The Autumn Progress Fellowship, running online, is our flagship leadership course for advocates, campaigners, activists and changemakers in Australia and Aotearoa who are looking to change the world through public advocacy.
The program offers all participants a suite of tools, tactics, strategies and case studies in best practice community organising and campaigning to take your skills to the next level including — campaign strategy, community organising, message development, corporate campaigning, First Nations justice, media engagement, digital campaigning and more.
The Autumn Progress Fellowship will feature four two-day online intensives and 12 weekly online seminars delivered with expert speakers. This is a unique opportunity to learn alongside a cohort of peers to build and reinforce our capacity to better mobilise our communities and run strategic campaigns for systems change. Read more about the Fellowship program here.
We are currently accepting expressions of interest. Please submit your interest below and we will be in touch with more updates.
OUTCOMES / SKILLS
The curriculum is anchored by key foundational concepts for effective campaigning. These include:
Understanding and analysing power
Tools for designing effective campaign strategy
Frameworks for thinking about and selecting tactics
Messaging and framing for different audiences and engaging the media
Community organising
First Nations justice
Movement ecosystems
Intersectional and inclusive movements and campaigning
Impact evaluation
The Fellowship will also cover a mix of tactical topics, chosen to reflect the interests and need of the cohort. These could include a combination of the following:
Political engagement and policy influence
Digital campaigning and social media
Corporate campaigning
Story-based strategy
Online fundraising and email campaigning
Civil disobedience and non-violet direct action
Coalitions and alliances
Volunteer engagement and support
KEY DATES
Please note that all dates are currently indicative with minor changes possible by early September. All times listed at Australian Eastern Standard Time:
Opening Intensive: 18-19 February — 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Seminar 1: 2 March — 6:00 to 8:30PM
Seminar 2: 9 March — 6:00 to 8:30PM
Seminar 3: 16 March — 6:00 to 8:30PM
Seminar 4: 23 March — 6:00 to 8:30PM
Second Intensive: 1-2 April — 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Seminar 5: 13 April — 6:00 to 8:30PM
Seminar 6: 20 April — 6:00 to 8:30PM
Seminar 7: 27 April — 6:00 to 8:30PM
Seminar 8: 4 May — 6:00 to 8:30PM
Third Intensive: 13-14 May — 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Seminar 9: 25 May — 6:00 to 8:30PM
Seminar 10: 1 June — 6:00 to 8:30PM
Seminar 11: 8 June — 6:00 to 8:30PM
Seminar 12: 15 June — 6:00 to 8:30PM
Closing Intensive: 17-18 June — 10:00AM to 5:00PM
FACILITATION TEAM
Anita Tang
Organising Director
Anita Tang is passionate about building people power to secure public policies that benefit the community. During her career, she’s explored many ways to make a difference – through direct service, policy development, consumer protection bodies, and Parliamentary Committees, and non-government policy advocacy. During her 12 years at Cancer Council NSW, she led the development of the grassroots advocacy approach that led to significant campaign wins on smoke-free legislation, cost of chemotherapy, access to treatment, and policies to protect people from known cancer risks. Currently, Anita is focused on increasing the impact of the advocacy work of NGOs by helping them unlock the potential of their grassroots supporters.
COST
$2,200+GST: Small Non-Profit | Individuals - For non-profits with an annual budget in Australia of less than $500,000, as well as individuals not affiliated with an organisation.
$3,500+GST: Regular Non-Profit | Political Offices - For non-profits with an annual budget in Australia between $500,000 and $3 million, as well as staff from political offices.
$4,400+GST: Large Non-Profit - For non-profits with an annual budget in Australia of over $3 million and local/state government offices.
$6,200+GST: Full Price - For government, social enterprises, b-corps and businesses servicing the non-profit sector.
$1,100+GST: Partial Scholarship - For individual community campaigners who lack any organisational support. Scholarships are very limited, and their availability is subject to sponsorship procurement. Full scholarships are also available.
To ensure more equitable access across our trainings and events, a limited number of full and partial scholarships ($1,100+GST) are available to grassroots advocates, community groups and start-up/small organisations. We welcome and prioritise scholarship applications from First Nations people, people with disability, people of colour, people with lived experience seeking asylum and unwaged changemakers. To apply for a scholarship, please select the scholarship option on the application form here or contact us at info@australianprogress.org.au.
TESTIMONIALS
Here is what our fellowship alumni have said about their experience in the program:
The Progress Fellowship was something I wanted to do for many years, and when I finally did it, my only regret was that I wish I had done it earlier. It was four months of connecting with extraordinary campaigners and organisers, being challenged and tested, building and rebuilding your skills, and leaving with fresh eyes and fresh ideas. It gave me the chance to reflect on what it is I do, and try to do, and think more deeply about my work, than I have, in a long time, and I left with a clearer perspective on things, some new tools -- with more energy! The classes were all very stimulating, the readings always hit the mark, and most of all, miss the terrific companionship of an inspiring group of activists from across the country.— Pas Forgione, Anti-Poverty Network SA
The Progress Fellowship offered a comprehensive program that significantly enhanced my campaigning knowledge and practices. I continue to refer back to the program's content and skillset when planning next steps within my daily work. Learning amongst fellows from across the country who are working within diverse organisations was the best part of the program as you meet driven, like minded people who have now become long-term friends and a great cohort of people in which you can exchange knowledge. — Ashley Dobozy, NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association
The breadth of the topics covered and the calibre of the facilitators and speakers reflect the thoughtfulness and care that went into designing this Fellowship. It provided a space for me to not only up-skill and connect with a new network of fellow campaigners, but more importantly feel part of a genuine community where I did not feel ‘othered’. I felt truly seen, uplifted, and supported in ways that affirmed my humanity. — Kaz, Democracy in Colour
Being part of the Progress Fellowship was one of the most inspiring and motivating experiences I could have had. I learnt so many different skills and tactics from the program and my cohort that will stick with me forever. I feel completely ready to tackle challenges I previously would not have. Thank you to Australian Progress for offering that experience! — Varuna Naicker, LUSH
In the rush of day-to-day activism, it can be hard to take the time out to re-think strategy or learn new approaches. The Fellowship was an invaluable opportunity to learn from dozens of case studies, brilliant organisers and a wonderful group of fellow travellers. — Gem Romuld, International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)
Participating in the Australian Progress Fellowship was an amazing experience, it de-mystified campaigning and gave me so many practical skills and tools - I now feel confident to run campaigning workshops, put together a strategy and work in coalition to implement it. Fellowship leaders Anita and Kirsty were incredibly generous with sharing their experience and knowledge and so lovely to work with. I would recommend the Fellowship to anyone who wants to learn more and get better at campaigning and winning – Louise Ward, Animal Justice Party
The fellowship has given me the frameworks to start thinking critically about each and every moment in the trajectory of a campaign. I feel so much better equipped to analyse and apply different tools to the campaign context I'm in. It has given me the chance to learn from an incredible cohort of campaigners and advocates who approach challenges from different perspectives and schools of thought. — Stacey Batterham, Fair Agenda
ACCESSIBILITY
We will work with you to ensure that you can fully participate in the fellowship program. If you are a successful applicant, we will ask you for any access needs during the on-boarding process.
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Zoom - During the online seminars, we will be meeting via Zoom. You will be required to join via desktop or a portable device to make navigating the materials easier. See here for accessibility documentation for Zoom; including a list of keyboard shortcuts here.
Video norms - During the online seminars, we will encourage everyone to have your cameras on if you feel comfortable, but we will not require you to do so.
Chat - On Zoom you will be able to use the chat function. Participants will be asked to introduce themselves in chat, and to enter responses in the chat.
Captions - We will have auto captions enabled in Zoom.
Google Docs and Digital Documents - We will be sharing fellowship training materials over Google Drive, Google Docs and Google Slides. All documents, forms, and surveys will be provided in accessible formats.
Early access to slides - A view-only version of the slide deck can be supplied early if this supports your participation.
Pre-reading materials - We will provide a selection of pre-reading materials for you to read ahead of the fellowship. They will be provided in different formats including Google Docs, PDF and various websites.
Recordings - We do not supply recordings, but can record sections of the workshop if needed to facilitate your engagement. You will receive a copy of the presenter slide deck and other resources. Where video or audio content is included during the training or in any of the resources, we will aim provide audio descriptions, captions or transcripts as needed.
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Guest speakers - Any guest speakers will be notified about any access needs ahead of time, and we will do our best to ensure that speakers are briefed to ensure their presentations are accessible.
Other additional support - In your participant info form, we will ask you for your access needs. If you require something in place that is not already arranged, or if you need more information about any part of the fellowship, we will work with you to provide this.
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If you have any questions about accessibility, please contact Community Manager Erica at erica@australianprogress.org.au.