Why Are We Running This?
Western Sydney is a vital location in the social, economic and political transition of Australia from fossil fuel fixation to a country powered by renewable energy. It is home to communities on the frontline of the climate crisis who are already experiencing the devastating impacts of extreme weather events, severe heatwaves, and rising energy prices. It is the most diverse region in Australia and home to half of all Sydney’s overseas-born population. And it is an area that has significant political influence covering a dozen electorates with many of them being highly contested marginal seats.
That’s why we’re launching this Fellowship – a first-of-its-kind five month training program equipping people of colour in Western Sydney with the skills to change hearts, minds, public policy & corporate behaviour around climate.
What You’ll Learn
Organised and delivered by people of colour, this comprehensive program covers everything you’d need to know to be an effective change-maker, including: leadership, strategy, systems analysis, team management, issue/corporate/electoral campaigning, political engagement, strategic communications, messaging & framing, media, public speaking, digital campaigning, organising, fundraising, First Nations justice, structural racism, and more.
Through retreats, workshops, inspiring speakers, discussion groups and mentoring, Fellows will leave with the skills and resources to create positive change. Plus, as part of the program, they’ll get the opportunity to run their own community campaign that tackles the climate crisis.
Logistics & Key Dates
To get the most out of the Fellowship, you will be required to commit to:
- Opening retreat: April 17-18
- Mid-Fellowship retreat: June 5-6
- Closing retreat: August 28-29
- 10 evening workshops split over April 2021 to August 2021. The exact days will be confirmed based off the availability of the cohort.
It is important that participants are able to attend all workshops and retreats. This commitment is vital to achieving the full skill development offered by the program. After applying, please mark the above dates in your calendar.
This Fellowship is free to participate in and open to people based in Western Sydney who identify as First Nations, Black or a person of colour.
Apply Now!
Applications close 11:59PM Tuesday March 30 – early applications are encouraged so submit yours now.
Shortlisted applicants will then be invited to a short interview. We anticipate these will be held April 1-5.
Questions? Please contact Grace (grace.vegesana@aycc.org.au).
Program Facilitators
The program’s core and guest facilitators are social movement leaders who bring decades of experience to the Fellowship. All retreats and workshops are designed and run by campaigners of colour from a variety of spaces, including the union, environment, social justice and human rights movements.
Want to learn from some of Australia’s best campaigners? Apply now!
This Fellowship is being organised by Democracy in Colour in partnership with the Australian Youth Climate Coalition.
Democracy in Colour is Australia’s first racial and economic justice organisation led by people of colour. We run campaigns tackling structural racism, empower people of colour to shape the critical issues that affect our lives, and build the capacity of our communities.
The Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC) is building a movement of young people leading solutions to the climate crisis. They educate, inspire and mobilise young people across the country to deliver the short-term political impact and long-term cultural change needed for a safe climate future.
Please note: In the context of COVID-19, the Western Sydney Climate Justice Fellowship will have a mix of in-person and online delivery. We will aim to host the retreats in-person (in Western Sydney) while facilitating the workshops online, however this may shift depending on the latest public health advice. The safety, wellbeing and connectedness of community members is our priority.
