Common Cause Australia
@commoncauseaus.bsky.social
https://www.commoncause.com.au We help mission driven organisations use the power of values and frames to motivate change. We provide research, training and strategic support to people and organisations creating a better world.
I don't think we talk enough about how dignity is also a human right. Food, water, shelter, education, health care, representation...all of those are human rights that everyone should receive regardless of who they are. But it's also a right to not have to beg for them.
Pursuing timid, incrementalist change makes it difficult to build enthusiastic public support. To put it bluntly, it’s hard to get people excited about a polished turd. Time to think bigger #auspol
Time to think big — Common Cause Australia
This is a speech delivered by Common Cause Australia’s co-director Mark Chenery at the Leadership 2025 conference in Canberra on 11-12 June 2025. Mark was asked to speak to how civil society can take ...
commoncause.com.au
An interesting post by our friends at @hopebased.bsky.social about the pitfalls of the 'shrinking civil society' narrative (eg our talk in Australia about crackdowns on protestors): "The shrinking space narrative creates temporary urgency at the expense of lasting despondency."
Instead of shrinking space, let’s talk about humanity’s shared future
To make the case for civil society, we have to talk less about the threats it faces and more about the values it stands for, how it contributes to society and show people how they can make change happ...
openglobalrights.org
People are placing greater importance on helpfulness, friendship, social justice, equality, and environmental protection. And yet we witness the growing electoral success of right-wing populist parties promoting political platforms that often stand in direct conflict with these very values. Why?
Common Cause Foundation @commoncause.bsky.social · last yr.If you ever find yourself wondering why, if people care deeply for one another and other living beings, it feels like everything in the world is going wrong, then you're not alone. This paradox is the topic of @tomcrompton.bsky.social's latest blog: commoncausefoundation.org/if-people-ca...
In these polarised times, there’s more need than ever to reach across divides and have productive conversations about the things that matter most. Our new workshop is designed to build your conversational skills and confidence, helping you to connect, find common ground and spark change 💬💛
Conversations Training — Common Cause Australia
Join our online workshop to master values-based messaging for health promotion. Learn practical techniques to connect effectively with your audience.
commoncause.com.au
Our new guide, developed with Women’s Health Services Network, will give allies the confidence and clarity to speak about sexual and reproductive health in ways that resonate with the values of the broader community. Register here for the launch: events.humanitix.com/webinar-laun...
Webinar Launch: Framing Sexual and Reproductive Health
Webinar Launch: Framing Sexual and Reproductive Health
events.humanitix.com
"Solely reacting to hate speech leaves little space for policymaking—and that’s exactly the far-right’s goal. Diversion is their tactic. To break this cycle of outrage and inaction, we must build the narrative we want and set the agenda" Well said! Many lessons here for #AusPol
Unbox the Narrative: A Communications Strategy for Inclusion
How Human Stories Can Foster an Open Europe
substack.com
Do you work in health promotion? We have a few spots left in our Framing Health workshop series which starts in two weeks! Www.commoncause.com.au/framing-health-training
Framing Health Training | Health promotion — Common Cause Australia
Join our online workshop to master values-based messaging for health promotion. Learn practical techniques to connect effectively with your audience.
commoncause.com.au
Great campaign tactics here. Finds the audience where they are already online, generates media, and uses funny, engaging content that's rooted (!) in intrinsic values, even though it's about the $ cost of the drugs. Bravo!
Guardian Australia@australia.theguardian.com · last yr.Brisbane Greens MP joins OnlyFans to ‘make people pay attention’ to HIV prevention drug policy
Stop meeting egregious shitfuckery half-way. Genocide, climate destruction, extinction, rising inequality and fascism must be resisted absolutely. Calls to increase taxes on fossil gas exports (as opposed to ending that ecocidal industry) are a nice example of this fatalistic acquiescence.
#OnFrameFriday: We have the opportunity to build understanding about the policy choices that have shaped our current social systems. When we point to the structural causes, we not only make it easier to identify appropriate measures and solutions, we also stop harmful stereotypes in their tracks.
Blog: why "meeting people where they're at" is an outdated approach to messaging: "When we activate unhelpful narratives in people’s brains, we strengthen those narratives further still. If people currently hold unhelpful ideas about our issue, the last thing we want to do is meet them there."
Stop meeting people where they’re at. Take them to a better place. — Common Cause Australia
Connecting within your audience is absolutely vital, but ‘meeting people where they are at’ is both misleading and dangerous communications advice.
commoncause.com.au
Fascinating. Individualism leads to a feeling of personal shame when lives are impacted by systems. Trump et al offer an antidote to shame...
The Conversation AUNZ@aunz.theconversation.com · last yr.What is the gut-level appeal that saw Trump win two elections? One progressive researcher spent six years in America’s whitest, second-poorest district to find out.
Election tip: stop buying in to toxic neoliberal frames (like competition and economic growth) and repeating them in the name of "meeting people where they are". It's our job to move people to a better place.
*Election tip*: The 'centre' doesn't exist. Instead, people toggle between worldviews. Priming intrinsic values like family or community in our messages activates a progressive worldview in their brains, boosting support for our issues. More on biconceptualism: www.huffpost.com/entry/biconc...
Biconceptualism
Let's put to rest the notion of the political or ideological "center"--it doesn't exist. Instead, what we have are biconceptuals--of many kinds.
huffpost.com
Election tip: If you have just typed out a fact, wait! Don't press send/post. Stop and think about how to frame your fact using helpful values in a way that will persuade. Facts on their own don't change people's minds. They invite unhelpful interpretation and can backfire. #auspol
*Election tip* If it's in your power, don't use the term 'cost of living' in any of your messaging. Use 'cost of inequality', 'cost of greed' or 'cost of profits' instead. This matters because people don't take action when they can't see a cause or a solution. #auspol #messaging
Today seems like a good moment to re-share our blog post on how to defeat the far right this election: www.commoncause.com.au/news/how-do-...
How do we defeat the far right this election? — Common Cause Australia
It’s the question progressives are all asking: how can we grab the opportunity presented by the 2025 Federal election to steer the public narrative - in the media, on the streets and online - in the d...
commoncause.com.au
Thanks to our friends at For Purpose for this timely reminder that a good budget benefits EVERYONE - talk of 'winners and losers' at budget time only reinforces toxic neoliberal narratives. Let's call it out when we see it in the media. #auspol
It’s time to stop talking about ‘winners’ and ‘losers’ when it comes to government budgets – For Purpose
forpurpose.com.au
#OnFrameFriday: Make sure that your numbers come with a clear explanation. When we use numbers to convince people that the problem exists, hoping one statistic will shift them from apathy to action, we can often hurt our cause.
You can now get REALLY location specific warming stripes thanks to @copernicusecmwf.bsky.social era-explorer.climate.copernicus.eu?lat=59.93&ln...
Cognitive biases have a powerful impact on how we process information and messaging. Here's our latest blog post explaining a few of the most common - and what to do to counteract them: www.commoncause.com.au/news/cogniti...
Cognitive bias: how to work with (not against) human psychology — Common Cause Australia
Whether you’re working to shift public attitudes, inspire action, or influence decision-making, logical arguments alone are rarely enough. That’s because people don’t process information in a purely r...
commoncause.com.au
It's always nice when we get new proof that values based messaging works! In this research we found a significant effect in increasing parents' understanding of the effect of #alcohol on underage kids and the importance of not supplying it: www.commoncause.com.au/news/case-st... #healthpromotion
Case Study: How to talk to parents about underage alcohol supply — Common Cause Australia
The “Keep Their Future Bright” campaign tackled the sensitive yet critical issue of parents supplying alcohol to underage children, with the goal of reducing underage drinking. Here’s how we approache...
commoncause.com.au
Great reframing of tax in this letter. Maybe from author Mark Haddon, who wrote "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time"?
Simon Chapman AO@simonchapman.bsky.social · last yr.In vast areas of the US, the sentiments expressed in this wonderful letter from a British man about why it's a privilege to pay tax to enable the National Health Service to run would see him probably certified as insane and labelled a "socialist".
"Our votes count a lot, especially at the moment with the narrative around disability, it's really important that we can have a voice." www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02...
No-one will harass you with how-to-vote cards at this new polling booth
A polling place featuring low-sensory lighting and quiet areas will help make voting in the WA election a less daunting experience for those with disabilities.
abc.net.au
Countering propaganda from the right is an art and a science. As we approach this next Aus election we're seeing so many great organisations get it wrong and play straight into the opposition's hands. Please help by sharing these slides from FWD last year. photos.app.goo.gl/hQmHrv7p2cqs...
Common Causes presentation at FWD 2024
10 new items · Album by Gemma Pitcher
photos.app.goo.gl
We have just finished two comprehensive message research projects on social housing and homelessness. On 12 March we will be hosting a free webinar to share the insights from our research. If you want to know the most effective way to message on housing pre-election, come along 🏡
Webinar: Framing Homes and housing — Common Cause Australia
Common Cause will be hosting a free webinar on framing homes and housing based on two in-depth message research projects we recently completed.
commoncause.com.au
Preach! Before ANY comms action two questions must be asked: "Who should our audience be? And what do we want them to do?"
Anat Shenker-Osorio@anatosaurus.bsky.social · last yr.In order for a message to be effective, you have to have defined what that means. In other words - have a goal you're attempting to reach and knowing, therefore, which people you must move and into what action.
