Activism Australia
The 2019 writing marathon took place on December 14 at the Maison du développement durable. More than 400 people participated in this event which was an opportunity to meet in a festive and warm environment, punctuated by numerous musical performances, indoor and outdoor entertainment. Samuele co-spokesperson was on site.

February People Powered Bulletin

Credit: Eric Carriere

New action group, global opportunities, climate leaders & Indigenous solidarity

Important dates are at the top of each Bulletin to help keep you organised and informed. Keep an eye on our Events page for what’s happening near you or online.

27 Feb: Until the Sky Falls Quiet
28 Feb: Mardi Gras Parade – join the NSW LGBTQIA+ Network here
2 Mar: Amnesty University of Melbourne – Bar & Games Night
7 Mar: International Women’s Day
7 Mar: IWD Amnesty Stall and Walk in Darwin
8 Mar: Power of Activism
10 Mar: Amnesty Vision Action Group – Community Gathering
14 Mar: Geelong Monthly Meeting
1 April: Top End Youth Conference – Darwin Amnesty Stall
14 April: Amnesty Vision Action Group – Community Gathering
22 April Amnesty Activity @ Darwin Democracy Dash

FEBRUARY BULLETIN

New Geelong Action Group

A new Action Group is starting in Geelong in March!

A local group of supporters will come together once a month to write urgent actions and raise awareness of key issues within the community. All welcome.

✉️ Jo Noesgaard: joanna.noesgaard@hotmail.com

Meet Amnesty’s Climate Leaders

Over the last month, 12 activists from across the Country have been helping to shape a brand-new campaign on Climate and Human Rights at Amnesty Australia. From high school to PhD students, workers, artists and community leaders are all a part of the leadership group helping shape a new priority campaign from scratch.

“I joined this climate leaders group because I care about making evidence-based climate policy feel practical and people-centred, and I’m especially interested in how climate action can be shaped by communities who are most affected by housing and cost-of-living pressures.” – Manika, Naarm, VIC

“As I grew up and learned more about the world around me I saw what was happening to the planet and the people on it. Learning about human rights opened my eyes and was a topic that really caught my interest. This group focused on how both human rights and climate change are closely related and that is something that really appealed to me so I reached out.” – Sienna, Whadjuk Noongar Country, WA

The climate leaders group will continue meeting over the coming months to provide ideas and insights into what will make an impactful campaign on human-rights based climate action.

Interested in joining the campaign on climate and human rights from the get-go as a local leader? Pick a time that suits you to chat with Inari, Campaign Organiser, for a 15-minute meeting, or call/text Inari on 0434 424 463.

When the world is heavy, how do we keep moving?

Written by Betty Desalegn, Mobilisation Coordinator, Amnesty International Australia.

In case you missed this last month:

Many of us are feeling stretched, anxious and overwhelmed right now. The world can feel like it’s unraveling in a hundred different places at once and for many communities, that has been the reality for a long time. In moments like this, it can help to pause and ground ourselves in a few shared truths about this work and how we carry it together.

A few things worth holding onto:

  • What can feel like countless separate crises are often rooted in the same forces of abuse of power, dehumanisation and systems failing to protect people.
  • There are far more people working for justice than it sometimes feels. Fear and division are amplified, and connection is a form of resistance.
  • Anxiety in this moment is not a personal failure it’s a rational response. The aim isn’t to suppress it, but to prevent it from turning into paralysis or infighting.
  • Policing each other’s activism (who is doing ‘enough’, who is saying things the ‘right’ way, who is too radical or not radical enough) drains movements faster than opposition does.
  • Strong movements make space for difference, disagreement, learning and growth.
  • This work is collective by design. We’re not meant to hold everything at once and we take turns carrying urgency, leadership, rest and care.
  • Staying relevant doesn’t mean doing everything. It means staying connected, intentional, and in motion, even in small ways.
  • Creating spaces for connection through conversation, community, shared understanding, matters as much as any action. Showing up in these spaces is solidarity.
  • History reminds us that periods of instability and fear are often when meaningful change becomes possible (not because suffering is good), but because people organise and refuse to accept injustice as normal.
  • Whether our roles sit in organising, research, advocacy, communications, fundraising, creativity or institutional work… we’re part of the same ecosystem. Change happens because all of these roles exist together.

“If you’re feeling overwhelmed, the ask isn’t to fix the world. It’s to keep showing up in the ways you can, and to trust that others are doing the same.”

If this work is feeling heavy, support is available. You can access confidential support through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and staff are also available to help talk through workload, capacity, or wellbeing concerns.

Release the records: VIC protest

This protest will be held from 2PM to 4PM outside of Flinders Street Station. Our aim is to advocate for equal application of the law, regardless of status, wealth, or political power.

We call on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to speak publicly for the first time on the importance of full legal transparency and to make a genuine effort, through appropriate diplomatic channels, to raise with U.S. President Donald Trump the necessity of releasing all remaining Epstein-related files.

We believe diplomatic relationships should be used to support accountability and public trust in legal systems. We believe Anthony Albanese must use his power and influence to call out president Trump, not allowing it to continue being swept under the rug. Although we are not living in the state experiencing this crime, we must stand by the women effected and showcase support from an international level. No individual should be beyond scrutiny, and justice must be seen to operate without exception.

As students, we are engaging peacefully and civically to encourage leadership that upholds transparency, integrity, and the principle that the law applies equally to everyone.

SHOW UP, SHOW OUT

Adelaide: Power of Activism Volunteers call out

We are looking for volunteers for our upcoming event, Power of Activism, on 8 March 2026. This collaborative event brings together activist groups from across South Australia to celebrate and raise awareness of our actions in activism. We are seeking volunteers to assist in all areas of the day, from 11:00am to 10:00pm.

Lauren Jarvis Volunteer Coordinator – The Power of Activism
✉️ lauren.jarvis.lj@gmail.com

Do you want to get involved in Amnesty International Australia’s Governance?

From 5 March 2026, members will have the opportunity to take part in our democracy and shape our movement by nominating for two different positions. Both are critical yet distinct roles available for our current AIA members.

  • If you want to shape activism and membership in your region for the next 2 years, you can nominate for a position on your local Activism Leadership Committee. If elected, you will play a key role in helping to motivate, coordinate and develop local human rights activism in your region!
  • If you want to vote at General Meetings, then the position of General Meeting Voter is for you. The position is for one year and the main commitment is around the time of the Annual General Meeting, although you may be asked to participate in an Extraordinary General Meeting should one be called. If elected, you will get to vote on resolutions and elect Board members at the virtual AGM on 4 July 2026.

Individuals who have been members for at least 12 months can nominate for either position or for both. The call for nominations will be emailed to all members on 5 March and more information will be available on our website.

WANT TO JOIN THE NATIONAL BOARD? On 10 March, members will be invited to nominate for the Board positions that are due for election at the 4 July 2026 Annual General Meeting.

OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE WITH THE GLOBAL MOVEMENT: Expressions of interest are currently sought for a number of international volunteer roles. These are great opportunities to shape the direction of the global movement. Amnesty International is currently seeking candidates for 6 types of positions:

  • International Board (2 vacancies)
  • International Treasurer (1 vacancy)
  • Finance and Audit Committee (1 vacancy)
  • Preparatory Committee (2 vacancies)
  • Membership Review Committee (3 vacancies)
  • International Nominations Committee (3 vacancies)

To enquire or apply, please email Vicki Jacobs, Governance Committee member: vicki.jacobs@amnesty.org.au.

Nominations deadline: Thursday 9 April 2026 6.00pm AEST after which the Governance Committee will undertake a formal assessment process and make a recommendation to the AIA Board for approval. Nominations will then be forwarded to the global INC by 21 May 2026. Elections for the above positions at the 2026 Global Assembly (GA) will take place between 20 – 26 July.

How to take Indigenous Solidarity Action this week 🖤💛❤️

Yaama, Rach and Grace here! It was so great to see so many of you attend our online Indigenous Solidarity Forum last week. It’s important for everyone in the Amnesty movement to stand in solidarity with First Nations communities in the fight for Indigenous Rights – and by coming together to listen and learn from our incredible guest speaker Travis Lovett, as well as Uncle Rodney and Kacey from the Indigenous Rights team, you have shown that you really care about this commitment.

It was such an honour to learn insights of the Yoorrook Justice Commission, and the state of the youth incarceration system in Victoria from Travis Lovett.

Travis shared: Yoorrook found that the State of Victoria continues to harm Aboriginal children through its child protection, youth justice, education and policing systems. Not “historically.” Not “in the past.” Now. Yoorrook found that: Aboriginal young people are massively over‑represented. They are criminalised for behaviours that non‑Indigenous kids are supported through. The system responds to trauma with punishment, not care.

We also heard from Uncle Rodney Dillon and Kacey Teerman that Australia’s youth detention system is in crisis – and the time for action is now. We are fighting for change, and we need your help to build people power.

Congratulations to Anouchka for winning our trivia quiz and a $50 voucher for Native Oz Bushfoods! For anyone who missed it live, you can watch a recording of the forum here.

Want to take further action?

1. Share our National Petition to End Torturous Practices in Youth Detention. This might look like asking to put up a poster at your workplace or local cafe, sharing on your social media, collecting petition signatures at a local event (after asking the event organiser’s permission) or having a dinner table conversation with friends or family.

You can use our Resource Kit for Printable Posters, Social Media Tiles, Conversation Guides, and more.

2. Sign on to support the National Walk for Truth and sign the open letter calling for a national truth-telling process.

If you’re hungry to take deeper action (learn how to write letters to your MP, call your MP, or more) this campaign will have it all. Our team will be sharing lots of fun and engaging ways for you to be involved and help share information about the need for change.

First Nations Community: We would love to connect with mob and make sure that our comms are tailored to the community that they’re going out to. If you identify as First Nations, click here to be added to the mob-only contact list 🖤💛❤️

Join Amnesty’s Online WhatsApp Community

Join our Online WhatsApp Community, if you haven’t already, to connect with the rest of our national movement, hear about upcoming events and opportunities, learn from shared experiences and challenges of other activists, and celebrate each other’s activism across the country!

Read the Community Guidelines here, and then simply click this link to join the Community!

We want to hear from you!

The People Powered Bulletin is all about the incredible work, energy and dedication of our movement.

We want to know more about your local actions, online initiatives, community engagement, or anything you’re working on that might inform or inspire fellow Amnesty supporters across Australia. The bulletin goes out on the third Friday of every month, with submissions due on the second Friday of every month.

SHARE YOUR ACTIVISM

Our values & behaviours

As a movement of people who stand for equality, justice, freedom and human dignity, we abide by this Values & Behaviours charter so that everyone belongs, is safe, and together achieves impact.

Activist support

The Amnesty team is here to support all activists. Here’s who you can contact:

Your Regional Activism Leadership Committee Presidents for regional support to members, activists and action groups –

Being a member of Amnesty International Australia is an effective way of getting involved with our work.

For a small, once-yearly fee of $22, you can stand for board positions, join committees and vote on important resolutions. Click here to learn more.

We want to hear from you! The People Powered Bulletin is all about the incredible work and dedication of our movement.
SHARE YOUR ACTIVISM

Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 10 million people who take injustice personally. We are campaigning for a world where human rights are enjoyed by all – and we can only do it with your support.

Act now or learn more about our human rights work.

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