Mick Mackinlay Mick Mackinlay

Why “The Understanding Collective”?

why “the understanding collective”?

One of the hardest parts of creating a new business was the title, “What’s it called?”

I went through so. many variations before I happened to come to the one. And it came from simply saying “I want to make sure. that there is a collective understanding among parents and schools” BAM…….

Whittling that idea down from 20+ years in education to a defined business focus was difficult. Simply because there’s so much to understand when it comes to educating kids. From a naive 27yo to a hardened and somewhat tired 47yo, I learned so many things in a wide range of contexts that I felt had to be made common knowledge.

  • what is the poverty cycle and how does it affect education?

  • what does family separation do to a kids education?

  • what is the process to get my kid diagnosed? and then what?

  • what do catholic schools do differently to department schools?

  • and on on and on and on

I could write for days about the instances that have changed my mind about kids and education; about the moments that will either comfort or haunt me for the rest of my career; or about the people who have inspired me to do better through their own brilliance and those who proved to me that there is always more to do.

These are the schools I’ve taught at

  • St Monica’s in Oakey QLD

  • Sacred Heart in Palmerston NT

  • Tennant Creek High NT

  • Our lady star of the sea Esperance WA

  • Wilson Park, Collie WA

  • Laverton WA

  • Jameson Campus Ngaanyatjarra Lands School WA

  • Glen Huon PS Eaton WA

  • and a few relief spots in between

and the common thread in every of them is a lack of consistent communication to and from the schools. Principals and teachers giving different messages to families; specialists and families giving different messages to schools; separated parents giving differing messages to the school; and all manner of similar communication breakdowns.

I fully believe that all issues in the world, be it a disagreement over which movie to watch or the imminent WW3, can be resolved with effective, honest and respectful communication. We all have the ability to be compassionate, therefore we can all learn to compromise and consider different perspectives. And sometimes that’s all it takes to have a collective understanding.

be nice to your mum

Mick

Read More
Mick Mackinlay Mick Mackinlay

Why did I leave my job?

It all begins with an idea.

I had never been driven by money, like everyone, a little more would also be nice, but from a young age, I’d learned how to simply manage from week to week, or pay to pay. After years of self imposed financial struggle, I’d managed to become relatively debt free, As a deputy principal and with my side gig as a pub musician, I had finally been able to start a little saving as well as not worry if I could afford a coffee or a something new for the kids.

What had always been more important to me were relationships. maybe to my own detriment, I’d always sought connection with other people, which is why I found my place in education. Working with kids, teachers and families was always a source of connection for me, sometimes bringing great joy, sometimes frustration, sometimes overwhelming sadness, but connection nonetheless.

So when at a Deputy Principal Conference, I was asked “where do you find your joy?” I knew the answer didn’t lie in writing timetables, finding relief teachers or processing payslips. My joy came from helping people build more happiness in their lives. And one interaction sealed my decision more than others.

A yr3 boy had regularly become disregulated in class, becoming overwhelmed by noise, too many instructions and other kids getting under his skin. On the particular day, we sat next to each other on the ground, him sobbing and rocking, me quiet and still. I noticed that he was slowly inching closer to me, something very unlike him. As he got closer, his crying softened and his rocking slowed. Taking a punt, I asked, “Can I put my hand on your back?” He nodded, just once. And with that, the connection was made. He stopped crying and started talking. And from that moment on, I was his person at school, we talked every day, we had a handshake, I knew about his secret stick collection and what questions to ask when he was overwhelmed.

And I knew. THIS is what I want to do. Help kids. So I spent 6 months whittling down all the ideas I had, to this version of The Understanding Collection. Bringing people closer to the support and the people they need to be able to help their kids.

Because to me, that will always be more important than any pay check.

Be nice to your mum

Mick

Read More
Mick Mackinlay Mick Mackinlay

Blog Post Title Three

It all begins with an idea.

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.

Read More
Mick Mackinlay Mick Mackinlay

Blog Post Title Four

It all begins with an idea.

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.

Read More