Enrolments are open for the 2015 Graduate Certificate in Community Advocacy – Australia’s most comprehensive social change qualification. This is an excellent opportunity for change agents to deepen their skills and knowledge through a unique accredited course.
The Graduate Certificate draws on the latest knowledge about effective campaigning as well as established theoretical frameworks for understanding and promoting social justice and ecological sustainability.
Participants will be supported to develop practical skills in planning campaigns, influencing decision-makers, using media, developing active memberships, building effective organisations and much more. The course gives students the opportunity to reflect on their work (paid or unpaid), think deeply about how social change occurs, and undertake practical planning that can be translated into real world outcomes.
This advanced course was developed to meet current grassroots campaigning needs by a panel including environmental activists, media consultants, human rights lawyers and NGO representatives. Curriculum has been developed by experienced campaigners and educators including Holly Hammond, Director of Plan to Win.
The program is delivered by experienced practitioners and guest experts in seminars aimed to inspire lively debate and critical discussion. Many contemporary campaign case studies are reviewed as part of the course, and students are encouraged to apply lessons to their own projects.
The course is made up of four units:
- Theories of social change (March-April)
- Community organising (May-June)
- Organisational dynamics (July-August)
- Effective communication techniques (September-October)
Each unit includes six days of classes, held on two weekends and two Fridays (roughly one weekend and one Friday per month) in central Melbourne. The course commences with an introductory session in late February and concludes with a review session in November 2015.
Australian citizens are eligible for VET-FEE Help loans for the tuition fee – further fee details here.
For further details attend the information session:
- 6:00pm-7:00pm Tuesday 27 January at 60L Green Building, 60 Leicester St Carlton
Please note that evening information sessions will also include information about the Graduate Certificate in Family Violence Work.
If you are interested in this course please click the ‘Enquire Now’ button on this page so we can keep you in the loop. Contact holly(AT)plantowin.net.au if you have queries about the course content, or stephen.fisher(AT)chisholm.edu.au for queries about enrolment and fees. Let your friends know about the course on Facebook.
What 2014 students are saying about the Graduate Certificate…
After 12 years as a union organiser for 3 different unions in Australia, the United Kingdom and the U.S.A I made a new years resolution to study in 2014 and fortuitously stumbled on the Graduate Certificate in Community Advocacy. I felt it was just the antidote I needed to bolster my reserves to deal with the election of the a conservative coalition government federally, whilst also refreshing my skills in my field.
The course has turned out to be the best professional development training I have been lucky enough to do in my field as an activist and organiser. Holly and the team have structured the course to cover the best organising and campaigning techniques and frameworks from local and international leaders and case studies.
I have been able to directly apply many of the frameworks and ideas to my work, and have utilised assessments to undertake work related planning. The course has helped me to design and develop new activist training, use better planning frameworks and facilitation techniques, and undertake more effective mentoring of union delegates. Generally I have gained a new motivation and resilience for the work that I do!
The course is suited to people just starting out and those with years of experience who want to learn new things. You learn as much from the structured lessons as you do from other participants. I thoroughly recommend this course.
Eleisha Mullane, Lead Organiser, Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance
I completed the Chisholm Graduate Certificate in Community Advocacy in 2014. Since I’ve started the course I’ve had folks compliment me on how much better I facilitate meetings, and how enjoyable training workshops I’ve held have been. I was also approached by an interstate campaign for advice about strategy development.
Ian Mack, climate activist
This course gave me a solid grounding in the theory and practice of community organising, at a time in Australia where we have a strategic opportunity to support communities who want to take back their power. I found the content inspiring and challenging, and the structure of the classes left plenty of room for discussion and reflection on current community movements and campaigns.
Emma Richardson, community legal activist