COMMON CAUSE AUSTRALIA
Common Cause Australia is a growing network of people working to engage cultural values that create a more equitable, sustainable and democratic society. We draw on, and work closely with, the international Common Cause network.
Our work is of particular relevance to people working in environmental and social justice organisations seeking a more effective approach to public engagement.
Our approach is based on a growing body of research in the fields of psychology, cognitive science, linguistics and behavioural economics, that suggests appealing to extrinsic values like fear, ego and status is a misguided and counterproductive approach for organisations dedicated to environmental sustainability or social justice.
Find out more about the people behind Common Cause Australia.
Our STORY
Common Cause Australia was co-founded by Adam Majcher, Angela Rutter and Mark Chenery as an informal network in 2012. Each had found their way to Common Cause working on social justice and environmental issues and realising there was something else at play.
Adam and Ang had been working on the issue of climate change, through their work at Climate Reality and Australian Conservation Foundation. For them, Common Cause principles were brought into stark focus during the introduction of the Clean Energy legislation and then rapid repeal of carbon pricing, otherwise labelled a "carbon tax". At ActionAid Australia, Mark was using Common Cause insights to develop a new community engagement approach that put values at the heart of the organisation's social change efforts.
Following a workshop in Melbourne in April 2012, and many energetic conversations about the need for a values-based approach to social change, the Common Cause Australia network was born with the generous support of Tom Crompton (Common Cause Foundation UK) and Rich Hawkins (Public Interest Research Centre). In 2014, Common Cause Australia was formally registered with Mark and long-term network member Dr Eleanor Glenn as co-directors.
Five years on, we have flourished into a community of thousands of campaigners, communicators, fundraisers, activists and volunteers putting values and frames at the heart of our approach to change.
RESOURCES & LINKS
- Download the Common Cause handbook
- Attend a Common Cause workshop
- Join our Facebook group
- Sign up to our email newsletter
- Visit the Common Cause Foundation website at valuesandframes.org
