This is Part 1 of an ongoing series exploring the intersection of personal transformation and systemic change. A Curious Tractor exists to create spaces for this kind of collective reimagining—working with organisations and communities ready to move beyond fixing broken systems toward building entirely new ones. Join the conversation by sharing your own reflections on how we might build communities organised around healing rather than harm. Drop a comment, share your story, challenge my thinking let's explore what becomes possible when we dare to imagine differently.
There's a different quality to time when you sit with Jimmy Frank Jupurrurla. It stretches and breathes, unfolds in layers that connect the boomerangs he crafted with old fellas at nineteen to the housing revolution he's leading today. In his presence, you understand that wisdom isn't measured in minutes but in generations, that true learning requires a patience most of us have forgotten how to hold.
The Global Laundry Alliance represents a radical reimagining of how social change manifests—not through isolated interventions but through collective wisdom, not through competition but through collaboration, not through prescription but through possibility.
A reflection on connection, knowledge-sharing, and the weaving of futures on Stradbroke Island
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JusticeHub is a community-driven platform that connects these solutions, amplifies success, and shifts funding directly to what works.
Returning to Kalkadoon Country (Mount Isa) became a profound lesson in community-led change. Supporting Brodie's evolution as a youth mentor, I witnessed wisdom flowing from two key elders: Uncle George, whose decades as a Police Liaison Officer taught him that real youth work happens through consistent presence, and Gary at the Men's Shed, whose practical approach shows how healing happens through doing. A simple create bed project wove through these conversations, transforming from initial setbacks into moments of dignity and connection - particularly when building with community members like Mark. Aunty Joan's careful preservation of cultural knowledge through her self-taught writing grounded these experiences in deeper tradition, reminding us that Indigenous wisdom offers pathways through modern challenges. As Uncle George said, "If you speak from the heart and you tell, and you say the right things and you speak the truth, people listen" - a guidance that proved true throughout this journey of learning and connection on Kalkadoon Country.
Through his work with Palm Island's rangers, Richard Cassidy shows how meaningful change happens when young people find their identity through both cultural connection and purposeful action - creating transformation that moves at the speed of ceremony rather than commerce.
Tonight reminded us that the solutions we seek already exist in Aboriginal wisdom and ways of doing - we just need to listen, learn, and follow proper protocols in bringing them into the present.
This story captures a transformative journey to Palm Island, where the process of building beds becomes a powerful metaphor for community connection, cultural respect, and regeneration.
We owe it to our young people, our communities, and our society as a whole to do better. The time for change is now, and the Diagrama model shows us that a brighter, more hopeful future is within reach. Together, we can create a youth justice system that reflects our values, honors the potential of every young person, and helps to build a stronger, more resilient, and more equitable society for all.
At A Curious Tractor, we believe in the power of action to transform uncertainty into possibility. Our innovative PTO (Power Take-Off) approach allows us to channel our energy, resources, and knowledge into diverse initiatives, from youth justice to healthcare worker support. While we may not always know where we're heading, we're committed to making our journey impactful and far from boring. We invite curious minds to join us in cultivating meaningful change, powered by empathy and innovation.
This remodelled pay phone, debuting at the Reintegration Puzzle Conference in Sydney, is designed to reshape narratives around reintegration and foster meaningful connections between conference participants, organisers and the community.
Playing with Chat GPT this morning building an A Curious Tractor comic
Welcome to the A Curious Tractor Community newsletter where once a fortnight you can get all the news from the farm.
In Queensland, our youth justice system is failing our most vulnerable young people, with a billion-dollar plan that prioritizes punishment over addressing the root causes of offending. It's time for a fundamental rethink - one that empowers Aboriginal communities, invests in prevention and healing, and sees the inherent potential in every justice-involved youth as a change-maker and leader in their own life and community.
As dawn broke over the University of Sunshine Coast, the air was charged with anticipation for the inaugural day of our Conversation Camp.
This post delves into the life of Vireak, a man who grew up in the challenging environment of Cabramatta, Sydney, in the 1980s and 1990s. Surrounded by crime, gangs, and drug addiction from an early age, Vic's story is one of resilience and redemption. Despite falling into the cycle of addiction and crime himself, he manages to break free, turning his life around to become a mentor and guide for young people facing similar struggles. His journey highlights the power of change, the importance of self-belief, and the impact of sharing personal experiences to inspire others.
It's overwhelming, isn't it?
From the moment A Curious Tractor sowed its first seeds, we've been dedicated to cultivating a culture of curiosity, creativity, and authenticity. Now, we're excited to introduce a new value to our fertile field - Raucousness.
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In the heart of Hue, Vietnam, a beacon of hope and empowerment shines brightly - The Hope Centre. This center, with its profound mission to uplift disabled and disadvantaged individuals, is transforming lives through vocational training and work opportunities.
I've been wrestling with whether to share this story. It's personal, raw, and still very fresh. But in the spirit of Ros, a woman who taught me to "Just f%@# do it - if it feels right, do it," I've decided to share. Last week, we lost Ros. Despite the pain of her passing, her spirit and lessons remain with us.
Discover the inspiring tale of Joe Kwon, a man who turned personal adversity into a mission to transform lives. His story serves as a poignant reminder of the power of resilience and the need for innovation in our social systems.
Sometimes I feel like life is hard - I have had a tough week and when I let that drive my attention it was debilitating. But my life is not hard really…
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