The Shared Chair was born from silence. From the moments when stories existed, but no one was listening.
I am Ruzina Dahal, founder of The Shared Chair. I was born and raised in Nepal, and later moved to Australia, carrying with me not just hope and ambition, but stories, stories of identity, displacement, resilience, and becoming. Like many people navigating unfamiliar spaces, I experienced moments of invisibility. Moments of being misunderstood, excluded, or unseen. I carried stories that had nowhere to go. Stories that shaped me, challenged me, and changed me, yet remained unspoken. And over time, I realised something deeper: this experience was not mine alone.
Everywhere, there are people carrying stories in silence. Stories shaped by struggle, loss, survival, stigma, healing, and transformation. Not just from culturally diverse communities, but from all walks of life. People whose experiences have been minimised, dismissed, or never given the space to be heard. People who have learned to carry their truth quietly, because the world did not always make it safe to speak.
The Shared Chair was born from my lived experience, but it was created for everyone.
It exists to create spaces where people can sit, speak, and be truly seen. A space where stories, especially those that have lived in silence, can be shared with dignity, safety, and respect. Through workshops, human library experiences, community events, and storytelling collaborations, The Shared Chair brings human stories into the open, where they can foster empathy, challenge stigma, and create meaningful change.
This is more than storytelling. It is advocacy. It is healing. It is connection. It is about breaking the silence around experiences that society has too often ignored. Because when people are given the space to share their stories, something powerful happens. Shame turns into strength. Isolation turns into connection. And voices that were once unheard begin to reshape the world around them.
The Shared Chair is just beginning, but its purpose is clear: to ensure that no story has to live in silence, and that every person, regardless of their background or experience, has a place to be held, heard, and remembered.
Because stories don’t just belong to individuals. They have the power to break stigma, build understanding, and change the future for us all.
Upon Consultation
Upon Consultation
Upon Consultation
Upon Consultation
Upon Consultation
Become a Human Book
Share Your Story. Inspire Others. Be Heard.
Do you have a story that can change perspectives, challenge stereotypes, or help people see the world differently?
The Shared Chair invites you to become a Human Book!
By participating, you’ll join a community of storytellers who use their lived experiences to spark empathy, understanding, and connection. Plus, you’ll receive Human Book Certification, perfect for professional development, community engagement, or personal growth.
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Amplify your voice: Share your unique lived experience with a safe, supportive audience.
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Build empathy: Help others understand diverse perspectives and cultures.
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Grow your skills: Receive training and certification in storytelling facilitation.
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Professional development: Ideal for staff in community, multicultural, or social services.
Why Become a Human Book?
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Fill out the Expression of Interest (EOI) form below.
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Our team will review your story theme and suitability for the Human Book program.
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Participate in a certification program to prepare your story and facilitation skills.
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Be featured in storytelling sessions and pilot events run by The Shared Chair.
How it works
Your lived experience matters!
Share it, inspire others, be a Human Book.
Bring Lived Experience to Your Event, Workshop, or Program
Every story carries insight, courage, and wisdom. At The Shared Chair, we believe that real understanding begins when people are heard, seen, and valued.
Organisations, schools, community groups, and workplaces often design policies, programs, and events without the voices of the people most affected. This leaves gaps, assumptions, and missed opportunities for connection. Stories change that.
From migration journeys to disability experiences, mental health, LGBTQIA+ perspectives, gender diverse voices, and beyond, every lived experience has the power to inspire, teach, and transform. When you invite lived experience into your work, you:
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Build empathy and understanding in your teams and communities.
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Create programs and policies that are relevant, inclusive, and effective.
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Challenge stigma and amplify voices that are often unheard.
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Engage participants in ways that facts and figures alone cannot.
How it works:
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Workshops & Facilitation: Interactive sessions that bring stories to life.
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Human Library Experiences: Borrow a story for your event, program, or initiative.
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Storytelling for Projects & Campaigns: Tailored sessions to support engagement, training, or advocacy.
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Virtual & Video Experiences: Reach your audience anywhere, anytime.
No matter your focus or audience, we have stories ready to be shared, to educate, connect, and inspire. All you need to do is invite us in.
Let’s work together to make lived experience the heartbeat of your next project, event, or initiative.
Upcoming Events
A Place Where Your Story Can Rest...
Someone once said, "if you don’t have anyone to share your story with, you begin to forget it." This space exists so your story can live, be held, and be remembered.
