The Academy of Hope is a series of creative experiments in Lutruwita/Tasmania, turning hope into action through shared reflection and systems exploration. Hosted by Esther Hill, Sarah Proud, and Kim Shore of the Lutruwita Compassionate Systems Lab*, this post reflects on our recent Hope in Action gathering.

Sitting in a circle together shouldn't feel like a radical act—and yet, as one participant noted during our opening ritual, it entirely is because of how rare it has become.

In early September, we welcomed new and old friends to the home of Material Institute (MI) in Bridgewater for Hope in Action. The event brought together twenty-four curious minds and big hearts from diverse fields to connect and explore a compassionate stance toward systems awareness.

The day began with a gentle orientation toward generative social fields, followed by a 3-Horizons workshop mapping present reality, future vision, and the bridge between them. In the afternoon, participants were immersed across MI’s learning spaces—the Beauty Lab, Market Garden, Art Studio, and Kitchen—grounding systems thinking in a hands-on approach that is place-based, relational, and regenerative. And because food is medicine and brings people together, we enjoyed a lush lunch prepared straight from the garden, closing out the day with a ritual fire tonic.

During the 3-Horizons session, we explored Regenerative Learning in Schools, Education Equity, and Healthy Food Futures.. While each group examined a distinct domain, a unified pattern emerged. All groups revealed that our current educational challenges stem from the same root cause: an industrialised, siloed, and compliance-driven way of working that separates learning, wellbeing, equity, and community life.

What else did we notice? From the moment people arrived, there was a What else did we notice? From the moment people arrived, there was a quality of connection that is all too uncommon: guests arrived not only leaning in, but reaching out. There’s a palpable readiness for communal spaces that offer room for personal reflection, collective sensemaking, and an intentional orientation toward transforming systems that no longer serve us.

We’re not alone in this exploration, nor is it the first time we’ve lived through liminal transitions between paradigms. But what makes this iteration so relevant is that we are bound by place—connected by this island home, Lutruwita, and for many of us, our orbit around Timtumili Minanya/ River Derwent and Kunanyi/Mount Wellington..

So where to from here? We’re holding these reflections close as we consider what comes next. How are you noticing the shift toward more relational, place-based ways of working in your own community or organisation? We’d love to hear your thoughts—leave a comment on our substack or send us an email hello@materialinstitute.org. You can also read a reflection from Academy of Hope collaborator, Kim Shore, on Medium here.

*The Academy of Hope is hosted by Esther Hill, Sarah Proud and Kim Shore, members of the Lutruwita Compassionate Systems Lab - an emergent venture connected to the Australian Centre for Systems Awareness.

Words by SP/Sarah Proud, CEO Material Institute