Trust. It’s one of those words that slips easily into conversations we need to trust government, trust the process, trust each other. But what are we really asking for when we talk about trust?
At its core, trust is not a policy goal or a public relations strategy it’s a human relationship. It’s built on connection, vulnerability, and mutual respect. Trust asks us to believe that others will act in good faith, even when we can’t control the outcome. It’s choosing to step forward when it might be safer to stand back.
The Trust + Flows Project Research Report describes trust as something that flows it must move both ways to remain alive. It isn’t enough for communities to trust institutions; governments and organisations must also show that they trust communities. When that flow is blocked, relationships stall. When it moves freely, collaboration thrives.
We can see this dynamic in the work of the Wide Bay Workforce Advisory Council (WAC). Over the past year, members from across the health, education, business, and community sectors have deliberately built trust by showing up consistently and focusing on shared purpose rather than competing priorities. They’ve had difficult conversations about workforce shortages, training gaps, and recruitment challenges but because those conversations are grounded in respect and openness, they’ve become opportunities for progress, not conflict. The group’s ability to share information honestly, test ideas together, and hold space for different perspectives has become one of its greatest strengths. Trust hasn’t been a by-product of that work it’s been the foundation.
Trust is also about vulnerability. It can’t exist without the willingness to take a risk to be open to being disappointed, misunderstood, or challenged. That’s what makes it powerful. It’s not blind faith; it’s a conscious decision to engage with honesty and empathy.
When we say we need trust, what we’re really saying is we need connection. We need the courage to be open, the humility to listen, and the respect to stand alongside one another not above. Trust is not soft. It’s the strongest social bond we have.
Project: Do Governments Trust Communities? The Trust Flows Project Research Report
Research Stream: Building Resilience to Social Harms
Authors: Mark Duckworth, Christine Horn, Michele Grossman
DOI: https://doi.org/10.56311/FZLZ2190
Duckworth, Mark, Christine Horn, Michele Grossman, (2024) Do Governments Trust Communities? The Trust Flows Project Research Report Melbourne: Centre for Resilient and Inclusive Societies.
