COLLABORATE WITH THE COMMONS
The Commons works in partnership with movements to gather and share knowledge, support collective learning and build power.
The Commons Library gathers, grows and shares the knowledge movements need. In addition to building and maintaining the library we undertake projects and partnerships, contributing our skills in information management, activist education and research.
This page includes examples of how we can work together to:
- Curate Collections
- Strengthen Movement Learning
- Set Up Resource Libraries
- Undertake Research and Analysis
- Provide Training and Support
- Broaden Access to Resources
We also welcome other ideas for collaboration, contact us to discuss.
CURATE COLLECTIONS
The Commons Library is made up of collections contributed by campaigning and capacity-building not-for-profit organisations. Each collection is a curated set of resources that reflects the approach to social change, knowledge and experiences of its contributors.
The Commons provides a platform where organisations and networks can host and share their materials, making them accessible to movements everywhere — even after projects or websites have ended. Before you spend time and money setting up a new website talk to the librarians about how you can find a home on The Commons.
Explore Past & Current Projects
International Collections
The Commons hosts growing collections for international networks, focused on particular skillsets or issues.
- Narrative Change Hub
A co-created international resource to support those using storytelling and narrative strategies to drive progressive change. The Commons Library collaborated with IRIS (the International Resource for Storytelling and Impact) to build this collection, which welcomes content on an ongoing basis. - Workers Rights Hub
A wide range of resources to support people engaged in organising, campaigning and narrative change for economic justice, labor rights and the future of work. Developed in partnership with IRIS, as part of the Future of Work(ers) project. Submit a resource. - Global Grassroots Support Network
A community of practice that brings together projects supporting grassroots justice-oriented activist groups in multiple regions and continents. GGSN develops best practice guides around common challenges that these groups face, and how each project has solved them. - Democracy Resource Hub
A wide range of tools and resources for anti-authoritarian and pro-democracy organizing in an easily accessible manner for trainers/facilitators, researchers and practitioners.
It has been a great pleasure and learning journey to work with the Commons Social Change Library in setting up the Democracy Resource Hub. Holly and Antje have been instrumental partners as we sought to develop a place in which activists, organizers, bridgebuilders and peacebuilders from around the world can find tools and resources in their work to push back against democratic backsliding.
Tabatha Pilgrim Thompson & Bayingana Simon
Democracy Resource Hub
Organisation Collections
The Commons hosts collections from a number of organisations who share their resources to connect with the library’s large and diverse audience. For examples see:
- Australian Progress
A large collection featuring materials from several Progress and FWD+Organise conferences, messaging guides, and more. - Social Change Lab
Reports and articles from a UK based research lab dedicated to studying the impact of protest movements on public opinion, public discourse, and policy. - European Center for Digital Action
ECDA supports progressive organizations and political parties across Europe, opening campaigns up to everyday citizens through digital tools.
Legacy Collections
When a project has ended there may still be much to learn from it. The Commons includes collections from:
Commons Project Collections
The Commons Library includes collections from projects we have undertaken to support ongoing learning.
- Countering Disinformation
The Countering Disinformation Collection features curated resources focused on tackling misinformation and disinformation. In collaboration with YLab and the Foundation for Young Australians, it also includes a series of short videos and a workshop for young people exploring disinformation in the lead-up to the 2025 election. - Reset Reading Group
The Reset Reading Group was a bookclub set up by the Commons Library during the time of COVID lockdowns, April – July 2020. Each fortnight leading progressive thinkers shared materials for reflection, discussion, and potential action on key themes central to a just future. The materials are still available in the library and include articles, films and podcasts from philosophers, political theorists, educators, agitators and artists. - Organising Models Mapping Project
The Organising Models Mapping Project was a joint project by the Commons Library and Australian Progress. It explored different organising models being utilised in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. The project included a survey completed by 24 organisations in 2022. - Making Advocacy Accessible
The Making Advocacy Accessible was a project run by the Commons Library with guidance from People With Disability Australia (PWDA) and the Council for Intellectual Disability (CID).
Our collaboration with Commons Library was a very positive, uplifting experience. The Making Advocacy Accessible content on the Commons Library web site is very well laid out, a pleasure to view, and respectful of people with disability. It was my absolute pleasure to work with project lead Holly Hammond, and PWDA would not hesitate to undertake further projects with the Commons.
Janel Manns
People with Disability Australia
Strengthen Movement Learning
Through podcasts, case studies and resource curation, we share lessons from across movements — helping people learn from real-world experiences and strengthen their practice.
Explore Past & Current Projects
Bridging the Divide between Researchers and Campaigners
Research and writing about social change can be extremely valuable for informing future action. However, too often there are barriers between activists and academics. People engaged in social change can struggle to access relevant research due to online paywalls and the expense of academic publications. Researchers and writers can find it difficult to reach beyond academia and policymakers to find movement audiences for their work. Learn more about sharing research and reports via the Commons Library.
Tactics Toolkit
The Commons Library is building a Tactics Toolkit to meet the demand for practical educational materials about a wide range of actions. The Toolkit will include clear guides, case studies of how movements are using different tactics, and accessible tools for choosing and designing effective actions.
If you would like to contribute materials and funds that will make a big difference to people power, contact the librarians.
Commons Conversations Podcast
Every year the Commons team interview campaigners, or pair them up with each other, to share experiences and insights into activism, learning in movements, radical history and more. The Commons Conversations Podcast is broadcast by Community Radio 3CR in Australia and produced by the Commons Social Change Library.
Want to tell a crucial story or fund an episode? Get in touch.
Capturing Case Studies
The Commons team research and write comprehensive case studies so lessons can be learned, across movements and places. Whether a short summary or an extensive oral history, we can work with you to tell the story. For an example see Organising! A Remedy for Despair: How Workers at the University of Melbourne won back $45 million in Stolen Wages.
The Commons also provides training, coaching and guides on how to document campaigns.
Research Fellows
The Commons supports activists to develop and implement research skills, investigating social movement challenges and innovation. See the outputs of the Movement Monitor Fellowship and contact us if you would like to sponsor a fellow.
The research skills I got (out of the fellowship) were really beneficial… being able to have that leading role in the research, it’s just so hard to get that kind of experience. It felt like a really rare opportunity.
Michelle Prasad
Research Fellow, 2025
Set up Resource Libraries
The Commons helps organisations design, build and host digital libraries that make knowledge easy to find, use and share. From tailored resource hubs to long-term hosting, we support movements in preserving and growing their collective wisdom. We also offer guidance on how to strengthen your website and make your resources more accessible to communities.
Explore Past & Current Projects
Australian Trade Union Institute Library
With many diverse resources in many different places the Australian Trade Union Institute ATUI Library recognised the need to provide a simple, easy to use platform for their members to access resources. In 2023 ATUI engaged the Commons to set up a library with a similar structure to the Commons.
As part of this work the Commons also helped set up the Australian Workers Film Guide to be a searchable database.
Leading Change Network Resource Center
The Leading Change Network LCN needed a professional platform for community organisers to find resources. Impressed with the way the Commons was set up LCN engaged the Commons to design and develop a Resource Center. The new LCN Resource Center was launched in 2022 and the Commons librarians continue to provide ongoing support to the team at LCN.
The Leading Change Network has always wanted to give organizers and organizations access to community organizing resources in a professional, easy to find way.
Thanks to the support of the Commons Social Change Library we have launched a new and improved Resource Center. Their librarian expertise and attention to detail merged with passion and knowledge about organizing led to a high quality output. I’m very happy with this partnership.
Mais Irqsuis
Director, Leading Change Network
Research & Analysis
The Commons partners with movements to undertake research, analyse models, map trends and measure impact. Our research projects provide insights that strengthen strategy, coordination and long-term planning.
Explore Past & Current Projects
Movement Monitor
The Movement Monitor project (2023-2025) developed a comprehensive movement measurement methodology and applied it to the Australian climate movement. The project was run by researchers at the Commons Library with input from academics, international movement experts, and many stakeholders in the Australian climate movement.
Organising Models Mapping Project
This research project explored different organising models being utilised in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. The project included a survey of organisations that use organising as part of their advocacy. The results are available to the public on the Commons, along with a template groups can use for reviewing or developing their organising programs. The project was a collaboration between the Commons Library and Australian Progress.
It was a delight to work with The Commons on our project: Mapping Community Organising Models. We share a passion for deepening our collective knowledge around community organising.
Holly and the team bring valuable experience in collecting, collating, and disseminating practice wisdom to the project that will make it all the more useful for the progressive sector.
Anita Tang
Australian Progress
Training & Support
The Commons librarians develop training materials and courses to support changemakers to build their skills and confidence in campaigning, advocacy and organising.
Explore Past & Current Projects
Community Organising Fellowship
The Community Organising Fellowship (COF) trained and mentored a network of community organisers and campaigners in Australia. COF recognised the need to update and improve their collection of training resources in 2022. The Commons librarians used their knowledge and experience as librarians and training facilitators to update and create a new collection of resources for fellows.
The Commons Library helped the Community Organising Fellowship review and update our collection of training resources.
Holly Hammond used her knowledge and experience as both a librarian and training facilitator to guide us through what was a very big project. We’ve received excellent feedback about the comprehensive quality of our resource library this year. Fellows are using the new resources in their campaigning and organising practice every day.
Maxwell Smith
Community Organising Fellowship
Physician Advocacy Resources for the Royal Australian College of Physicians
The Commons developed an online advocacy course and training sessions for the Royal Australasia College of Physicians RACP. The Physician Advocacy Resource covers the skills and competencies that enables physicians to advocate on important health issues. It covers examples of successful advocacy, knowledge of government and parliamentary processes, policy and media, and skills like stakeholder analysis and framing messages. Learn more
Library Skills Sessions
The Commons Library ran a series of online sessions on the skills to gather and share movement knowledge. Sessions included:
- The Noble Art of Book Reviewing
- Tips for Designing Infographics
- How to Conduct Interviews: Tips and Checklist
- Writing and Using Campaign Case Studies
- How to Report on Conferences and Other Events
These sessions can be adapted for delivery to your group or network. The Commons has also collaborated with Leading Change Network on Weaving the Threads Together: How to Document Your Campaign and Global Grassroots Support Network on Strong Movements Share Knowledge!
Coaching
The Commons provides one-to-one coaching sessions for social change leaders, trainers and knowledge sharers. One off advice sessions are also available to answer questions and provide resource recommendations.
Organisational Supporters and Commons Community members have priority access to these services.
Resource Kits
The Commons librarians can provide recommended resource lists for training sessions, conferences, festivals and other gatherings. We can put together a flier or zine to be printed and distributed, with a QR code directing people to resource links. For example see:
Broaden Access to Resources
The Commons is making advocacy and social-change resources accessible to everyone — in multiple languages and formats — so knowledge can be shared, learned and put into action across communities.
Explore Past & Current Projects
Making Advocacy Accessible
The Making Advocacy Accessible project was run by the Commons Library with guidance from People With Disability Australia and the Council for Intellectual Disability. The Commons Library equipped people to be active citizens, influence public policy and engage in political structures by creating Easy Read publications, curating guides to improve accessibility, and featuring stories of campaigns led by people with disability.
Conference Reporting
Conferences, talks, panels and other events regularly gather together people to share individual and movement knowledge regarding ways to create social change. The Commons is experienced in documenting events to ensure lessons can be shared beyond the participants, for the long term.
We are proud of our collaboration with Australian Progress which has resulted in an abundance of resources – see Australian Progress Conference Resources.
The Commons team may be available to report from your events, or we can provide training on our approach to event organisers and volunteer teams.
Resources in Languages other than English
The Commons expands access to advocacy and social-change resources by making them available in multiple languages. The Commons has co-created the following collections and welcomes other collaborations with translators and other organisations active in the non-English speaking countries and communities.
Tailored Resources for Different Audiences
The Commons librarians recognise that different audiences need different kinds of information. By providing resources for different audiences such as teachers, students, trainers and community organisers, users can find more easily practical tools, ideas and examples that support their work.
- Trainers
- Community Organisers
- Teachers and Students
- Children
Let’s Chat
We love working alongside organisations and movements to bring ideas into action. If you have a project or an idea let’s find a time to talk.
Together, we can design, build and share resources that strengthen communities, support collective learning and help social change work go further.