Family Communication & Succession

Project Overview

Succession planning and effective communication within amily-run businesses are ongoing challenges in regional WA. These issues often arise in emotionally charged environments, such as during times of climate stress and are made more difficult particularly for pastoralist due to their physical isolation.

This project responds to clear community feedback indicating a need for guided peer-informed support to help families build the skills, confidence, and motivation to address these complex topics.

Project Objectives

• Build practical communication skills within families.

• Support open and confident discussions around succession planning.

• Strengthen relationships between family members involved in businesses.

• Create a safe, relatable space to explore sensitive topics.

• Provide tools and strategies that families can apply at home.

• Foster peer-to-peer learning and reduce the stigma around family conflict.

• Maintain engagement through online check-ins and continued support.

• Encourage long-term planning and collaboration across generations.

Key Activities

• Face-to-Face Workshop (Early 2026): Designed specifically for those in family business to explore communication challenges, succession planning, and collaborative decision-making in a safe, supportive environment. Facilitated by professionals with real world agricultural (specifically pastoral) experience, the session will focus on tools and strategies that are immediately useful and relatable.

• Online Session (2025 - 2026): To maintain momentum and continue the conversation, a series of short, guided online sessions will follow, offering space for reflection, peer support,

and deeper learning tailored to the needs of participating families.