Strategic Plan 2026-2028

Our Vision

A thriving democracy with diverse pathways and practices that are curious and credible, grounded in First Nations ways of being, where we come together to play an active and meaningful role for the common good and our shared future.

Our Mission

To foster the reimagination of democracy through action, practices, movement-building and story-telling.

Strategic Objectives

Objective One: Develop the practice – Develop and deliver Transformative Democratic Education

• A Transformative Democratic Education resource that is co-created with students and young people and adopted by schools.

• Participants of our education initiatives:

- think critically and deeply about democracy and other issues

- are empowered and equipped with democratic skills and experience

- are active and community-minded participants in society

- think, feel and practice democracy in their everyday lives as the new norm

• Educators and schools who participate in our education initiatives are supported and empowered to support students.

Objective Two: Bring the people – Build and nurture a community and movement of action

• Communities and organisations have the tools and are supported to practice democracy in their local spaces.

• People have the skills and are empowered to practice democracy in their everyday lives as the new norm.

• People and groups working in areas of positive social and environmental change work in greater partnership and start working towards a collective impact approach to effect change.

Objective Three: Tell the story – Foster the reimagination and mindset of democracy centred on active public participation

• A new narrative and mindset of democracy that goes far beyond politics, government and elections, where democracy is viewed as the myriad ways communities live and make decisions collectively for the common good.

• Democracy is viewed as the enabler of community-led and public-interest public policy and decision-making, and as the foundation of a thriving society and planet.

• Foster a deep culture of democratic thinking and practice.

Objective Four: Develop our organisation – Build a democratic and sustainable organisation that has the tools to effect change

• We operate democratically and in line with our values and principles.

• We have a high-performing team to drive our work.

• We have the systems in place to support effective, efficient and ethical operations.

• We have clear strategies and frameworks to drive systems-change and maximise impact.

• We have strong relationships with stakeholders and trusted partners.

• We are financially sustainable.

Our values

Leadership: We support and empower people to be the best they can be, individually and collectively. 

Visionary: We are creating a shared vision and positive future for all. 

Integrity: We are ethical and place the public interest at the centre of what we do. 

Inclusion: We are a community where everyone can participate and make a positive impact. 

Our principles

First Nations justice: We acknowledge the systemic barriers that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples face. We work with First Nations peoples to ensure that our democracy values, embraces and encompasses First Nations perspectives and knowledges. We believe that a democratic Australia can only exist through achieving First Nations justice, sovereignty and self-determination. 

Leadership: We empower the community, organisations, government, elected representatives, business and the media, through demonstrated actions, guidance and support to show that everyone has a role to play in transforming and participating in Australia’s democracy.

Collective action: We develop strong and productive partnerships and relationships across the community as we believe the best results arise from collective action. This includes supporting the voices and participation of marginalised groups. 

Holistic: We understand Australia’s democratic issues are not caused by one or a few factors, but by numerous and complex interrelated, interconnected and interdependent factors, and that real and enduring change will only occur if all of these are addressed. We take a transdisciplinary approach to our work. 

Direct action: We do not only advocate, call for action, produce shelf wear reports or merely develop policy solutions and hope they are adopted. We work to create the change we seek. 

Ambitious: Whilst we are practical, we also believe that the biggest barrier to achieving change is limiting what we think is achievable. We challenge the status quo of the existing system rather than conforming our initiatives to fit in within it.