AI is transforming the advocacy landscape — offering unprecedented opportunities to scale impact while posing critical challenges around ethics, privacy, misinformation, and the potential threats to our democracy.
To help advocates navigate this evolving terrain, we’ve partnered with Watershed Change and AI Impact Lab to deliver the Generative AI for Advocacy Workshop — a unique training series designed to demystify the world of AI and equip you with the essential skills to leverage this new technology to drive systemic change.
Through an engaging and interactive experience, you’ll explore the fundamentals of AI — from understanding language models and prompt engineering, to mastering the practical skills needed to integrate AI tools effectively into your work.
The Generative AI for Advocacy Workshop is open to all advocacy practitioners — whether you’re just beginning your AI journey or have intermediate experience and are looking for best practice strategies. If you’re considering whether and how to harness AI to enhance your advocacy, this workshop is for you.
Applications are now open, and spots are limited — so apply for the workshop today!
Note: ChatGPT will be utilised throughout the training and participants will be required to attend with their own paid ChatGPT account.
OUTCOMES / SKILLS
Introduction to Generative AI – Overview of AI tools, foundational models, and hands-on exercises.
Advanced Capabilities of AI Tools – Deep dive into ChatGPT, Claude.ai, and MidJourney for research and content creation.
Building Custom GPTs for Team Efficiency – Practical training on creating and integrating AI-driven workflows.
Audio-Visual AI Tools 101 – Using AI to create social media content, multilingual voiceovers, and automated editing.
ChatGPT for Leadership and Learning – Leveraging AI for strategic planning, decision-making, and communication.
Introduction to Perplexity and Claude – Understanding platform-specific AI capabilities for different advocacy needs.
KEY DATES AND TIMES
The workshop will run over five sessions over five weeks:
Wednesday, 5 March
Wednesday, 12 March
Wednesday, 19 March
Wednesday, 26 March
Wednesday, 2 April
Each session will run during the following times:
10:30AM to 12:00PM AEDT
9:00AM to 11:30AM AEST
10:00AM to 11:30AM ACDT
9:00AM to 10:30AM ACST
7:30AM to 9:00AM AWST
Note: If the date of the Federal Election takes place during the week of a workshop, the session will be deferred and the program will continue the following week.
TRAINERS
Sofia Madden
Director, Watershed Change
Sofia Madden is a leading expert in AI for advocacy and social impact, with extensive experience in campaign strategy, digital innovation, and creative impact. As Co-Director of Watershed Change, she works with socially minded companies, philanthropists, non-profits, and advocacy organizations on their strategy, communications, and campaigns. Over the past year, Sofia has been based in the US, training advocacy and progressive organizations on AI strategies to integrate AI into their workflows and election campaigns, maximizing impact and efficiency. She is passionate about using technology to empower changemakers and drive systemic change.
Adam Knobel
Deputy CEO, Australian Progress
Adam is an experienced non-profit leader who has worked on public education, community health, and LGBTIQ+ reforms. Previously, he worked as Communications and Campaigns Director and Acting Chief Executive Officer at the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education, working across public policy advocacy campaigns and large-scale health promotion programs. He was also the Digital Campaign Director at Australian Marriage Equality and was recently the Communications Director at Yes23 to support during the Voice referendum. His passion is building the capacity of social change advocates across communications, strategy, organisational development, and change.
COST
$1,200+GST: Small Nonprofit Concession
For nonprofits with an annual revenue of less than $500K.$1,700+GST: Regular Nonprofit Concession
For nonprofits with an annual revenue between $500K and $3 million.$2,100+GST: Large Nonprofit Concession
For nonprofits with an annual revenue of more than $3 million$3,000+GST: For-Profit Organisation
For businesses, education and government bodies.$1,200+GST | Individual
For individuals and grassroots organisers who are not affiliated by an organisation or movement.
Partial scholarships are available at $700+GST and full scholarships are available at no cost to First Nations people, people with disability, people of colour as well as refugees and people seeking asylum. To apply for a scholarship, please complete an application here.
Note: scholarships will not cover the cost of a paid ChatGPT account which is required for the workshop.
ACCESSIBILITY
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ChatGPT - We will be using ChatGPT throughout the training. We will require you to attend with your own paid account. Please note that generative AI tools such as ChatGPT may present accessibility challenges for some people, so please reach out to Erica at erica@australianprogress.org.au if you have any specific access needs and we will do our best to ensure the training is accessible for you.
Zoom - During the online sessions, we will be meeting via Zoom. If you have access to a computer or laptop, we recommend you join the training by computer to make navigating the materials easier. See here for accessibility documentation for Zoom; including a list of keyboard shortcuts here.
Video norms - During the online sessions, we will encourage everyone to have your cameras on if you feel comfortable, but we will not require you to do so.
Chat - On Zoom you will be able to use the chat function. Participants will be asked to introduce themselves in chat, and to enter responses in the chat.
Captions - We will have auto captions enabled in Zoom.
Google Docs and Digital Documents - We will be sharing training materials over Google Drive, Google Docs and Google Slides. All documents, forms, and surveys will be provided in accessible formats. During the pre-training we will use the screen share function to share slides, as well as navigating between Zoom and an interactive slide deck.
Early access to slides - A view-only version of the slide deck can be supplied early if this supports your participation. Any copies of the slides provided will include alt-text / image descriptions.
Post-training resources - We do not supply recordings from our online training as standard, but can record sections of the workshop if needed to facilitate your engagement. You will receive a copy of the presenter slide deck, interactive slide deck, and other resources. Where video or audio content is included during the training or in any of the resources, we will provide audio descriptions, captions or transcripts as needed.
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Setting norms - As a cohort, we will also set expectations at the start of the training to ensure everyone can comfortably participate in the workshop.
Breakout rooms - This training regularly uses breakout rooms, with group sizes ranging from pairs, through to groups of 10-12 for discussions and workshop activities.
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If you have any questions about accessibility, please contact Community Manager Erica at erica@australianprogress.org.au.