Voices of Deakin

23/06/2026

In Victoria, a fake party called "Free Palestine" was created to "capture votes and redistribute them" to One Nation.
ABOVE THE LINE VOTING: Glen Drury, 'the preference whisperer' has been very successful in getting people with a low primary vote into Victoria's upper house, through elaborate preference flows. It's called 'group ticket voting'. It's only used in Victoria.
The bill to stop it is sitting in parliament right now. Sign the petition.

Sign the petition now

22/06/2026

Hard to believe it's almost one month since The Big Community Conversation!

Everyone seemed to really enjoy it: the diversity of the speakers is being highlighted as a real positive, but Zoe Daniel was clearly a crowd favourite.

'Dotmocracy' was also a big hit… though we often heard ‘it’s really hard to only choose three’ issues.

We hope those of you who attended enjoyed it. We're looking forward to running more of these.

Special thanks to Jason East Photography for the great photos!

18/06/2026

Some great advice on how to broach supporters of a certain political party on the rise.

08/06/2026

👉 Share your honest views so we reflect our community's true diversity. https://hello7561.surveysparrow.com/s/Voices-of-Deakin-State-Survey/tt-DfwYE

Why?
🏛️ Two locals have nominated for endorsement as independent candidates for the state election – but are they right for our community?
🗣️ Whether you love politics or avoid it, whether you support community independents or question them, your opinion matters.
🤝 Our community is diverse. There will always be differences – but there is also common ground.
🧩 We know independents aren’t for everyone. But if we only hear from supporters, we miss a big piece of the picture so we hope you’ll participate.
☑️ Completing our survey doesn’t mean you support us – it means your views are included in our community picture.

01/06/2026

Petition, followed by a short survey.

An independent movement to build a progressive Australia and bring participation back into our democracy.

27/05/2026

THIS SATURDAY, 30 May, 11am at State Library.
Demonstration against Victorian government plans to demolish Melbourne’s 44 public housing towers - which will result in the eviction of 10,000 residents.

24/05/2026

The Big Community Conversation with Zoe Daniel is today! Tickets available at the door or via the link for anyone who's interested. Arrive by 1:50pm for a 2pm start.

We'd love to see you there!
https://events.humanitix.com/the-big-community-conversation?c=fb

14/05/2026

Are these attributes that you want to see in your community:

1️⃣ Civil society?
2️⃣ Community power?
3️⃣ Systems change?

Are these questions on your mind:

❓Are we underestimating the power of local action to shape national outcomes?
❓How can everyday people influence decisions that feel out of reach?
❓What does meaningful community input actually look like—and how do we achieve it?

There are some pretty good reasons why you should come along and hear what Denis Moriarty has to say - like:

✅ Denis is a celebrated and prominent Australian social entrepreneur and the founder and Group Managing Director of Our Community, a pioneering social enterprise that provides tools and training for the not-for-profit sector.
✅ In 2020 he was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his significant service to the community, to social welfare, and to public administration
✅ He describes himself as a social capitalist, and he believes markets, wealth and giving can be revolutionary when they are combined with a progressive social agenda.

Use the QR code on the graphic or go to https://events.humanitix.com/the-big-community-conversation?c=fb to register.

It will indeed be a great Big Community Conversation.

Will today’s priorities shape tomorrow's community: a local forum on how priorities are set, and how we can influence the decisions that affect us.

12/05/2026

Are these matters ones that are important to you:

1️⃣ Social justice?
2️⃣ Inequality?
3️⃣ Lived experience?

Are these questions on your mind:

❓What does a fair future really look like—and who gets left out if we don’t act?
❓What do the most vulnerable in our community need us to understand right now?
❓How do we build a future where no one is left behind?

There are some pretty good reasons why you should come along and hear what Paul McDonald has to say - like:
✅ Since 2010, Paul has been the CEO of Anglicare Victoria, the State's largest provider of foster care, family welfare, and youth support services.
✅ As the founding Chair of Home Stretch, he led a national campaign to extend the age of support for foster care children from 18 to 21 years old across Australia, leading to ground breaking legislation in Victoria.
✅ Prolific commentator on social welfare matters, frequently contributing to discussions on youth homelessness, child protection, and alcohol policy in Australian media.

Use the QR code on the graphic or go to https://events.humanitix.com/the-big-community-conversation?c=web to register.

It will indeed be a great Big Community Conversation.

06/05/2026

What an opportunity!

This year's Victorian election provides a rare opportunity in both the Croydon and Ringwood electoral districts to really have our say on what we want as a community in our representatives in Spring Street.

That's because the incumbents of both seats are not contesting them so we have a blank canvas.

What are the key issues for you and what attributes are important for you in what that representation looks like?

Scan the QR Code in the image to access our Community Voices Project Survey.