Doing It Together: Motherhood, Leadership, and Community at ArLA
- ArLA Australia
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
By Fernanda Valenzuela and Diana González, Directors of ArLA Community Australia
ArLA Director Diana González and her family - Photo by Rose Jarman Photography
"Motherhood does not only change our personal lives. It changes how we participate, how we lead, and how we build community. "
This Mother’s Day starts like most days: packing bags, checking the weather, and hoping you didn’t forget the snacks.
Not so long ago, leaving the house was simple: makeup, phone, wallet.
Now it means thinking about the UV index, packing extra clothes, bringing toys, snacks, a hat… how many nappies do we need? You add one more thing, then another, just in case. You finally get out the door… and then realise, oops, I forgot to do my makeup!.
Motherhood has a way of transforming even the smallest moments. It also changes how we show up in the world, often in ways we don’t expect.
ArLA Director Fernanda Valenzuela and her family - Photo by Emmanuel Rodriguez
At ArLA, that transformation is part of our story .
Today, we want to recognise all the mothers in our community, and especially our Board Directors. In 2024, our three Directors became mothers, navigating migrant motherhood far from their village. Rather than slowing them down, this new chapter reshaped their commitment and strengthened it.
Meetings started to look a little different. Babies appeared on camera… “hey sweetie, say hello to everyone?”… and real life, including breastfeeding moments, became part of the conversation… “oops, he’s tired, hold on for a sec.” Showing up did not stop. It simply started to look different.
Two years ago, these same Directors were also founding members of ArLA Village, a space created for mothers and caregivers across Australia to connect, share experiences, and support one another. What started as a simple idea, a few conversations, and a need to feel understood, has grown into a meaningful network that reflects the diversity and strength of our community.
ArLA Founder and Director Daniela Silva and her family - Photo by Bel Montoya
Motherhood has not only stayed at home. It has shaped the way we lead.
In 2025, this was reflected in important milestones for ArLA. ArLA Community Australia became a public company and a registered charity, marking a significant step forward in our journey. And with this came new responsibilities.
We strengthened our governance, built more sustainable financial practices, and developed policies that support and guide our volunteer work, while continuing to grow our local initiatives.
Behind all of this, there is something equally important, though often unseen: None of them do this alone.
Behind every mother who volunteers in ArLA, there is a support network of family, friends, and community who make this work possible. For migrants especially, these networks become essential. They are the ones who step in when needed, who say “I'm here", "you’ve got this,” "Let's try again" who celebrate the small wins, and who create the space for us to keep showing up.
Motherhood does not only change our personal lives. It changes how we participate, how we lead, and how we build community.
At ArLA, motherhood has not been a limitation. It has been a new way of contributing, connecting, and growing.
Today, we celebrate all mothers who continue to create spaces, open pathways, and support others with generosity and resilience.
Because in the end, it is not about doing everything perfectly.. It is about doing it together.
About ArLA Village:
Inspired in the local government parent groups this will be a space for mums and mums to be, to share their experiences while developing a career in Architecture in Australia, or looking for a job in the field. This will be a platform with virtual meetings with orientated discussions about different related topics. ArLA village welcomes all to join the conversation. This growing community values the benefits of the experience sharing and embraces the diversity of perspectives, the main objective is to create a supportive environment where everyone can contribute. Ask for the Whatsapp chat link filling the form below:
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