Topic

History

This topic focuses on Australian social movement history. There is so much to learn from the stories of past collective action for social and ecological justice. Learning social movement history can provide insights about strategy, a vast toolbox of potential tactics, and abundant inspiration.

Activism and Campaign History: Start Here

Activism and Campaign history – A range of resources about the history of First Nations, social and labour movements in Australia and beyond.

Human rights protesters, one in a skeleton suit wearing a military hat and one with the words "My Business is Making a Killing in Chile" on their back.

Grevillea: Creative Interventions in Western Australia during the 1990s

An interview with a member of the Western Australia-based Grevillea about how the group applied a dynamic and creative perspective to approaching issues such as militarism, pollution and international solidarity during the 1980s and 1990s.

black screen with white writing - why would activists archive

Activist Archiving: Start Here

A list of articles and ideas from the Commons Librarians about resources to explore in archiving your work in social change.

5 black and white photos with a yellow wavy lines overlaying them. First image is of thousands of protestors at Walk on Washington, 2nd image is a portrait of a woman representing Rosa Parks, 3rd image is a portrait etching of Gandhi, fourth image is of a group of Aboriginal Australians protesting holding the Aboriginal flag, 5th image is protestors on a boat on the Franklin River. The heading reads 'Nonviolence Training: A short history".

Nonviolence Training: A Brief History

A brief history of nonviolence training around the world, Australia and in the Pacific by a group called Pt’Chang.

Book cover - Title reads 'The town that said no to AGL: How Gloucester was saved from coal seam gas'. The title overlays a photo of a person wearing a hat with their arms held up in a cross in front of them.

Groundswell Gloucester: Fighting and Winning against Fracking

Insights into how a grass roots community campaign based in Gloucester Valley, NSW scored a major victory against the Coal Seam Gas industry.

Two May Day marchers carrying a banner in 1973 that reads "Support BLF Green Bans"

Green Bans Timeline: 1971-74

A timeline of the Green Bans implemented by NSW Builders Labourers Federation (BLF) in the early 1970s.

A collage of 6 resources about disability campaigns.

The History of Campaigns in Australia by People With Disability

Histories and case studies from Australia of the fight for independence, inclusion, equality, access and services for people with disability.

A female wheelchair user with long pink hair and sunglasses at tram stop. A sign on the back of her wheelchair reads Leave no one behind. There is a tram in the background. There are other wheelchair users in the background.

People With Disability Australian Protest Timeline

A timeline of protests in Australia by people with disability for independence, inclusion, access and services from the 1970s to 2020s.

A group of protestors with large banner that reads Keep Uranium in the ground, Socialist Youth Alliance.

Leave it in the Ground: Union Bans and Uranium Exports in the 1970s

Read about the history of opposition to uranium mining in Australia in the 1970s and early 1980s regarding union bans and uranium exports.

Against Fascism and War: Pig Iron Bob and the Dalfram Dispute, Port Kembla 1938

The 1938 Dalfram dispute involved workers at Port Kembla in Australia striking and refusing to load iron on a ship bound for Japan in 1938.

Two protestors have chained themselves to the railway line.

Frontline Action on Coal FLAC: Ten Years on the Climate Frontline

Frontline Action on Coal (FLAC) have used blockades and non-violent direct action to oppose new fossil fuel projects in Australia.

Australian Campaign Case Study: Divestment Campaign 2013 – 2021

Learn about the Divestment campaign case study in Australia which aimed to secure commitments from institutions to divest from fossil fuels.

Draftmen Go Free: A History of the Anti-Conscription Movement in Australia

An in-depth account of the hundreds of campaigns and actions that were carried out across Australia against the war and conscription.

Vida Goldstein, a woman wearing a hat and a black coat holding pieces of paper. The main one at the front resting on the lower half of her body reads Votes Women. Torture! In order of Home Secretary

Changing The World: The Women’s Political Association

The story of Vida Goldstein & the Women’s Political Association through their own words via a series of excerpts from speeches & publications.

ten dvd covers of movies about social movements struggles and leaders

Films and Documentaries about Social Justice, Movements, Victories and Leaders

Be inspired with this list of movies and documentaries about social movement struggles, victories and leaders – Selma, Milk, Silkwood, Norma Rae, Gandhi and more.