Topic

Lobbying & Advocacy

Whatever our path to building people power there comes a time in most campaigns where we need to engage directly with decision makers. Here you’ll find the practical information you need (like how to contact MPs), tips for effective advocacy, training materials and policy reports.

Chalk drawing on background showing two hands shaking.

Lobbying and Advocacy: Start Here

Welcome to the Lobbying & Advocacy topic in the Commons Social Change Library. This article guides you through a wide range of materials to inform the public in relation to lobbying, advocacy and policy-making.

What is the Difference between Advocacy and Activism?

Find out the difference between advocacy and activism in this book chapter published in 2022 by Jane Johnston and Robyn Gulliver.

a sign on the road that says a better world is possible

What Makes a Brilliant Advocacy Strategy?

What are the key elements of building a powerful coalition? Here are 3 tips to become a great coalition builder.

Screenshot of webinar presentation front page. Title reads government relations in the new parliament, australian progress

Government Relations and Winning Reform – Australian Progress Webinars

Two webinars by Australian Progress about political reform and government relations in relation to the newly elected Labor Government who won power in the Australian Federal Election 2022.

A group of people in front of a big yellow circle holding a red flag, a poster and a loudspeaker.

What Helps Motivate People to Take Action?

What helps motivate people to take action? Learn from this research from the University of Queensland that analysed the website communication of almost 500 Australian environmental groups.

silhouette of hand putting a voting ballot into a box

Elections and Activism: Case Studies

A collection of case studies of how activists have intervened in elections collated by The Commons Social Change Library.

Elections and Activism: Campaign Skills

This collection provides how-to guides and resources regarding the skills and tactics you’ll need to reach your goals in election time.

Elections and Activism: Concepts and Tensions

Explore the concepts and tensions that surround elections and activism with some interesting reading collated by the Commons Library.

Lessons from the Campaign to Stop Independent Assessments Webinar

Watch webinar which brought together a panel of activists to share their insights about the campaign to stop Independent Assessments.

The Advocates: Women within the Australian Environmental Movement

This book features nine never-before-told stories of remarkable women and their courageous pursuits of climate justice in Australia.

yellow tape measure on top of a black and white photo of protestors in a crowd and one banner being held up says Resist

Campaign Monitoring and Evaluation: Measuring What Matters

How can we equip ourselves to design effective monitoring and evaluation approaches for campaigns, movement building and organising work?

How to Write a Powerful Submission to Government – in as little as 10 minutes!

Contributing to government submission processes can be a valuable way for individuals to have a say on issues they care about. This article outlines some of the steps you can take to make your submissions powerful.

Change Makers (Text on orange background)

Changemaker Chat with Professor David Isaacs: Everything about Covid-19

Listen to Professor Isaacs – to get a briefing about everything COVID-19, where it came from, what makes it a pandemic, and how to stay safe.

Changemaker chat with Randi Weingarten: Teachers and Education reform

Teachers’ union activist Randi Weingarten discusses her experiences of social change and educational reform.

looking up the trunks and canopy of big Jarrah trees

The WA Forest Conflict: The Construction of the Political Effectiveness of Advocacy Organisations

Tactics and strategy of nonprofit organisations involved in advocacy regarding forestry in the 1990s-2000s in Western Australia.

A Preface to Advocacy: What You Should Know as an Advocate

Practical tips from experienced advocates. Collated by Erin Gilmer to empower any person entering the advocacy space to have the knowledge they need to make the biggest impact.

Photograph of the front of Australian Parliament House. The front paving shows a pattern that echoes Aboriginal artwork. The building is white with a flag spier and visible Australian flag blowing in the wind.

Understanding Parliamentary Committees

An introduction to Australian Parliamentary Committees and ways advocates can navigate and utilise them. Includes a recording of a seminar presented by a Parliamentary Committee secretary.

Tips for Policy Writing

Policy writing is a key part of the work of not-for-profit individuals and organisations. Follow these tips to do it well.

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

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

window with white curtains slightly open revealing a plant on the windowsill

Windows and Cycles: How Policy gets Made

This article helps advocates understand and intervene in policymaking more effectively by understanding the two main models of policymaking.