AI is transforming the advocacy landscape — opening up powerful new ways to scale impact, while raising urgent questions about ethics, privacy, and how our organisations adapt.
To help advocates make sense of this rapidly shifting terrain, we’ve partnered with Watershed Change and AI Impact Lab to deliver the Generative AI for Advocacy Workshop. These 5 sessions are an interactive online series designed to demystify AI and build the skills you need to use it confidently and ethically in your work.
Across this hands-on and engaging experience, you’ll explore the essentials — understanding language models, crafting effective prompts, and experimenting with AI use cases for practical, everyday advocacy work. You’ll learn how to build simple custom tools for your team, and get some guidance on how to make informed choices about which AI platforms are right for different tasks.
The workshop is open to all advocacy practitioners — whether you’re just getting started or already experimenting with AI and looking for best-practice approaches. If you’re wondering how AI could enhance your impact (and how to stay aligned with your values), this training is for you.
Note: ChatGPT will be utilised throughout the training and participants will be required to attend with their own paid ChatGPT account.
If these dates don’t work for you, consider registering for another cohort:
OUTCOMES / SKILLS
Gain confidence in understanding generative AI – Learn what generative AI is, how tools like ChatGPT work, and where they might be useful (and not useful) in your day-to-day work through hands-on exercises.
Trial use cases for using AI to save time and boost brainstorming – Experiment hands-on with AI tools to write, research, brainstorm ideas, and turn rough notes into polished content.
Explore advanced features that might streamline your team’s work – understand how to create and use custom AI tools (like custom GPTs) to speed up repetitive tasks or improve collaboration.
Explore other AI tools and when to use them – get an introduction to some other AI tools including tools used to create audio visual content, understand the strengths and limitations of different platforms, and how to choose the right tool for the task.
KEY DATES AND TIMES
The workshop will run over five sessions over five weeks, online via Zoom:
Wednesday, 21 May
Wednesday, 28 May
Wednesday, 4 June
Wednesday, 18 June
Wednesday, 25 June
Here are the start and end times for each time zone
10:30AM to 12:00PM AEST
10:00AM to 11:30AM ACST
8:30AM to 10:00AM AWST
Note: We will be taking a week break with no session on June 11.
TRAINERS
Sofia Madden
Director, Watershed Change
Sofia Madden is a leading expert in AI for advocacy and social impact, with extensive experience in campaign strategy, digital innovation, and creative impact. As Co-Director of Watershed Change, she works with socially minded companies, philanthropists, non-profits, and advocacy organizations on their strategy, communications, and campaigns. Over the past year, Sofia has been based in the US, training advocacy and progressive organizations on AI strategies to integrate AI into their workflows and election campaigns, maximizing impact and efficiency. She is passionate about using technology to empower changemakers and drive systemic change.
Elise Dalley
Chief Strategy Officer, Australian Progress
Elise brings 14+ years experience leading strategic communications and advocacy capacity building to her role as Chief Strategy Officer. Elise oversees the strategy and impact of our cross-sector work, including persuasive messaging, collaborative initiatives to strengthen democracy, Progress Labs, and the Economic Media Centre. Prior to joining Australian Progress, Elise worked in electoral politics in Australia and Scotland, and as a journalist for Sydney Morning Herald, CHOICE and The Jakarta Post. Elise holds a Bachelor of Law and Journalism from the University of Technology Sydney.
COST
$1,200+GST: Small Nonprofit Concession
For nonprofits with an annual revenue of less than $500K.$1,700+GST: Regular Nonprofit Concession
For nonprofits with an annual revenue between $500K and $3 million.$2,100+GST: Large Nonprofit Concession
For nonprofits with an annual revenue of more than $3 million$3,000+GST: For-Profit Organisation
For businesses, education and government bodies.$1,200+GST | Individual
For individuals and grassroots organisers who are not affiliated by an organisation or movement.
To ensure more equitable access across our trainings and events, a limited number of full and partial scholarships ($700+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 submit an application here or contact Erica at erica@australianprogress.org.au.
Note: scholarships will not cover the cost of a paid ChatGPT account which is required for the workshop.
ACCESSIBILITY
-
ChatGPT - We will be using ChatGPT throughout the training. We will require you to attend with your own paid account. Please note that generative AI tools such as ChatGPT may present accessibility challenges for some people, so please reach out to Erica at erica@australianprogress.org.au if you have any specific access needs and we will do our best to ensure the training is accessible for you.
Zoom - During the online sessions, we will be meeting via Zoom. If you have access to a computer or laptop, we recommend you join the training by computer 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 sessions, 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 training materials over Google Drive, Google Docs and Google Slides. All documents, forms, and surveys will be provided in accessible formats. During the pre-training we will use the screen share function to share slides, as well as navigating between Zoom and an interactive slide deck.
Early access to slides - A view-only version of the slide deck can be supplied early if this supports your participation. Any copies of the slides provided will include alt-text / image descriptions.
Post-training resources - We do not supply recordings from our online training as standard, but can record sections of the workshop if needed to facilitate your engagement. You will receive a copy of the presenter slide deck, interactive slide deck, and other resources. Where video or audio content is included during the training or in any of the resources, we will provide audio descriptions, captions or transcripts as needed.
-
Setting norms - As a cohort, we will also set expectations at the start of the training to ensure everyone can comfortably participate in the workshop.
Breakout rooms - This training regularly uses breakout rooms, with group sizes ranging from pairs, through to groups of 10-12 for discussions and workshop activities.
Screen sharing - there will be demonstrations of the tech/work being done using screen share, and students may be asked to share their screen to allow group discussion and feedback on work produced in the training.
-
If you have any questions about accessibility, please contact Community Manager Erica at erica@australianprogress.org.au.