Community Activist

Location: Perth

Are you passionate about women’s rights? Do you want to inspire your local community to take action on issues like women’s economic and climate justice? Want to be part of a team of like-minded people that meet regularly to campaign for change?

If yes - then apply to be a Community Activist in Perth.

About ActionAid:

ActionAid Australia is a global women’s rights organisation, working in 45 countries to achieve social justice, gender equality and poverty eradication. We use a human rights based approach that recognises the capacity of people living in poverty and exclusion to lead change and drive alternatives. Our strategic priorities are women’s economic and climate justice, and their rights in emergencies.

Our Values and Feminist Principles:

At ActionAid, we are strongly guided by our values and feminist principles. It’s really important that our activist network and local groups uphold ActionAid’s values of:

• Mutual Respect: recognising the innate worth of all people and the value of diversity.
• Equity and Justice: ensuring the realisation of our vision for everyone, irrespective of gender, sexual orientation and gender identity, race, ethnicity, caste, class, age, HIV status, disability, location and religion.
• Integrity: being honest, transparent and accountable at all levels for the effectiveness of our actions and our use of resources and open in our judgements and communications with others.
• Solidarity with People Living in Poverty and Exclusion: will be the only bias in our commitment to the fight against poverty, injustice, and gender inequality.
• Courage of Conviction: being creative and radical, bold and innovative - without fear of failure - in pursuit of making the greatest possible impact on the causes of poverty, injustice, and gender inequality.
• Independence: from any religious or party-political a liation.
• Humility: recognising that we are part of a wider alliance against poverty and injustice.

In addition to our values, we are also guided by the feminist principles of:

• Self-awareness
• Self-care and Caring for Others
• Dismantling Bias
• Inclusion
• Sharing power
• Responsible and Transparent use of Power
• Accountable Collaboration
• Respectful Feedback
• Courage
• Zero Tolerance

About this position:

Community Activists work within ActionAid’s local action groups which campaign locally for women’s rights globally. Community Activists are connected to a national activist network of local groups across Australia.

Roles and responsibilities:

• Attending regular meetings every 3-4 weeks with the local ActionAid group.
• Assisting in the planning, coordination and execution of events and campaign activities.
• Contributing to the shared strategy of the local ActionAid group and supporting the evaluation of this strategy.
• Attending a training event in September 2020, as well as other online trainings and campaign briefings with the national activist network.

Selection criteria:

Our ideal candidate will have:

• 2-3 hours hours a week to dedicate to this role.
• A demonstrated commitment and passion for women’s rights.
• A commitment to ActionAid’s values.
• Computer literacy and ability to use communication methods such as phone, Facebook, and email.
• Respect for ActionAid’s independence and an ability to work within this ethos.
• Passion for social justice and the role that everyday people can play to achieve a fairer and more equitable world.

What we will provide:

• The chance to connect with ActionAid supporters and staff in Australia.
• Connection with an international movement of supporters who believe in women’s rights and social justice.
• Ongoing trainings and skill-shares in community organising and campaigning.
• The chance to contribute to the development of the campaign and community organising strategy for ActionAid Australia.

How to apply

If you are keen to get involved please submit a brief (200 words) statement outlining (1) your work, study, and/or volunteering background, (2) your motivations for applying to this role, and (3) the skills you think you contribute to this role in an email with subject line Perth Activist Application via SeekVolunteer to our Perth State Coordinators, Aaron and Moly.

ActionAid is an equal opportunity organisation, and we know that our activist network’s diversity makes it strong. We actively look for and strongly encourage volunteer applicants from a diverse range of genders, races, cultures, language groups, abilities, sexual orientation and experiences to apply.