Working in the community sector, especially in mental health and suicide prevention, I am regularly reminded of Graham Long’s words, former CEO of The Wayside Chapel, who lived by the principle that “people are not problems to be solved, but people to be met.” While it is common to hear people suggest “I’m broken”, they […]
https://dolphyn.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/The-Irony-of-Fixing.png10241536Rob Samshttps://dolphyn.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/1-600x600.jpgRob Sams2026-07-18 21:35:202026-07-18 21:35:20The Irony of Fixing: How Reductionism Can Break What It Tries to Repair
One of the profound lessons from my time working in mental health and suicide prevention is that helping is never just an act of kindness or support. Helping is also an exchange of power, sometimes subtle, sometimes obvious, but always present. Whether we are the one offering help or the one seeking it, we step […]
https://dolphyn.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/The-Power-in-Helping-Image.png10241536Rob Samshttps://dolphyn.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/1-600x600.jpgRob Sams2026-06-24 17:48:082026-06-24 17:48:08The Power in Helping
In every community, there are people quietly navigating challenges with mental health, addiction, and the complex emotions that accompany them – shame, isolation, fear, and hope. What often makes the difference is not a single intervention or program, but the presence of community: people coming together, listening, sharing stories, and reminding one another that recovery […]
https://dolphyn.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/1779442042458.png5761024Rob Samshttps://dolphyn.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/1-600x600.jpgRob Sams2026-06-19 14:39:132026-06-19 14:39:13Coming Together: Why Community Matters in Mental Health and Recovery
Just Hangin’ Out… One of the privileges of working in a community-led, service-oriented organisation, is that I come across some remarkable people. Remarkable, not because they are heroes who save the day, not because they perform magical acts that miraculously take away the pain and grief that many people we connect with experience, and not […]
Important Changes at Dolphyn Welcome to Dolphyn’s latest Newsletter where we share important and exciting news about our future. People who have followed our work closely will know of my personal involvement with Lifeline for many years. I started as a volunteer Director in the Newcastle & Hunter region in November 2012. Dolphyn began in March […]
Social Sensemaking In this piece I introduce you to two of the semiotic models developed in my first book Social Sensemaking. Firstly, The Decision Tree and then The Trade-offs Model. The Decision Tree Why is it challenging to accept that many of our ideas and thoughts originate in our unconscious? What is it that seduces […]
https://dolphyn.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Screen-Shot-2018-07-08-at-7.06.07-pm.png358376Robert Samshttps://dolphyn.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/1-600x600.jpgRobert Sams2018-07-08 20:05:132018-07-09 06:30:34Models From Social Sensemaking
The Irony of Fixing: How Reductionism Can Break What It Tries to Repair
in BlogsWorking in the community sector, especially in mental health and suicide prevention, I am regularly reminded of Graham Long’s words, former CEO of The Wayside Chapel, who lived by the principle that “people are not problems to be solved, but people to be met.” While it is common to hear people suggest “I’m broken”, they […]
The Power in Helping
in BlogsOne of the profound lessons from my time working in mental health and suicide prevention is that helping is never just an act of kindness or support. Helping is also an exchange of power, sometimes subtle, sometimes obvious, but always present. Whether we are the one offering help or the one seeking it, we step […]
Coming Together: Why Community Matters in Mental Health and Recovery
in BlogsIn every community, there are people quietly navigating challenges with mental health, addiction, and the complex emotions that accompany them – shame, isolation, fear, and hope. What often makes the difference is not a single intervention or program, but the presence of community: people coming together, listening, sharing stories, and reminding one another that recovery […]
Just Hanging Out
in BlogsJust Hangin’ Out… One of the privileges of working in a community-led, service-oriented organisation, is that I come across some remarkable people. Remarkable, not because they are heroes who save the day, not because they perform magical acts that miraculously take away the pain and grief that many people we connect with experience, and not […]
Dolphyn Newsletter – Sept. 2018
in NewslettersImportant Changes at Dolphyn Welcome to Dolphyn’s latest Newsletter where we share important and exciting news about our future. People who have followed our work closely will know of my personal involvement with Lifeline for many years. I started as a volunteer Director in the Newcastle & Hunter region in November 2012. Dolphyn began in March […]
Models From Social Sensemaking
in BlogsSocial Sensemaking In this piece I introduce you to two of the semiotic models developed in my first book Social Sensemaking. Firstly, The Decision Tree and then The Trade-offs Model. The Decision Tree Why is it challenging to accept that many of our ideas and thoughts originate in our unconscious? What is it that seduces […]