Political participation Archives

Change Makers (Text on orange background)

Inside Politics: ChangeMaker Chat with John Robertson (Labor Party Minister)

Hear from John Robertson, ex Australian Labor Party leader, about the real pressures and backroom deals that make change so hard.

Reset 3: Revitalising Democracy

Reset Reading Group resources for the Revitalising Democracy theme introduced and curated by Tim Hollo. Includes Libertarian Municipalism and Murray Bookchin’s Legacy.

book cover showing ripped paper revealing the word change

How Change Happens

How Change Happens, a book by Duncan Green brings together the latest research from a range of academic disciplines and the evolving practical understanding of activists.

Uncommon victories: Lessons from Warringah and Indi

In the 2019 Australian federal election, two local campaigns stood out. Two Independents, from two very different electorates, made history. We’re referring of course, to Indi in regional Victoria, and Warringah in Sydney.

Pro-democracy protesters hold umbrellas in front of police cordon line outside of the Hong Kong Government Complex.

An in depth look at the Hong Kong democracy movement

A collection of articles and podcasts from Amanda Tattersall and ChangeMakers which provide a behind the scenes exploration of the Hong Kong democracy movement.

Protestor holding Stop Adani sign on stage with Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

3 Great Resources on Election Campaigning

As Australia heads towards a federal election here are three stories on the Commons to give you food for thought and action. Gather the lessons from the 2016 federal election, the 2018 Queensland election, Bernie Sanders’ tilt at the US presidency, and the struggle for women’s suffrage in 1905!

Photograph of the senate chamber showing maroon seats set up in a U shape.

A Stakeholders’ Guide to the Australian Senate

This guide is intended to be an introduction to the Senate and its procedures. It is designed to give NGO staff an understanding of the basics of the Senate and how to best achieve policy and campaigning goals.

Photograph of Australian House of Representatives showing green seats in a U shape.

How to Contact Australian Members of Parliament

Need to contact Australian Members of Parliament? Here’s the contact list and even some handy mailing labels.

Cover of the Defending Democracy: Safeguarding independent community voices Report. Photograph of a people marching with climate and Indigenous rights banners and flags with Parliament House in the background.

Defending Democracy and Human Rights by Gillian Triggs

Gillian Triggs, the now Former President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, launched the Defending Democracy report at Progress 2017. She argued that advocacy is fundamental to our society but under threat with it increasingly difficult for people to speak up when they disagree.

Moving the rock: Shifting power for sustained change

This article explores the ‘moving the rock’ concept put forward by Daniel Hunter in his book Strategy and Soul. The concept has been valuable for campaigners and organisations reassessing their theory of change and particularly how they engage politicians and supporters.

Photograph of a large group of people in a rural paddock. They are holding signs and banners reading 'No Gas Mining on Our Prime Ag Land'.

Time to move the rock

A follow up article from a workshop presented at Progress 2015 by Holly Hammond and Sam La Rocca with a video presentation from Daniel Hunter. The workshop explored Daniel’s metaphor ‘politicians are like a balloon tied to a rock’.

Cards read: 'The social movement that has had the biggest impact on me...', 'I became an activist because...', 'When it comes to politics Iam a...', 'One ingredient in my vision of utopia is...'

Naming political assumptions: A guide

A process guide to be used in training workshops and planning sessions to identify the political assumptions that shape our opinions and analysis. Analysis and planning is improved by being aware of the lens through which we see the world. Our lens is influenced by our assumptions and values.

12 people standing in front of Australia's parliament. A speaker is stepped forward from the group, wearing a pastor's collar.

Lobbying Workshop Guide

A process guide to be used in training workshops and planning sessions to introduce participants to lobbying in an experiential way; identify lobbying as just one tool in a community organiser’s toolkit of skills and techniques for change; provide resources and information for future reference.

Three people sit around a desk, talking together.

Lobbying: a tactic for social change

Lobbying is one method of raising public awareness of an issue and enlists support for a particular cause. The objective of lobbying is to persuade decision makers to take or not to take particular actions. This handout covers the skills, knowledge and qualities of effective lobbyists, as well as the essential steps to preparing for lobbying.

Umbrella Movement Reflections

In 2014 the Hong Kong Umbrella Occupation shook the world. The 79-day occupation of the Admiralty political and commercial district ended on 11 December 2014, with the police arresting hundreds of protesters.

Cover of the booklet 'Moved to Action', includes a photograph of two smiling people wearing union tshirts.

Lessons from Hahrie Han’s ‘Moved to Action’

Joel Dignam reviews Hahrie Han’s Moved to Action. Han tackles the question of what motivates political participation by people who face significant barriers. Han provides a toolkit for those seeking to empower and work with, or within, marginalised communities.

Tracey Frauzel, the Mobilisation Strategy Director who gives this course, wears black clothes with a red necklace, and walks down a street with brick walls to one side.

Online Course: How to Create ‘People Powered’ Campaigns

Bring People Power into your next campaign or project with MobLab’s online course. Based on the Mobilisation Cookbook, drawing on Greenpeace’s expertise, the free course covers core elements of a ‘people-powered’ campaign, when to use them and what to mix them with. Based on real-life campaign examples, you’ll also cover practical tools needed to create your own campaigns.

Tips for meeting MPs (or asking your members to)

A range of advice and resources from digital campaigning organisations, which can easily be adapted to your needs – whether it’s meeting with an MP (or Senator) yourself, or helping your members do it.

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