How we work

We are a member-driven action-oriented organisation. We do three things to make this happen:
  • provide an incoming channel for atheist and atheist-friendly information —we source material from relevant websites, blogs and posts from members and we distribute them to members and subscribers via our news page, Critical Mass podcasts and newsletters and meetings;
  • act as a channel for actions — we provide a way for members to contribute to existing actions and/or turn their own ideas into actions via our workstreams, co-ordinators and the Committee; and
  • we foster a community of atheist and atheist-friendly people by holding events including lecture series, community outreaches and socials.
 

A channel for actions

 
We have five key workstreams, each with a co-ordinator:
 
Workstream Objectives Stakeholders Co-ordinator Email
Education Promoting the importance of secular education and developing critical thinking and secular ethics curricula and materials Teachers, parents, schools, the Department of Education Russell Hobson education@sydneyatheists.org
Social/community Making a positive contribution to the local community including supporting secular charities*. Supporting a vibrant atheist and atheist-friendly community Community groups, secular charities, members and friends Ansgar Fehnker social@sydneyatheists.org
Policy Acting as a voice of reason on important issues such as the secular government and education, equality of sex and sexuality, reproductive rights, etc. Government and related authorities, likeminded organisations Vacant policy@sydneyatheists.org
Media Promoting the atheist cause in the media and wider public The media and wider public Alan Conradi media@sydneyatheists.org
Organisational To help our members to do more. The stream include membership (Secretary), financial (Treasury) and IT (IT co-ordinator) Members Dr Kay vice.president@sydneyatheists.org
* It is important to note that Sydney Atheists is not a charity itself. Nor does it raise money on behalf of charities. Rather, Members contribute their own time and money to charitable causes.
 
To find out what’s happening in a workstream you are interested in, how you can get involved in upcoming actions and how to contribute your own ideas for actions, simply get in touch with the relevant co-ordinator. Use the email addresses above or introduce yourself at one of our meetings. He or she is there to help. It may be by putting you in touch with members who share your interest in achieving certain things or helping you put a new idea for action through the Pipeline (see below). Either way, the aim is to get you connected and get you involved!  It’s that simple!
 

The Pipeline

 
To get actions moving, each co-ordinator is also a member of the Committee. There are three steps involved:
  • new ideas are reviewed at the monthly Committee meeting —each idea is checked to ensure that it is consistent with Sydney Atheists’ vision, mission and values and is feasible within current resources (people and money);
  • the relevant co-ordinator then helps the idea’s proponent prepare an action plan —this can be as simple as sorting out a date and time for taking the action or more complicated if it involves planning tasks and co-ordinating resources. Working groups can be formed to help;
  • the Committee then approves the plan and the action goes ahead.
 
You can see our upcoming actions, ideas currently in the Pipeline and recent events here.
 

A couple of questions

 
What if I don’t want to take actions. What if I just want to be social?
 
That’s perfectly ok! You should feel under no pressure to do anything you don’t want to.
 
What if I have a big idea I want to present to the Committee?
 
Easy. Check with the relevant co-ordinator who will sponsor you in presenting your idea to the Committee. Every Member is entitled to make a contribution.