Our community

The place where change makers come to make change.

Australian Progress builds the advocacy capacity of civil society to create systems change. Our vision is a fair, just, sustainable future, with a healthy democracy. In order to get there we need courageous, capable and collaborative social change movements, led by those most affected by the issues.

Since our founding in 2012, we have connected over 8,000 social change makers from more than 1,500 nonprofits through our major events; provided best practice campaign training to thousands of civil society leaders; delivered four sector-wide messaging research projects; and incubated 23 new advocacy organisations.

Australian Progress is now the leading organisation building the capacity and voice of a more connected civil society in Australia. We work with a diverse range of civil society organisations and leaders including some of the countries largest nonprofits, recently incubated start-ups, grassroots activists and communities, unions, philanthropy and social change agencies.

We are incredibly proud of the impact our broad community is having — below is a quick summary.

Campaigners and change makers

We maintain Australia’s largest network of people working for social change - more than 8,000 strong. Our community are experts in advocacy, policy and the law, citizen engagement and lived experience, and communications. They have diverse views and approaches, but work on connected issues ranging from poverty to climate change to human rights. Our goal is to build the number people working for social change in Australia.

Established civil society organisations

We work with more than 1,500 existing civil society organisations. Our partners have helped catalyse much of Australia’s social and environmental progress over the last century, and hold a vast bulk of resources in the sector. Our goal is to ensure established organisations remain innovative, focus on systems change, and leverage their resources effectively to solve social problems.

New gap-filling organisations

We have incubated 23 new organisations through our Progress Labs program. Our organisations lead the charge on new and emerging issues in ways that are nimble, people-powered, innovative, digitally-native and fearless. Our goal is to ensure the next generation of civil society leaders have the strategy, funds, connections, coaching and community they need to launch and thrive – lifting the entire sector.

Philanthropy

We work with Australia’s leading philanthropies to build the advocacy capacity of civil society – including historic trusts, community foundations, corporate social responsibility teams, and next generation philanthropists. We are a vehicle through which they can invest in the health and impact of civil society as a whole, as well as a trusted resource for advice and connections. Our goal is to scale the amount of philanthropic funding investing in systems change advocacy.

Our Fellowship alumni

 

More than 775+ leading change makers in Australia have taken part in our flagship training program - the Progress Fellowship.

Over five months, we train and empower advocates, campaigners, change makers and practitioners from civil society with the skills to achieve systems change for a more inclusive, diverse and fairer world.

Upon graduation, fellows join the Fellowship Alumni Network of leading change makers and supportive peers who together provide each other with support, advice, collaborations and friendships for many years to come.

Our inner circle

 

Our core operations are underpinned by an Inner Circle of major non-profits (12 organisations since founding) who invest directly in our system-wide impact.

Inner Circle members receive free or discounted places in Australian Progress’ training programs and conferences. This includes supporting their teams to attend Progress, Leadership and FWD conferences, our trainings, bootcamps and masterclasses and discounted access to the Progress Fellowship.

Inner Circle members have exclusive opportunities including branding, speaking and specialist event opportunities such as attending our global study trips.

The Inner Circle members help shape Australian Progress, and the support and events we plan for civil society, through consultation on annual and strategic plans.

The current members of the Inner Circle include:

  • ActionAid Australia

  • Animals Australia

  • Australian Conservation Foundation

  • Climate Action Network Australia

  • cohealth

  • Community and Public Sector Union

  • Foundation for Young Australians

  • United Workers Union

  • Victorian Trades Hall Council

Our Civil
Society Slack

 

During the pandemic, many change makers will work remotely and in isolation. That’s why we launched a sector-wide Slack for civil society – to help bring people together, and increase connectivity. This is a space for you to connect with other campaigners, organisers, fundraisers and grassroots activists.

This Slack is for the Australian civil society and advocacy sector.

Please read our Slack Guidelines and Code of Conduct before applying to join and our How-to Guide for setting up Slack. If you have issues applying for an account, please contact phong@australianprogress.org.au.

 Philanthropy

 

We partner with leading philanthropists to support them to invest in advocacy, and connect them with grassroots change makers.

Our programs include the Rapid Advocacy Fund, a donor pool that injects grants into advocacy responses to COVID-19, and the NEXUS Australia Summit, a biennial gathering of 150 of Australia’s most influential next generation philanthropists and leading change makers.

Our work is generously supported by many leading foundations and philanthropists, including Australian Communities Foundation, Besen Family Foundation, CAGES Foundation, donkey wheel, Equity Trustees, Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation, LUSH,  Mannifera, Oranges & Sardines, Reichstein Foundation, Tripple and Vasudhara Foundation.