Our Story
Our Mission:
Our mission is to up-skill and empower community members and organisations to be prepared and willing to listen compassionately to each other.
Our Vision:
We envision Murwillumbah and the Tweed Valley as a community where deep, compassionate listening to one another is a core part of our culture.
who we are
Deep Listeners are everyday locals who are great listeners. When you see someone wearing the Deep Listeners badge, it means they’re available and ready to listen, no strings attached.
Anyone can join the Deep Listeners collective, although not just anyone can wear the badge. It has to be earned through training, skills development, background checks and a commitment to our code of ethics.
We are a diverse and welcoming bunch and together we’ve been through just about everything life can throw at us. We’d love to meet you and listen to YOUR story.
our history
Founder, Ursula Wharton presented her idea at ‘The Big Pitch’ in November 2019 after mentoring through It Takes A Town. Since then, dozens of people have joined the deep listening movement and been part of its development.
The members of the Deep Listeners collective were involved in designing the initiative, and our Code of Ethics. Some have now earned their badge and become visible and available listeners in town.
Our training has been developed by Ursula with wonderful support from specialists and experts.
Deep Listeners is auspiced by The Family Centre and supported by many wonderful local people and organisations including The Tweed Byron Suicide Prevention Project.
Ursula’s inspiration for Deep Listeners comes from the desire to create a legacy in honour of her teenage son, Josh who died in 2017 and suffered from a lack of compassionate connections in the community.
Before he died, Josh left a message. It may have been a list of priorities for himself, or advice for his loved ones left behind. Whichever it was, the words 'love, peace, help the world’ have become known as #JoshsWish and continue to inspire Ursula everyday to fulfil Josh’s intentions.
