Lobbying and Campaigning Step by Step

What is Lobbying? Why Lobby? Lobbying is telling the people who make decisions about the issues/problems that concern you and trying to get them to understand your problems and what is needed to be done to fix it. Why Lobby? Self advocacy groups lobby decision makers because they want to change the way things are done some of the things groups might lobby about include: closing institutions more accommodation for people with disabilities better jobs better employment and more

What is Campaigning? A campaign is a number of different activities you do to try and change serious things that lots of people are not happy about. Campaigns can last a long time. Breast Cancer Housing Plain English

Why start a campaign? You start a campaign because there is something that people are not happy about and it is really important that this changes. You might also start a campaign because lobbying has not worked. Some of the things self advocacy groups do in campaigns are: Lobbying Teaching the community about the issues this is called community awareness raising Getting the message into the papers Petitions Getting well known people to help promote or talk about the issue Demonstrations

STEP 1 - Starting a Campaign ? Campaign Steps What is the problem or issue?

STEP 1 – What is the issue/problem? The first step you must take is deciding on the issue that you want to campaign about. Issues You have an issue that is a problem for you and members of your group. Issues might be: Not enough accessible public transport People are bossed around in CRU’s Not enough housing for people with a disability Closing institutions

STEP 1 – What is the issue/problem? Is it a good Issue? Before you decide to start the campaign you need to think more about the issue including: Is it an issue that only affects one person ? How many people does it affect Is it something we think should change ? Is it a human right?

SHUT IN Campaign to Close Institutions

Shut In A Campaign by Reinforce and VALID What is the issue? Reinforce and VALID want all institutions for people with an intellectual disability to close in Victoria and then in Australia

Shut In A Campaign by Reinforce and VALID Is it a good Issue? Is it an issue that only affects one person ? NO Is it something we think should change ? Yes!!! Many of our members have lived in institutions and know how bad they are. We do not know of any one who has left an institution who wants to go back. Is it a human right issue? Yes – all people have the right to full community inclusion. Institutions exclude people from the community

STEP 1 – What is the issue/problem? The next step is to decide exactly what you are asking for? You also need to decide what you are not asking for. Shut In Reinforce and VALID made a list of institutions in Victoria e.g Calounda, Sandhurst etc They are asking the government make the decision to close all institutions in Victoria and give money to make it happen. This campaign is only about institutions on the list not about CRU’s

? STEP 2 – Who can help us? Campaign Steps What is the problem or issue? Who can help us - partners and allies?

STEP 2 – Who can help us? To run a good campaign it is a good idea to work with other partners or groups and people. Ideas for partners might include: Other advocacy groups that want the same changes as you. Other people who are affected by the problem People who are experienced in running campaigns People that have lived the experience of the issue – their voice is the strongest in your campaign

STEP 2 – Who can help us? Shut In VALID and Reinforce are partners in the SHUT IN campaign. They set up a working party which meets each month. They asked other groups to join the working party including AMIDA and AFDO. SARU also goes to the meetings to give advice. The working party also includes people who have lived the experience of been in institutions

STEP 2 – Who can help us? Write a list of other people who can help you and how they can help you. Ideas might be: Politicians that you know feel the same way you do Disability Advisory boards Advocacy organizations People that have information or info about the issue People who have lived the issue

STEP 2 – Who can help us? Shut In The Shut In working party met and wrote down a list of people that could help them: members of the National and State Disability Advisory councils to bring up the issue at their meetings People who have lived in institutions to be spokes people about their experiences Media person who has videos about the issue and who is helping to make a logo

STEP 3 - Who makes the decisions and what do we tell them? ? Campaign Steps What is the problem or issue? Getting to and working with decision makers Who can help us - partners and allies?

STEP 3 - Who makes the decisions and what do we tell them? You want things to change – so the next step is finding out who has the power to make the changes you want. The people who make the decisions will be different for different issues but might include: Politicians –including Ministers Local Councils and councilors Transport companies Service providers Unions

STEP 3 - Who makes the decisions and what do we tell them? Shut In The SHUT In working party met and wrote down a list of people that have the power to make the decision to close institutions this included: The Minister for the Department of Human Services Lisa Neville

STEP 3 - Who makes the decisions and what do we tell them? What do you tell them? So know you now you have decided who you need to contact you should make a plan about how you are going to get them to listen to what you have to say including: Get all your information together make sure it is correct. Write down why your issue is important Get evidence to support what you are saying Collect people’s stories Petitions DVD

STEP 3 - Who makes the decisions and what do we tell them? Shut In The working party of the SHUT IN campaign decided that would try and meet with the Minister of Human Services. They talked about the information they had including: The number of institutions still in Victoria The number of people in institutions in Victoria Information about how people’s life's have improved since moving out of an institution The reason why some people think there should be in institutions Who is saying that the institutions should stay open. The stories of the people who have lived in institutions Institutions and human rights

Step 4 – Lobbying, Community, and Media ? Campaign Steps What is the problem or issue? Campaign Steps What is the problem or issue? Community, Media, and Lobbying Getting to and working with decision makers Who can help us - partners and allies?

Step 4 – Lobbying, Community, and Media So you have met with people who make decision but how do you keep them from forgetting. You need to do some lobbying including: Petitions Sending out information kits – peoples stories, films, posters Making badges, posters, fliers Write a paper about your issue Everyone visit you local MP Emails Meetings

Step 4 – Community, Media and Lobbying It is important in you campaign that you work to let people in the community about the issue. Politicians listen to voters and if enough people start to support you that can help you. It is also important that the community know about the issue as they may be able to help you and also learn about the problems people face.

Step 4 – Community, Media and Lobbying Ideas to help the community learn about your issue include: Arts projects and exhibitions Public information seminars Street stalls Stickers, fliers, posters Theatre Films Use technology Public events Meeting with other groups

Step 4 – Community, Media and Lobbying One way to let the community and the decision makers know about your issue is to get it into newspapers, TV and Radio. The things you can do to get the media to listen includes: Send out press releases Write letters to the editor Ring talk back radio Find a media person who is interested in your issue Plan events that the media will want to go to Make a press kit – people to be interviewed, DVD’s, personal stories, Press releases.

Step 4 – Community, Media and Lobbying SHUT IN Some of the things the SHUT in campaign are planning to do include: Petition Arts exhibition Badges Contacting different groups that can help spread the message

Step 5 – Timelines and Jobs ? Campaign Steps What is the problem or issue? Campaign Steps What is the problem or issue? Timelines and jobs Community, Media, and Lobbying Getting to and working with decision makers Who can help us - partners and allies?

Step 5 – Timelines and Jobs Now you have decided you campaign plan and what you are going to do it is a good idea to write a timeline. It is also a good idea to include in your plan and timeline the different jobs people will be doing and the support they will have. Everyone should get a copy of the timeline and the jobs list.

? Step 6 – GO!!!!!!!! Campaign Steps What is the problem or issue? Timelines and jobs Community, Media, and Lobbying Getting to and working with decision makers Who can help us - partners and allies?

Step 6 – GO!!!!!!!! Now everything is ready so you can begin your campaign but remember: It may take a long time so do not give up Make sure that you have fun and enjoy some of the things you are doing If you get stuck or need training or ideas you can contact the SARU or the DARU. GOOD LUCK