Parliamentary Leaders Program is now known as Next25 Leadership (2021)
THE CONTEXT
Our first Parliamentary Leaders Program ran in 2015 and we now count approximately 7% of all sitting parliamentarians as alumni, including 15% of NSW and 10% of WA parliaments. Facilitated under Chatham House Rule and a strictly non-partisan environment, those who attend choose to uncover and deeply understand their own values so that they become increasingly conscious individuals, more purposeful leaders, and constructive change-makers. This series of Q&As with program alumni and associated staff is designed to give all of our community the opportunity to get to know each other and to provide everyone with new insight into the experience of being a politician and some of the work our alumni are doing in relation to their professional development.
INTRODUCING
Mr Tim Crakanthorp MP has been a member of the Australian Labor Party since 1993 and the member for Newcastle in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly since 2014. He attended the 2019 State Parliamentary Leaders Program and is one of our most actively engaged alumni.
The Challenge
What was one of the biggest challenges you had to meet as a new parliamentarian?
To be able to work with a large volume of highly complex issues, constituents, and legislative challenges, all from the unenviable position of opposition.
The Course
What was it like investing two days in yourself and your professional development?
Training in most workplaces is a given. That has not been the case in NSW Parliament, so to have this opportunity for the first time in many years, to undertake self-reflection and professional development, I saw as a great opportunity.
The Core Values
What was the moment that you decided to go into politics?
Living in South Africa for a year during apartheid seeing incredible inequality, exploitation, and unemployment. In that year I made a vow to myself to always fight for my community to improve health, education, and social outcomes. That has led to eight years on Newcastle City Council and eventually NSW Parliament.
The Check-In
What's one benefit one-on-one coaching would offer you now that you've done the two-day course?
One-on-one coaching offers you the opportunity to really fine-tune your newly acquired knowledge as well as test the tools you now have, in a non-threatening environment. It also allows you to ask a whole lot of questions you may not ask in a large group and get a lot more value out of the experience.
The Change-Making
If you and other alumni could work together to transform and improve one element of the political system (no matter how ambitious), what would it be and what would that look like?
To work in a more bipartisan way to achieve positive outcomes in our respective electorates.
Bonus Question
What is the team at the Australian Futures Project like?
They are a really professional group who have facilitated a significant step-change in my life through the provision of new tools and methodologies to do my job in better ways.
Responses by Tim Crakanthorp MP, December 2020
Image of Tim Crakanthorp from newcastleherald.com.au
Know of a politician who you think would be interested or benefit from this Program? You can nominate a politician for the next Parliamentary Leaders Program here.