Skills compass tool

The Skills Compass is a self-assessment tool to help people in place-based work determine which training from our Course Archive is most appropriate for where you’re at.

Follow the prompts below to use the tool, and you will have the option to receive a full report of your self-assessment by email.

Skills Compass Tool

A reflective tool to help you understand your strengths and identify capability building and learning opportunities across the six key skills for place-based work.

How it works: For each statement, rate yourself on this scale:

1 – Unsure

2 – Not Yet

3 - Sometimes

4 – Often

5 – Confident

At the end of each key competency, you’ll see which skills feel strong and where you might want more training or support.

1. Leadership

Builds momentum to shift power

I communicate with humility. I recognise my own biases, adapt to diverse audiences, share information openly, and ensure all voices are heard in ways that support self‑determination.

1 - Unsure

2 - Not Yet

3 - Sometimes

4 - Often

5 - Confident

I build trust and collaboration across groups. I foster strong relationships, support community ownership of data, break down silos, and work with partners toward shared, community‑driven goals.

1 - Unsure

2 - Not Yet

3 - Sometimes

4 - Often

5 - Confident

Total Score

Explore strengthening Relational leadership through training, peer support, secondments, mentoring or other strategies

Keep doing what you do and consider mentoring or peer support to help others build their skills.

1. Leadership, continued...

Builds momentum to shift power

I am adaptable and flexible. I explore options collaboratively, and guide groups toward community‑centred decisions while creating a safe‑to‑fail environment where people can test ideas, reflect openly and learn from mistakes.

1 - Unsure

2 - Not Yet

3 - Sometimes

4 - Often

5 - Confident

I intentionally nurture future leadership. I build momentum across teams and create regular spaces for reflection, learning and growth.

1 - Unsure

2 - Not Yet

3 - Sometimes

4 - Often

5 - Confident

Total Score

Explore strengthening Adaptive leadership through training, peer support, secondments, mentoring or other strategies

Keep doing what you do and consider mentoring or peer support to help others build their skills.

1. Leadership, continued...

Builds momentum to shift power

I use and share place‑based tools (e.g. Program Logic) and methods (e.g. Theory of Change). I help teams stay aligned on purpose, make informed decisions and stay focused on creating real community impact.

1 - Unsure

2 - Not Yet

3 - Sometimes

4 - Often

5 - Confident

I apply tools such as Social Return on Investment (SROI) to capture, interpret and report on the social value created. I ensure our work is transparent, meaningful and accountable to the community.

1 - Unsure

2 - Not Yet

3 - Sometimes

4 - Often

5 - Confident

Total Score

Explore strengthening Using and Sharing PB Tools through training, peer support, secondments, mentoring or other strategies.

Keep doing what you do and consider mentoring or peer support to help others build their skills.

2. Deep Listening & Analysis

Uncovers insight for accountability

I gather and interpret evidence — research, data and community insights — to understand deeper patterns and system drivers. I use systems thinking to see how issues connect and shape my understanding of the whole system.

1 - Unsure

2 - Not Yet

3 - Sometimes

4 - Often

5 - Confident

I draw on data, evidence and community knowledge to develop solutions that address root causes rather than symptoms, ensuring my decisions are grounded in what communities know and value.

1 - Unsure

2 - Not Yet

3 - Sometimes

4 - Often

5 - Confident

Total Score

Explore strengthening System thinking/big picture skills through training, peer support, secondments, mentoring or other strategies.

Keep doing what you do and consider mentoring or peer support to help others build their skills.

2. Deep Listening & Analysis, continued...

Uncovers insight for accountability

I facilitate open, judgment‑free conversations by practising deep listening, holding space for others’ experiences, managing power dynamics and drawing out diverse insights. I reflect information back clearly to support collective understanding and shared direction.

1 - Unsure

2 - Not Yet

3 - Sometimes

4 - Often

5 - Confident

I bring positive energy that strengthens engagement and trust. Creating safe, motivating spaces where all voices are valued and people feel encouraged to contribute, learn together and move toward common goals.

1 - Unsure

2 - Not Yet

3 - Sometimes

4 - Often

5 - Confident

Total Score

Explore strengthening Listening/Facilitation skills through training, peer support, secondments, mentoring or other strategies.

Keep doing what you do and consider mentoring or peer support to help others build their skills.

2. Deep Listening & Analysis, continued...

Uncovers insight for accountability

I do independent research, review existing evidence, and interpret data to understand underlying drivers and design programs for impact.

1 - Unsure

2 - Not Yet

3 - Sometimes

4 - Often

5 - Confident

I use data and evidence to support learning. I influence change by tracking progress over time, reflect on what’s working and advocating for policy or systems improvements.

1 - Unsure

2 - Not Yet

3 - Sometimes

4 - Often

5 - Confident

Total Score

Explore strengthening Unpacking data to influence program design, policy & advocacy skills through training, peer support, secondments, mentoring or other strategies.

Keep doing what you do and consider mentoring or peer support to help others build their skills.

2. Deep Listening & Analysis, continued...

Uncovers insight for accountability

I practise awareness of trauma impacts, minimise re‑traumatisation, and use approaches that promote emotional safety, choice, trust and empowerment for all participants.

1 - Unsure

2 - Not Yet

3 - Sometimes

4 - Often

5 - Confident

I recognise risks, respond appropriately to concerns, and embed behaviours, boundaries and processes that ensure children feel safe, heard and respected in all interactions.

1 - Unsure

2 - Not Yet

3 - Sometimes

4 - Often

5 - Confident

Total Score

Explore strengthening skills around Creating trauma-informed, child-safe spaces through training, peer support, secondments, mentoring or other strategies.

Keep doing what you do and consider mentoring or peer support to help others build their skills.

3. Stakeholder Analysis & Engagement

Connect allies for change

I identify and engage key stakeholders by researching and mapping key players. I build empathetic and respectful relationships, and create open communication so people feel heard and able to work together toward shared community priorities.

1 - Unsure

2 - Not Yet

3 - Sometimes

4 - Often

5 - Confident

I facilitate collective action. I align interests, support collaboration across sectors, and spot opportunities or barriers and work with others to strengthen systems, reinforce what’s working and address what’s not.

1 - Unsure

2 - Not Yet

3 - Sometimes

4 - Often

5 - Confident

Total Score

Explore strengthening skills around Cross-sector collaboration/Relational Leadership through training, peer support, secondments, mentoring or other strategies.

Keep doing what you do and consider mentoring or peer support to help others build their skills.

4. Co-design

Shares decision-making and strengthens subsidiarity

I facilitate inclusive co‑design by centring community voices. I create safe and accessible spaces. Engage people with lived experience. Collaborate with stakeholders to explore ideas, test and iterate based on shared learning.

1 - Unsure

2 - Not Yet

3 - Sometimes

4 - Often

5 - Confident

I apply co‑design tools. I use participatory methods and evidence to develop meaningful, locally grounded solutions that reflect community priorities, diverse perspectives and real‑world context.

1 - Unsure

2 - Not Yet

3 - Sometimes

4 - Often

5 - Confident

Total Score

Explore strengthening Codesign skills through training, peer support, secondments, mentoring or other strategies.

Keep doing what you do and consider mentoring or peer support to help others build their skills.

5. Effective Project & Program Management

Turns collaboration into delivery

I plan and guide projects from start to finish. I set goals, timelines and roles, helping teams stay organised and focused. I track progress, adapting when things change and communicating clearly about what’s happening and why.

1 - Unsure

2 - Not Yet

3 - Sometimes

4 - Often

5 - Confident

I use structured tools such as Theory of Change or Program Logic to manage risks, monitor learning, evaluate progress and adjust direction. I ensure decisions are informed, transparent and responsive to what’s working and what needs to shift.

1 - Unsure

2 - Not Yet

3 - Sometimes

4 - Often

5 - Confident

Total Score

Explore strengthening Effective Project and Program Management skills through training, peer support, secondments, mentoring or other strategies.

Keep doing what you do and consider mentoring or peer support to help others build their skills.

6. Use of Data & Evidence

Fuels learning and system improvement

I uphold community data sovereignty by ensuring communities decide how their data is collected, stored, accessed and used. I apply ethical, culturally safe governance practices that protect sensitive information and align with cultural values and rights.

1 - Unsure

2 - Not Yet

3 - Sometimes

4 - Often

5 - Confident

I collaborate with communities to interpret and apply data for their benefit. I support community‑led analysis, share findings and use data to strengthen local decision‑making and outcomes.

1 - Unsure

2 - Not Yet

3 - Sometimes

4 - Often

5 - Confident

Total Score

Explore strengthening Data Sovereignty skills through training, peer support, secondments, mentoring or other strategies.

Keep doing what you do and consider mentoring or peer support to help others build their skills.

Receive your results

Add your name and email address to receive a copy of your Skills Compass results and a downloadable summary.

Name

Email address