Common Endeavour

A Common Endeavour

Political renewal

Common Endeavour is a project to build and inform a new political party of government.

At heart about political renewal, the idea of Common Endeavour stems from the belief that political parties are important institutions in contemporary democracies and we need better governing parties than we’ve got. We need parties that will genuinely represent our communities, that will solve the problems we need solved, and that will lead when and where we need them to lead. Common Endeavour aspires to be such a party.

We live in a state of mutual vulnerability. Recognising this reality is where Common Endeavour begins. It makes trust critical to how we live together. It means we need to take our connection seriously. And it makes the politics of care the best guide to how we organise ourselves as communities. This means caring about and caring for each other. This politics draws on the work of Brugère, Tronto, and Baier.

Originally inspired by Simone Weil’s work on the damage coercion causes (On the Abolition of All Political Parties) and Ted Mack’s career as an elected representative (summarised beautifully in his powerful 2013 Parkes Oration), Common Endeavour commits to fostering a renewed political purpose that will deliver a political party that people can be proud to vote for.

To get to know Common Endeavour better, read about the ideas behind Common Endeavour, get in touch (email Common Endeavour; socials below); or visit the Common Endeavour journal to see what’s been in our thinking and to see the elements of the organisation come together — for example, here are our values and principles.

You can keep up with this project by following us on Bluesky, LinkedIn or Instagram.

Where to from here? Check out What's Next for Common Endeavour.

The ideas of Common Endeavour

Care and Connection

Connection is at the heart of Common Endeavour. Our connections are a vital part of who we are. Connection is why we must care. Recognising how important connection is to our flourishing lets us harness the strengths of connection and face the challenges and pitfalls that can come with connection.

Connection simultaneously recognises our individual autonomy and our interdependence and provides a powerful foundation on which to build an organisation that fosters purposeful and productive self-governance.

Nation Building and the Common Good are two concrete expressions of care and connection in a political context. They are important ideas for the work, and workings, of Common Endeavour.

Connection in Practice

Nation Building

Political stagnation over the past 30 years has led to differences and divisions being amplified. This makes Nation Building — emphasising our common interests — fundamental to political renewal. We do Nation building because we care.

Important nation building activities include: Tax reform, Strengthening engagement and respect for Australia's First Nations peoples, Energy security, secure Housing, and tackling Intergenerational trauma. These activities guide Common Endeavour's policy focus.

the Common Good

the Common Good is what happens when we value and take seriously our relationships with each other. the Common Good is what we get when we care about our connections. The result can be a physical object (a memorial pool), a service (aged care), or an institution (our legal system).

the Common Good is defined at the community level; your town or neighbourhood, your state, your nation, or anything in between. Recognising and fostering the Common Good is central to the purpose of Common Endeavour.

You can see what we’re writing about these ideas at the Common Endeavour journal. Read more about Connection and sign up for new posts there!

For an idea of where to from here, check out What's Next for Common Endeavour.

Common Endeavour

What's Next

Common Endeavour is building. We're building an idea, a team, an organisation, and a buzz.

We're developing the idea that care should be the guiding principle of our politics; that care is the best way for us to organise ourselves as democratic communities. Building the idea of Common Endeavour has been our main focus in our early days. At the moment that work involves developing our care democracy philosophy into a form that can be readily appreciated.

But right now, our building focus is at the critical point of building the team that will build the organisation, and the buzz.

If the idea of Common Endeavour looks promising to you, consider building the organisation with us. Get in touch. Let's meet. Let's talk.

And if building an organisation or building a buzz are not your kind of gig, get in touch anyway! Let's just say Hi! And maybe you can tell everyone you know to check out this Common Endeavour thing.

We have a sketch of the organisation's structure but it's precise form and constitution is the work of the establishment team.

And then there's the buzz, which, let's be honest, is right now mostly some supportive thoughts scattered here and there. Thoughts that we deeply, deeply appreciate and that really do help the work to continue. But we think that a broad and deep sense of excitement for Common Endeavour's work, promise, and aspirations should be built on a sound idea, a strong team, and a solid organisation. So those are our 'What's Next' for now.

The buzz will come. And we'll make some noise. As the project grows and matures; the buzz will come. And Common Endeavour will be an exciting, galvanising development in Australian politics — something we can all be proud of.

If you haven't already done so, check out what we're About and our Motivating Ideas page or head over to the Common Endeavour journal where we explore the ideas at the heart of Common Endeavour — Connection, Nation Building, and the Common Good — in more depth. While you’re there you can also sign up for new posts and our newsletter “not Unrelated”.

Get in touch and track how we're going at our socials below.

• Email
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• LinkedIn
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• Instagram

Acknowledgement of Country

Common Endeavour acknowledges that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the First Peoples of Australia.

We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture.

We pay respect to Elders past and present.

Common Endeavour was inspired by life in Kambuwal, Yuggera and Ugarapul Country. The Common Endeavour project is currently based on that Country and in Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country.

We cherish the privilege of living in this extraordinary, beautiful land of mountains and plains; of forests and deserts; of waterways and lakes and seas; tended for so long with such care by Australia's First Nations people.

Photo Credits

All of the images in these pages are original pictures of Australian First Nations Country.

Role Description

Co-Convenor - Organisation builder

The precise specifications for the role of Co-convenor at Common Endeavour will be

We cherish the privilege of living in this extraordinary, beautiful land of mountains and plains; of forests and deserts; of waterways and lakes and seas; tended for so long with such care by Australia's First Nations people.

Photo Credits

All of the images in these pages are original pictures of Australian First Nations Country.