Purpose of the Facilitators Declare Statement 

As facilitators, we see and feel that we are a part of, rather than separate to, the climate and living systems emergency that is unfolding. We understand that we have an active role to play and align our practices with this reality. We do not sit on the sidelines - there’s too much at stake. We work in service of life and the possibility of thriving futures. 

This declaration provides a mechanism for facilitators to engage with and commit to acting in ways that are aligned with being in service of life and thriving futures. It is intended to be a catalyst for deeper and wider engagement within the facilitation community about our individual and collective responsibilities in this climate and living systems emergency. 

Facilitators Declare Statement 

As facilitators, we declare a climate and living systems emergency. With open eyes and open ears and open hearts we commit to aligning our facilitation practice with this declaration. We will do this by creating space for authentic and courageous conversations that acknowledge ‘what is’ not ‘what has been’, and that builds momentum toward a life-sustaining future for all. This is relevant to all the work we do: all our conversations, with any group of people, anywhere - regardless of the topic. 

We invite you to walk with us on this journey. 

As facilitators we acknowledge …

1. For the benefit of everyone, so much can change by deeply listening and learning from First Peoples’ ways of knowing, being and doing, that have and continue to sustain and affirm life. 

2. We are in a global human-induced climate and living systems emergency. It affects all living things. Some people and places are being affected sooner and more intensely than others. 

3. Our climatic and living systems emergency is a symptom of systems, structures, actions and beliefs that are interconnected. Climate justice needs to be woven into our responses. 

4. We need to be, know and do in ways that support life and thriving futures, rather than in ways that brought us into this emergency. 

5. We have a responsibility to acknowledge and to act ; (our) life depends on it.

Where the statement came from

A group of facilitators (Ross Allen, Angela Andrews, Che Biggs, Pru Gell, Hedy Bryant, Laurel Freeland, Simone Maus, Cassie Wright and others) formed to explore what it means to be a facilitator in the context of our current world where the systems that enable life are breaking down and alongside this how great transformation is possible.

Pru Gell initiated and the group co-created The Facilitators Declare Statement. The statement, and accompanying resources are offered to facilitators, in the Australasian Facilitators Network and globally, as a tool which we can individually adapt in our practice and to our contexts. 

For more information and resources please view our collection here. Please note that they are all currently in development.