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Campaigning Wiki

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lang: en

Summary

This collection of case studies, compiled by the Advocacy Research Network, provides a comprehensive look at climate conversation program insights from across Australia. The programs range from hyperlocal place-based campaigns in rural Queensland to national election mobilisation efforts, demonstrating that climate conversations work best when grounded in shared values and local concerns. The evidence shows that regional and rural Australians care deeply about climate issues when conversations are framed around their lived experiences and community values.

Background

The collection was created by the Advocacy Research Network to document climate conversation programs across Australia, which have emerged as a promising approach for creating lasting attitude change against climate disinformation. These programs prioritise genuine listening, values-based dialogue, and peer-to-peer connection to overcome climate scepticism and build grassroots momentum.

What happened

The case studies cover diverse programs: 350.org Australia’s 2025 federal election program tripled its core volunteer base from 20 to 57 people and conducted over 2,100 conversations across five local groups [source: commons-library]. ACF’s 2025 federal election campaign aimed for one million conversations but fell short of that target, though it reached hundreds of thousands across key electorates [source: commons-library]. AYCC’s ‘Youth Decide’ program for the 2022 federal election used deep canvassing techniques with over 100 volunteers over 12 weeks [source: commons-library]. CAFNEC evolved from door-to-door conversations to ‘table talks’ following climate disasters like Cyclone Jasper from 2021-2024 [source: commons-library]. Climate for Change pioneered the ‘kitchen table conversations’ model, facilitating over 2,500 conversations reaching more than 10,000 people across Australia [source: commons-library]. The Gasfield Free Communities movement began in 2012 in the Northern Rivers and eventually reached over 480 communities across the country [source: commons-library]. The Hunter Community Alliance used facilitated small-group conversations to discuss energy transition in coal-dependent regions [source: commons-library]. The 2022 federal election saw independent candidates using conversation programs, with 55,000 doors knocked in Kooyong alone [source: commons-library]. The Powerhouse Museum’s ‘100 Climate Conversations’ program profiled 100 Australians taking climate action from 2022-2023 [source: commons-library]. Psychology for a Safe Climate runs Climate Cafés and other programs addressing psychological impacts of the climate emergency [source: commons-library]. South Australia’s Community Climate Conversations engaged over 750 people across 114 conversations statewide in 2023 [source: commons-library].

Key people & organizations

  • 350.org Australia
  • Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF)
  • Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC)
  • Cairns and Far North Environment Centre (CAFNEC)
  • Climate for Change
  • Gasfield Free Communities
  • Hunter Community Alliance
  • Hunter Jobs Alliance
  • Powerhouse Museum
  • Psychology for a Safe Climate (PSC)
  • South Australia Community Climate Conversations
  • Advocacy Research Network

Tactics used

The programs combined door knocking, market stalls, phone banking, kitchen table conversations, and community forums with values-based dialogue and genuine listening to build trust and grassroots momentum. This multi-channel approach allowed adaptation to local contexts while maintaining focus on authentic engagement. [source: commons-library]

Outcome

Verdict: unknown.

The collection does not declare a single outcome for the overall initiative, as it is a compilation of case studies with varying results. Some programs achieved significant scale and volunteer growth, while others faced challenges in reaching undecided voters or maintaining momentum post-election. [source: commons-library]

Lessons

  • Climate conversations work best when grounded in shared values, rooted in local concerns, and facilitated through trusted relationships.
  • Effective programs avoid confrontation or fact-dumping, instead creating safe spaces for people to process concerns and explore solutions together.
  • Regional and rural Australians care deeply about climate issues when conversations are framed around their lived experiences and community values.
  • Success depends on matching program design to community context, organisational capacity, and strategic objectives.

Sources

Disclaimer: Included as a teaching example of campaign craft, not as endorsement.

Sources & verification

  • commons-library — grounding: primary — license: link-only
  • Rewritten: 2026-06-25 via worker_casestudies_v2.py

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