In this episode of The Belonging Shift podcast, host Mantej Singh speaks with Melissa Monteiro about belonging, migration, and settlement. Melissa Monteiro is Chief Executive Officer of the Community Migrant Resource Centre and Chair of the Settlement Council of Australia (SCOA). The conversation delves into the foundational importance of belonging for migrant and refugee communities in Australia. It explores personal experiences of belonging, shifts in migration, misunderstandings and barriers to belonging, leadership's role in fostering belonging, and solutions and advice for leaders to address these barriers.

Takeaways

• Belonging is foundational and essential for migrant and refugee communities to thrive in Australia.
• Belonging cannot be demanded or given; it exists in the space between the two.

Melissa’s advice for leaders and practitioners for making the #BelongingShift

Shift 1: Co-design with communities

Shift 2: Build long-term partnerships

Shift 3: Harness the potential of shared spaces

Shift 4: Create environments where everyone feels heard

Shift 5:Start with a genuine motive and intention and don’t be defensive if you get it wrong.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Belonging Shift Podcast

02:31 The Importance of Belonging in Settlement

04:58 Personal Journeys of Belonging

07:22 Shifts in Migration and Belonging

09:25 Understanding Belonging: Misconceptions & Realities

13:58 Barriers to Belonging in Leadership

20:20 Solutions for Leaders to Foster Belonging

23:22 Final Thoughts on Belonging

Guest Bio

Melissa Monteiro is Chief Executive Officer of the Community Migrant Resource Centre and Chair of the Settlement Council of Australia (SCOA), representing approximately 180 organisations across Australia’s settlement sector. She is also Member, Women Peace and Security Coalition of Australia about Belonging in the settlement sector. She is a qualified social worker with over 27 years’ experience. Her work work is grounded in an intersectional approach, addressing the layered impacts of gender, migration, race, and socio-economic inequality. She has led the design and delivery of prevention and early intervention initiatives that respond to the strengths and needs of diverse communities. She has been recognised as a Pro Bono Australia IMPACT 21 award recipient and appointed as a The Salvation Army Multicultural Ambassador. She serves on multiple national and state advisory bodies.

Host Bio

Mantej Singh is the Founder and Principal Consultant for Belonging Co, a social and cultural inclusion consultancy based in Sydney with a belonging lens. He founded Belonging Co in 2025 to enhance the capability, confidence, and understanding of leaders and organizations regarding inclusion and community participation. Mantej has over 20 years of experience in community engagement, placemaking, and inclusion, emphasizing that belonging is foundational to thriving communities and effective institutions. For more information visit www.belongingco.com.au

Lets grow the conversation

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In this episode of The Belonging Shift podcast, host Mantej Singh speaks with Zizi Charida, Founder, Zahia Pty Ltd., about belonging, community development, and going past surface-level tokenistic approaches. Zizi shares her insights on community development, the concept of belonging, and the practical steps needed to create a culture of belonging in workplaces and communities. She emphasizes the importance of understanding belonging as a verb and the need for authentic, genuine interactions to foster a sense of belonging. Zizi also highlights shifts and misconceptions in the belonging space, offering practical advice for leaders and individuals to foster belonging.

Takeaways

Zizi’s advice for leaders and practitioners on making the #BelongingShift

1. Move beyond tokenistic actions and build a genuine culture of belonging.
2. Look at systemic issues, not just individual experiences.
3. Treat belonging as a continuous journey, not a one-off initiative.
4. Build connections before jumping to solutions.
5. Belonging is created with people, not delivered from the top down.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Zizi Charida
• 05:17 Understanding Belonging
• 13:26 Shifts in the Belonging Space
• 19:27 Leadership and Belonging
• 30:06 Practical Steps for Belonging

Guest Bio

With over three decades of international and local community development experience, Zizi Charida focuses on strengthening capacity and forging genuine

belonging. As the founder of Zahia Pty Ltd and the creator of the Community Minded Kids initiative, Zizi champions innovative, asset-based approaches. She specialises

in creating platforms for inclusion and social equity, working directly with communities for practical, citizen-driven initiatives. For more info see zahia.com.au or connect with Zizi on on linkedin

Host Bio

Mantej Singh is founder of Belonging Co - a social and cultural inclusion consultancy based in Sydney Austarlia. He has 20+ years experience across community outcomes and engagement, placemaking, diversity and inclusion. Collaborate with Belonging Co to strengthen trust, meaningful engagement, and participation across your workplace and community outcomes — grounded in a unique belonging approach. For more info see www.belongingco.com.au or connect with Mantej on linkedin

In this episode of The Belonging Shift, host Mantej Singh speaks with Lucy Cole Edelstein, founder of Kadima Training, about what it takes to build genuine belonging through community engagement. She shares practical shifts for leaders: get on the ground, listen firsthand, treat engagement as risk management done early. Lucy reflects on three decades in the field and shares why engagement must move beyond spin and transactional consultation toward real relationships, time with communities, and humility - especially in a diverse Australia.

Key points

• Belonging brings a new mindset to engagement and should shape practice.
• Technology can speed work up, but it can also become something we hide behind.
• Straight communication builds trust more than polished messaging and “spin”.
• Engagement takes time - like a snowball, it grows as it rolls.
• The relationship shift and the humility shift are essential for enagging diverse communities.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Belonging & Community Engagement

02:58 Lucy’s Journey in Community Engagement

07:44 Evolution of Community Engagement Over 30 Years

13:08 Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging in Engagement

17:05 Barriers to Progress in Community Engagement

21:43 The Relationship Shift & the Humility Shift for belonging in engagement

Guest Bio

Lucy Cole Edelstein is a long-time community engagement practitioner, with 30 years experience across government, consultancy, and training. During this time she built and led teams, founded and onsold her own agency. She was a founding member of IAP2 Australasia and won multiple national and international awards for her engagement and facilitation.

Lucy established Kadima-training that sticks! - after a 30 year career as a consultant. She is passionate about engagement and supporting emerging and mid-career professionals to have the success she has had. Importantly, she is passionate about great practice, challenging work and achieving success at work while maintaining a balanced and rewarding personal life.

Links / resources

• Kadima Training website

• Lucy Cole Edelstein LinkedIn

About the host

Mantej Singh is the founder of Belonging Co - a social and cultural inclusion consultancy based in Sydney. He brings 20+ years’ experience in community engagement, placemaking and inclusion, focused on systemic change and community led outcomes. Mantej emphasizes systemic change, leadership accountability to foster genuine belonging and cultural inclusion.

Links / resources

• Belonging Co Website
• Mantej Singh LinkedIn

If this episode sparked a new idea, challenge, or possibility, share it with someone who’ll benefit. Follow and subscribe to The Belonging Shift podcast for future conversations.

Connect with Mantej or Lucy if you want help with your community and stakeholder engagement projects or initiatives.

In this inaugural episode of The Belonging Shift podcast, host Mantej Singh highlights why Belonging is the new standard for communities, businesses, and leaders. He explores why cultivating a mindset of belonging is essential — not just for inclusion’s sake, but for tangible impacts on community engagement, organisational performance, and social cohesion. Mantej emphasises that belonging is a universal need that intersects with diversity, equity, and systemic change, urging leaders to rethink how they embed belonging into their work - and use the language of belonging to connect to people.

Mantej Singh is the founder of Belonging Co - a social and cultural inclusion consultancy based in Sydney. He brings 20+ years’ experience in community engagement, placemaking and inclusion, focused on systemic change and community led outcomes. Mantej emphasizes systemic change, leadership accountability to foster genuine belonging. Read about Belonging Co services and approach or book a FREE discovery call to discuss your needs.

Key points in this episode

• The true meaning of belonging: feeling welcome, safe, respected, and able to influence

• Challenging myth: belonging is only about minorities

• Challenging myth: belonging is not about business

• Challenging myth: belonging is extra work

• Five belonging shifts needed to create systemic change

• Expand belonging beyond HR and organizational silos

• Design for intersectional dignity and accessibility

• Listen early and value lived experience

• Focus on systemic and structural changes

• Hold leaders accountable with visible responsibility

• Practical ways to embed belonging

• Individual differences while creating shared belonging

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Belonging

01:55 The language of Belonging

03:57 Barriers to Belonging

04:23 Barrier 1: belonging is about minorities

06:15 Barrier 2: belonging is not about revenue

08:50 Barrier 3: Belonging is extra work

11:25 Solutions for Belonging

11:49 Shift 1: Think not just about workplace belonging

12:44 Shift 2: Belonging is about dignity and intersectionality

14:05 Shift 3: Listen early, listen genuinely

14:53 Shift 4: Focus on changing systems and structures

15:49 Shift 5: Accountability has to sit with leadership

16:37 Belonging is the new standard

17:50 Conclusion and Future Conversations