Our Vision:
No matter who they are, where they live or whatever their situation, everyone has the right to reach their full potential.
How we achieve this:
Learn Grow Become
- Learn2Learn and Learn2Learn LIVE programs – supporting adult students to start or return to study (also available for large cohort delivery)
- Learn2Learn lite – Free program for anyone across the world to access. Money should not be a barrier to success in education!
Queen Be
- Queen Be community – supporting perimenopausal and menopausal women across Australia through a mind-body-emotions approach
- Navigating the Change – an annual online Summit (January) informing and empowering perimenopausal and menopausal women across Australia
We reinvest 51% of profits into disadvantaged women and Indigenous education initiatives
We believe that by giving folk the right tools, mindset and resilience we can not only improve their learning outcome but also have a positive flow throughout their lives, and the lives of their families and communities.
Imagine a world where everyone understands HOW and WHAT to learn to take affirmative action in their lives, feeling CONFIDENT and MOTIVATED, ENGAGED and RESILIENT.
Imagine how they can then empower and build their families and their communities….
Our Story
Where It All Began
Learn Grow Become… and Learn2Learn
We believe that everyone has amazing potential.
And yet… so many students, particularly those from disadvantaged cohorts, fail to realise their dreams at higher education. Attrition varies between and within institutions, and for some cohorts completion (graduation) is achieved by only 30% of students (mature age, part time).
When the idea for our Learn2Learn program first took shape back in 2017,
we realised….
-> If we taught people to become effective learners, then they can
make the most of any learning opportunity… regardless of the skill
and interest of the instructor.
-> If we teach them to become more proactive, engaged and
genuinely interested in what they are learning… reaching graduation
will mean more than just a certificate.
-> And if the learning capability of our staff and students actually
match what is assumed and expected of them…. everyone will be
more confident and operating from a more equitable place.
Fast forward to 2019 and our first pilot research project in collaboration with CQUniversity. Hearing directly from the student participants how much the program changed and reshaped their learning – and themselves, validated our belief in the program.
Students shared how the program had helped them:
- retain knowledge beyond the end of term,
- improve their grades,
- help them feel more confident in themselves and their studies,
- improve their mental well-being, and
- make significant life changes to improve their ability to achieve success in their studies.
It really did change lives AND change learning outcomes!
2020 saw our first individual customer signup, and in January 2021 we launched our first University partnership with Swinburne University of Technology.
From there to here….
2023 saw a significant shift and growth – we began our transition from purely education focus, to taking our skills and expertise in personal, leadership and business growth and development to a whole new level.
With a new focus on menopausal/perimenopausal women, we now offer a suit of programs, communities and events to help women progress and to take control of their present and future – realising their potential personally and as an important part of their families and communities.
Meet Our Leadership Team
Tanya Rutherford
Founder and CEO
Tanya is a highly experienced program designer, facilitator, mentor and coach in both leadership and education; with a significant background in management accounting and business management spanning several industries in both Australia and the UK.
In 2014 she transitioned into student development, creating and facilitating the implementation and ongoing facilitation of CQUniversity’s student leadership program and annual conferences; as well as coordinating their Student Mentor program.
In 2017, whilst completing her Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Education, she identified the gap in support available to students which was a significant contributor to the student attrition issue (nationally and globally). This led to the development of our Learn2Learn program, which was officially launched through Learn Grow Become in 2019 with a collaborative research project being piloted through CQUniversity’s Student Mentor program. Recognised for her contribution to leadership through an honorary membership of the Golden Key society and Chartered Manager status with the Institute of Managers and Leaders. As the Queensland facilitator for Young Change Agents, Tanya continues to work closely with young people in developing entrepreneurial skills and supporting aspirations for change.
Tanya has a Masters in Business Administration (Leadership & Communication), Bachelor of Business (Accounting and IT), Graduate Certificate of Tertiary Education, Graduate Certificate of Arts (International Development & Environmental Analysis), and Certificate IV in Training & Assessment, several accreditations and certifications in the training and coaching area, including her recent certification in Feminist Coach Theory (equity and indigenous support focus).
Tanya’s life mission is to help people realise their potential and to bring out their best.
Dr Melinda Mann
Indigenous Education Advisor
Dr Mann is a Darumbal and South Sea Islander woman from Rockhampton and has connections throughout Central Queensland. She is an experienced manager in programs associated with student experience with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education and secondary school sectors.
Throughout her professional career, she has managed budgets in excess of $5m including multiple federal government grants through the Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program (HEPPP) and the Indigenous Student Success Program (ISSP). Melinda has a work history that includes program design and delivery of university school outreach programs and tailored support services for vocational and university students.
Melinda was the former chair of the Queensland Consortium of Universities for widening participation school outreach programs. She is also heavily involved in education leadership in local Indigenous communities and holds advisory roles for state wide bodies. Melinda has a PhD in Education, Masters of Learning Management and a Bachelor Degree in Business (Human Resources Management).
Her passion is Indigenous knowledges, leadership, lifelong learning, children and young people.
With Thanks – Grants and Sponsors
Swinburne University of Technology
Financial partners in the development of Learn2Learn Lite (2022)
Department of Employment, Small Business and the Training
(Business Basics and Social Enterprise Grants)
Social Enterprise Hub
Student Consultancy support (2023/24)
Would you like to support our work with Students or the Indigenous Learn2Learn program?
Certifications
At Learn Grow Become, we acknowledge and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Australians and the traditional custodians of the lands and waterways in which we live, learn and work.
We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We honour the continuing connection to culture, land, knowledge and community and that sovereignty was never ceded.
We also acknowledge that many best practices in learning have been an integral part of life for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for tens of thousands of years, and that in many ways we are only now discovering what they have always known and practiced...