Organising Works
The recently re-launched Organising Works program for 2023 is off and running –
with 23 participants in training to be the leaders of tomorrow.
Applications for Organising Works for 2024 are now open!
By becoming a union Organiser, you can be part of building the grassroots movement that has a proven record of fighting inequality and injustice and winning for working people.
About Organising Works
The Australian Organising Works program was established in 1994 to recruit and develop waves of union Organisers – the original disruptors!
Since then, more than 1,000 Organisers have completed the program, playing their part in building a strong and united movement of workers through both challenging and exciting times.
At the cutting edge of new strategies to build worker power, Organising Works trainees don’t just change Australian workplaces, they have helped to change the Australian union movement.
If you are passionate about building workers’ collective power to drive workplaces and communities and are active in your community or workplace, apply now!
Applications are particularly encouraged from women, people of colour, people with physical and intellectual disabilities and the LGBTQIA+ community.
The ACTU has teamed up with Democracy in Colour to ensure our recruitment process and traineeship supports everyone in our community take steps to be active in the union movement.
“I was 22 when I started, and it was an incredible privilege to be taught and mentored by such experienced and deeply committed unionists. Organising Works injected new energy and ideas into our movement.
The challenge then, is the same challenge now: growing our movement. Every generation needs to face these challenges and deal with it on their own terms.”
Sally McManus, ACTU Secretary
About the program
Trainees are employed by a union who support them as a new entrant to the role of Organiser by facilitating their participation in the comprehensive 12-month training program.
Trainees receive a mix of face-to-face education, online webinars, and self-paced online learning. Development of experience comes through their role, but also through Campaign Clinics.
Campaign Clinics deploy trainees in live campaigns, where they have opportunities to develop and implement all aspects of campaigning including planning, communications, recruitment, member decision making, mobilisation and engagement strategies.
Campaign Clinics provide opportunities for developing trainees’ learning and experience while providing ACTU affiliated unions with a resource to draw on for intensive campaign situations.
Key Dates
19 May | Applications close
May – June | Round 1 interviews
June – July | Round 2 interviews
July | Offers of employment communicated
18 August | Employment with union begins
9 September | Program begins in Melbourne or Sydney
Resources
Organising Works Review
Throughout 2022, a review was initiated to evaluate the program and plan for future iterations of Organising Works.
Affiliate Flyer
Applicant Flyer
Useful Links
Are you an Organising Works graduate and want to share your story and support future trainees?
Democracy in Colour is working in partnership with the ACTU to recruit and support People of Colour (POC) into the re-designed Organising Works program.
The ACTU and Democracy in Colour Organising Works partnership is intentionally recruiting and supporting POC to successfully begin a career in the union movement and better reflect and represent our diverse communities.
Democracy in Colour is supporting the ACTU to build structures and working and learning spaces of safety, equity and racial justice in the Organising Works program and wider union movement.