The Spring Progress Fellowship, running online and in-person, 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 Spring Progress Fellowship will feature two non-residential in-person intensives on Gadigal land in Sydney, 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.
Second round of applications are now open until Sunday, 19 May.
OUTCOMES / SKILLS
Introduction to campaign strategy
Campaign strategy and tactics in practice
Strategic capacity and strategic tools
Tactic selection and evaluation
Campaign simulation
Story-based strategy
Campaign research and corporate campaigning
Evaluating campaigning
Messaging and message development
Target audiences
Decision maker engagement and the policy cycle
Introduction to community organising
Social movement theory
Introduction to public narrative
Power and privilege in campaigning
Introduction to digital campaigning
Social media, online fundraising and email campaigning
KEY DATES
Opening Intensive: 12-15 August
Seminar 1: 28 August
Seminar 2: 4 September
Seminar 3: 11 September
Seminar 4: 18 September
Seminar 5: 25 September
Seminar 6: 2 October
Seminar 7: 9 October
Seminar 8: 16 October
Seminar 9: 23 October
Seminar 10: 30 October
Seminar 11: 6 November
Seminar 12: 13 November
Closing Intensive: 18-21 November
LEAD FACILITATOR
Te Raukura (they/them/ia) is an experienced campaigner, community organiser, facilitator, trainer, people and project manager. They have over 12 years experience in the not-for-profit sector in the UK, Australia and Aotearoa. They are Māori and Irish. Te Raukura was the Executive Director of Movement Building at the Foundation for Young Australians, a charity that backs young people with lived experience of systemic injustice to transform the future. Before that, they were the Director of ActionStation Aotearoa, an independent community campaigning organisation that influences political decisions so they are better for people and the planet. Having joined the founding team in 2014, they helped grow ActionStation to a community of over 300,000 people with a track record of winning strategic and impactful campaigns. Te Raukura is the co-founder of the Youth Movement Fund Aotearoa, a participatory grant-making trust that backs youth movements to change the world. They are also in the process of co-founding a new movement training organisation called The Pod: Centre for Healing Justice.
COST
$2,350+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.
$3,600+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.
$4,600+GST: Large Non-Profit - For non-profits with an annual budget in Australia of over $3 million and local/state government offices.
$6,250+GST: Full Price - For government, social enterprises, b-corps and businesses servicing the non-profit sector.
$1,200+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.
TESTIMONIALS
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, 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