet Voices so the question “Who’s NOT here?” largely goes unasked. Yet we know, don’t we? “Engagement” doesn’t reach the Quiet Voice.

being Informed - not 'informing'

We’ve concentrated our approaches on the very front end of the conversation and refined the approach to animate those normally resistant to community action.

The three Stages to Building your community Animation Skills

Stage 1 –

Introductory Workshop

We recommend beginning with a Half-Day Introduction to Quiet Voice Methodology (QVM).

This introductory workshop covers the foundational principles of QVM, clarifying its scope and essential components, and providing practical examples to illustrate its application.

Stage 2 –

Gaining a QVM Foundation Certificate

For continued professional development tailored to community workers, we offer the QVM Foundation Certificate, which includes:

Three units focused on ‘place-based’ practices.
Additional units exploring ‘transactional’ methodologies.

Delivered over six weeks as an online course, these units provide an in-depth theoretical foundation in Quiet Voice Methodology.

Stage 3 –

Becoming a Licenced QVM Practitioner

For those looking to deepen their practice, the QVM Practitioners’ Licence includes:

Six additional online sessions with comprehensive support materials.
Targeted mentorship and practical workshops to enhance applied skills.

Upon successful completion, Practitioners receive:

Ongoing access to QVM resources and branding.
Permission to title and market themselves as a “Licensed QVM Practitioner.”
Opportunities to generate income and pursue further training within the Interwoven network.

Our QVM Vision

We’re working towards a world where people are better connected to each other and to their place.

We work to build their capability to identify their own strength and power.

We animate communities to be the agents of their OWN change.