Graduates of our Community Organising Fellowship played key leadership roles in the People’s Climate March in November. Around the world, three-quarters of a million people marched to encourage their leaders to take strong commitments to Paris. Marches were held in 50 cities and towns right around Australia. Their leadership speaks volumes about the impact of…
News & Updates
Featured News
September 13, 2015
Campaign Strategy Guide: ‘How to’ guides for organisers and activist educators
The Campaign Strategy Guide was the first instalment of the People Power Manual, a resource created for activist educators and facilitators. Campaign strategy needn’t be mystifying, lonely or stressful. Social movements become more powerful as more people are equipped to analyse their political context, consider paths to change and mindfully plan tactics. The Campaign Strategy Guide equips…
October 6, 2014
Community Organising graduate profile: Taegen Edwards
Taegen is a graduate of the 2014 Fellowship program and is currently a Community Organising Manager with Solar Citizens. Why are you passionate about Community Organising? Why is organising an important part of the solution in your community? A big part of the reason I love my job as an organiser at Solar Citizens is the people…
July 14, 2014
Grassroots action | Jane Stabb on sharing campaign skills in her community
At Environment Victoria, we are creating a structure to support local volunteer groups in our target areas with the objective of building and supporting a network of connected, engaged, and empowered community members who campaign actively to get great environment protections. While I was at the third workshop of the Community Organising Fellowship, I was…
July 14, 2014
Making public support visible: Glenn Walker on organisational renewal
The iconic Franklin River campaign – the cornerstone of our foundational story at the Wilderness Society – enlivened a budding movement and inspired a generation. It demonstrated that when passionate, committed people get organised and work together even the most entrenched power can yield. Over 30 years on from the historic High Court decision to…
Recent News
General News
February 16, 2015
Education or training? What’s the difference and why does it matter?
Training prepares people to do simple tasks reliably. It’s generally very practical and focuses on the competent completion of tasks. Education develops skills and knowledge. It involves forming and communicating ideas, developing and challenging understandings and learning to conceptualise and solve problems. Community organising and campaigning are not basic skills or competencies that can be learnt through…
Fellowship
February 11, 2015
Community organising graduate profile: Ellen Roberts
Ellen is a graduate of the 2014 Fellowship program and is currently a coordinator with the Mackay Conservation Group. Why are you passionate about Community Organising? Why is organising an important part of the solution in your community? Central Queensland has been feeling the impacts of coal and coal seam gas for decades, with thousands of…
General News
February 11, 2015
Education and social action… inexplicably intertwined
‘Education without social action is a one-sided value because it has no true power potential. Social action without education is a weak expression of pure energy. Deeds uninformed by educated thought can take false directions. When we go into action and confront our adversaries, we must be armed with knowledge as they. Our policies should…
Fellowship
January 20, 2015
Community organising graduate profile: Jaime Yallup Farrant
Jaime is a graduate of the 2014 Fellowship program and is a crowd funded Climate Campaigner in Perth WA and the coordinator of 350 Perth. Why are you passionate about Community Organising? Why is organising an important part of the solution in your community? Only with organised people can we defeat organised money. It sounds like a…
Featured
October 6, 2014
Community Organising graduate profile: Taegen Edwards
Taegen is a graduate of the 2014 Fellowship program and is currently a Community Organising Manager with Solar Citizens. Why are you passionate about Community Organising? Why is organising an important part of the solution in your community? A big part of the reason I love my job as an organiser at Solar Citizens is the people…
Fellowship
September 8, 2014
Circles of commitment
Mike Pulsford’s article outlines a model for thinking about the different levels of engagement of people involved in a campaign; what kinds of things people at each level can do, and what support they need to do those things; and how people can move from one level to another, aka a ‘ladder of engagement’. It also…
Featured
July 14, 2014
Grassroots action | Jane Stabb on sharing campaign skills in her community
At Environment Victoria, we are creating a structure to support local volunteer groups in our target areas with the objective of building and supporting a network of connected, engaged, and empowered community members who campaign actively to get great environment protections. While I was at the third workshop of the Community Organising Fellowship, I was…
Featured
July 14, 2014
Making public support visible: Glenn Walker on organisational renewal
The iconic Franklin River campaign – the cornerstone of our foundational story at the Wilderness Society – enlivened a budding movement and inspired a generation. It demonstrated that when passionate, committed people get organised and work together even the most entrenched power can yield. Over 30 years on from the historic High Court decision to…
Featured
July 8, 2014
Winter activist reading
What makes people tick? The three hidden worlds of settlers, prospectors and pioneers Chris Rose is well known to campaigners and strategists for his brilliant website and manual How to Win Campaigns. With What makes people tick?, Chris introduces the reader to settlers, prospectors and pioneers. Companies and campaigners, from Greenpeace to Shell, from the…
Featured
July 8, 2014
Circles of commitment, ladders of engagement
[Emma Wasson reflects:] The Wilderness Society is using an adaptation of the ‘Circles of Commitment’ framework adapted from Rick Warren’s “The Purpose Driven Church” to develop a conceptual framework to measure the activity and engagement of individuals in our organisation. The Wilderness Society speak of ‘Circles of Engagement’ (rather than ‘Circles of Commitment’). We found…
People Power Manual
People Power Manual
‘How to’ guides for campaigners, organisers and activist educators.
Official Channels
Official channels are things like grievance procedures, ombudsmen and courts. They are supposed to resolve problems and...