LOCAL ORGANISATION

Your First Step to Effective Action

A Model for Representation

You are here because you want to act. A Local Association is where that action begins. With a small group of committed people, you can start organising where you live, build local strength, and take action on the issues that matter.



When you register with Heritage Australians, we connect you with other activists in your region. From there, you can begin forming a Local Association that is structured, lawful, and ready to campaign effectively.

Forming a Local Association

Real representation begins locally. A Local Association gives you and others in your community the ability to organise together, hold meetings, and act on shared priorities.


The Community Organising Handbook shows how to:


  • Bring people together and build trust.


  • Identify local issues and agree on achievable goals.


  • Set clear roles and responsibilities for your first team.


The Heritage Australians Toolkit provides the structure to:


  • Adopt a constitution that gives your group legitimacy.


  • Hold fair and efficient meetings.


  • Keep membership and finances organised and transparent.


With these resources, you can form a group that stands on solid ground and represents your community with confidence.

What a Local Association Can Do

Local Associations turn shared concern into practical action. They build visibility, pride, and representation by strengthening civic participation and advancing the interests of Heritage Australians in local public life.


Your Association might:


  • Meet with councillors, community leaders, and local representatives to ensure fair recognition of Heritage Australians’ contributions and perspectives in community decision-making.


  • Organise heritage days, cultural gatherings, or history projects, ensuring Heritage Australian representation that strengthens civic pride, historical awareness, and local identity.


  • Coordinate submissions and petitions to influence planning and policy decisions, particularly around sensitive issues such as high-density development, infrastructure, or heritage protection.


  • Work with other community organisations to preserve heritage names and sites, increase access to local parks, or create signage that reflects and represents Heritage Australians’ place in the community.


  • Run information campaigns that highlight local issues and promote active citizenship for Heritage Australians, encouraging engagement in councils, schools, and civic forums.


  • Support members and families through mentoring, volunteering, and social initiatives that strengthen community connection and mutual assistance.


  • Develop relationships with media, local businesses, and educational institutions to promote understanding, respect, and inclusion of Heritage Australians’ heritage and values.


Each of these actions gives practical meaning to the Association’s purposes to represent, to advocate, and to connect, and proves that organised communities can create a respected voice in Australian civic life.

Running Campaigns That Matter

Once your Association is established, you can turn shared concerns into action. The Handbook explains how to choose winnable issues, plan campaigns, and take steps that deliver real results.


You will learn how to:


  • Map local power and understand who can make change happen.


  • Plan tactics, from petitions and meetings to media engagement.


  • Keep members motivated and involved as campaigns progress.


Effective campaigns strengthen your group and prove that organised communities can achieve what individuals alone cannot.

Sustaining and Growing Your Association

A strong Association depends on leadership, participation, and trust. The Toolkit provides role guides and templates to help you share responsibility and prevent burnout.


You will find guidance on:


  • Recruiting new members and keeping them engaged.


  • Managing finances responsibly and maintaining transparency.


  • Resolving conflicts fairly and keeping meetings productive.


  • Planning for succession so the Association continues to grow.


Growth brings influence, and influence builds representation.

Connect and Train

Forming a Local Association is only the beginning. The next step is to develop your skills and connect with other activists through our online training modules.


The training materials include practical examples, real scenarios, and exercises that make the process achievable for every community.

Your Next Step

Local organisation is how real representation begins. With the Handbook and Toolkit, and with training and support from Heritage Australians, you can build something that lasts.


The first step is simple. Start talking with others in your community, form your Association, and begin the work of representation today.

This structure is built from the ground up, by our people and for our people. It grows stronger with every community that joins and every member who takes part.



Everything you need to begin organising is available in our Resources section, including step-by-step guides, templates, and checklists.