Community Organising Foundations training is based on the philosophy and practices developed by the Industrial Areas Foundation in over 65 years of successful organising. These ideas are translated to a local Australian context to cover the essentials of community organising and how we implement it here in the Hunter region.

The training is interactive, thoughtful and made for people with all levels of experience. Concepts worked through include power, our roles in civil society as public people, negotiating social change, and what makes strong organisations. As practical as it is theoretical, we teach the tools to start building public relationships and work through the Organising Cycle to solve problems in our communities.

A primary outcome and benefit of this training is in forming new public relationships with other diverse people who are active in the Hunter's community life.

Topics include:

Community Organising: the history and tradition of our civil society organisations
Relational Organising: individual relational meetings, listening assemblies, research, negotiation and action
Strengthening our Organisations: building a culture that is relational, action oriented and reflective/learning
Using Relational Power in the public sphere to take collaborative action on common issues.

Change makers who have trained in and then led this training include:

Mike Gecan, IAF Co-Director, author
Amanda Tattersall, Sydney Alliance, GetUp, Sydney Policy Lab
Barak Obama (YES, that's right!), former POTUS and IAF Organiser in Chicago

Partner organisations are encouraged to send leaders and members to participate. It is an important space to connect with other organisations and to develop skills in community organising. Training is free for members of partner organisations.

Organisations interested in exploring membership with Hunter Community Alliance are also encouraged to participate and to get a feel for the coalition.

Content to help participants prepare and engage in the training will be sent after registration.

Training is Free if you are a member, employee, or volunteer with:

Australian Conservation Foundation
Australian National Imams Council
Baptist Churches of NSW
Catholic Diocese Maitland-Newcastle
CatholicCare Social Services Hunter-Manning
Cessnock Leos Club
Community Disability Alliance Hunter
Climate Action Newcastle
Family Inclusion Strategies Hunter
Glenrock Anglican Parish
Healthy Connection for All
Hunter Ageing Alliance
Hunter Homeless Connect
Hunter Tenants Advocacy & Advice Service
National Tertiary Education Union
Nature Conservation Council NSW
Newcastle Climate Change Response
Nova for Women & Children
NSW Council of Social Services
Rail, Tram & Bus Union
Refugee Hub
Salvos Housing
Shelter NSW
St Vincent de Paul Society
Settlement Services International
The Hunter Presbytery of the Uniting Church
The Wilderness Society
United Workers Union
Wonnarua Nation Aboriginal Corporation