Something different is beginning to happen

Something different is beginning to happen all over Australia. Every day people are taking a stand on local, state and national issues that matter to them, and they’re winning.

Change.org launched in Australia six months ago. There was a simple goal -- enable anyone, anywhere, to start, join and win campaigns about issues that are important to them.

In the last few months people have started petitions on Change.org leading to incredible results:

• For the first time ever, Apple has invited independent inspectors to monitor working conditions in its factories after wall-to-wall media coverage in four continents of Mark Shield’s 200,000 strong petition on Change.org
• After 25,000 people joined a Catholic priests’ Change.org campaign, the Qld government pledged to end the “gay panic” defence that allowed people to defend murder by claiming the victim was gay and “came onto you” first.
• A program forcing nurses to pay $18,000 to return to life saving work is reviewed for breaching anti-discrimination laws after over a thousand people join nurse and mother-of-three’s Change.org petition.
• Explosive media coverage and 50+ advertisers pulling out of Kyle Sandilands’ radio program after he made a series of abusive comments.
• A huge victory for workers at Baiada Poultry -- the main supplier of chicken to Coles -- who have secured safe working conditions and an end to bullying and harassment by management.
• A family saved from being sent into religious persecution and danger.

Now -- and in just a few short months -- we’re a community of more than 150,000 people, who have together achieved some amazing victories.

Scroll down to see a full description on how individuals started and won these and other recent campaigns.

The idea that anyone can stand up and shape their community shouldn’t be a radical one -- but for too long power has been concentrated in an elite group of companies, politicians and organisations.

We’re only just starting to see what’s possible, but as more and more people take advantage of new tools and technology to come together and work for change, the impact will be tremendous.

You can start a petition about something you want to change at any time -- simply click here to start a petition on Change.org right now.

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Catholic Priest wins legislative change to end the “gay panic” defence in Queensland

A loophole in Queensland law meant killing someone wasn’t murder if the victim was gay and “came onto you” first. After seeing this defence used to defend a brutal murder in his own Church’s courtyard, Father Paul started a Change.org petition calling for it to be abolished. 

In just a few days, 25,000 people signed Father Paul’s petition, and there was front-page coverage in The Courier-Mail, Daily Telegraph, an op-ed published in The Punch (and responded to by the Attorney-General), and features on ABC Radio National and Channel 10’s The Project. 

The explosion of support and media coverage of Father Paul’s campaign forced a policy shift from the government -- they announced changes to legislation that will all but relegate the “gay panic” defence to the history books. 

Mark Shields’ petition forces Apple to invite independent auditors to inspect working conditions in its Chinese factories. 

Conditions at one of the factories producing iPhones and other Apple products has led to workers permanently losing the use of their hands, neurological damage and a rash of suicides. After hearing about it on radio, “cult of mac” fan Mark Shields couldn’t stand for it -- so he started a Change.org petition calling for Apple to protect workers making iPhones.

Something incredible followed -- more than 200,000 people signed his petition, a media furore erupted with wall-to-wall coverage across four continents, including some of the worlds largest publications like CNN, BBC, The Guardian, ABC and SBS News.

Last Friday Apple customers delivered the petition to stores in Sydney, New York, Madrid, London, New Dehli and others -- and this week Apple CEO Tim Cook ordered immediate inspections of its Chinese factories, and for the results to be published online.

Nurse and mother-of-three fights to stop nurses being charged $10,000 to return to life-saving work

A dire shortage of nurses is crippling NSW’s health system and putting lives at risk. Yet hundreds of nurses like Sarah Thornthwaite are being forced to pay up to $18,000 in course fees, childcare and travel costs to return to work. 

After taking five years off to raise a family Sarah Thornthwaite was shocked to find that she was being forced out of the job she loves. So Sarah started a Change.org petition calling on the Health Minister to stop charging nurses to return to life saving work. 

In a matter of days, more than a thousand people signed her petition, ABC Radio National and the Daily Telegraph picked up the story, and it’s forced the Minister Skinner to personally call Sarah to discuss the program. Pressure continues to grow for the Minister to support nurses returning to work and deliver an affordable and flexible re-training option. 

Kyle Sandilands campaign explodes across Australia

After Kyle Sandilands called a journalist a “fat slag” and threatened to “hunt her down”, grad student Emily Hehir started a petition calling on advertisers to boycott his show.

In just a few days 30,000 people signed her petition and there was wall to wall coverage in the Australian, The Herald Sun, The Daily Telegraph, the SMH, the Age and many more. Over 50 advertisers pulled out, including massive brands like Holden, Telstra, McDonalds, and Vodafone.

Industry insiders estimate the radio station responsible for backing Sandilands and his comments has lost more than $10 million in advertising, and pressure continues to grow for Sandilands to be sacked.

Mum of two wins victory for chicken factory workers after taking on Coles
Factory workers at Baiada Poultry were subject to bullying, harassment, pay at less than minimum wage and dangerous conditions. Coles bought 80% of its chicken from these factories -- and young mum Jade Cruse started a petition calling on Coles to suspend purchases until Baiada fixed conditions.

More than 4,000 joined with her and sent messages to senior Coles executives through Jade’s petition, reportedly crashing their email system. A few days later, management at Baiada Poultry caved to every single one of the workers’ demands.

One of the workers' negotiators said that Jade’s campaign was "critical" in getting the outcome, and workers got in touch directly, saying: "[we] send thanks to Jade Cruse and everyone who se nt a petition to Coles through Change.org. Your voices made a difference."

Small business owner wins intervention and likely permanent visa for valued employee
Tony, Dalia and their 6 year old daughter are Coptic Christians who have been living inAustralia for 7 years -- and the immigration department made a decision to deny their bid for asylum and send them back to Egypt the same week that 21 Copts like them were murdered.

Charlotte Saunders is a small business owner who employed Tony Nahal for much of the last six years. She started a campaign to save the Nahal Family -- appealing to Immigration Minister Chris Bowen to personally intervene and grant them permanent residency. After more than 7,500 people joined her petition, and significant coverage in the Sunday Herald Sun, the Nahals are on their way to being granted permanent residency.

Queensland PHD student changes political discussion on rape survivors
Gavin King is a candidate at the upcoming Queensland state election -- and he has previously suggested that if a woman is raped while drunk, then she’s partly to blame. Sarah Casey is a sexual violence researcher who started a petition calling on his party leader to disendorse him.

Sarah’s campaign took off -- 5,000 people signed her petition, making enormous progress in changing the political dialogue around rape survivors. For the first time ever, Gavin King has made a full and comprehensive apology, and his party has committed to an extra $250,000 a year for a rape crisis centre in Brisbane.