Agenda.Melbourne

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Melbourne needs more people at the table.

Agenda.Melbourne brings together people who care about this city to learn, lead, debate and have a say in the decisions that shape it. Forums, leadership workshops, mentoring, our Grounded State debate series, and a place to raise what matters where you live.

Take your seat Debate on Grounded State

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Agenda.Melbourne Distr.: Open to all
AM/RES/1 Melbourne, 2026

Founding resolution

Open for signature by anyone who cares about this city

Recognising that Melbourne is a global city, home to people from every corner of the world,

Concerned that too few young people take part in the decisions that shape their city,

Believing that disagreement, argued in good faith, leads to better decisions,

  1. Invites every Melburnian who cares about this city to take a seat at the table;
  2. Resolves to hold open forums where decision makers answer questions directly;
  3. Establishes leadership workshops and mentoring for young people;
  4. Calls upon those who disagree to debate in public, on Grounded State;
  5. Decides to keep a standing agenda of issues raised by residents.
Signatory
Sign on and join

How to get involved

Pick what suits you. Do as much or as little as you like.

Forums and events

Hear from the people making decisions about Melbourne, and put your questions to them directly.

Leadership workshops

Practical sessions on how local government works, how to run for a role, and how to lead a campaign in your community.

Mentoring

Young people paired with people who have done it, including elected representatives, community leaders and business owners.

Debate on camera

Argue the issues dividing Australia face to face on Grounded State, our filmed debate series.

More about forums, workshops and mentoring

A debate series from Agenda.Melbourne

Grounded State

Two sides. One table. Cameras rolling. Grounded State puts Australians who disagree face to face to argue the issues dividing the country, in good faith.

Apply to debate See the motions

The motions

Pick a side. Defend it.

On the show

Three ways in

Head to head
The Debate

Two people, opposite sides of one motion, one moderator. Opening cases, direct rebuttal, and a closing word each.

Ten minutes
The Monologue

One voice, straight to camera, making the full case for an idea without interruption.

Long form
The Interview

A sit-down with a guest whose views make people uncomfortable, with the hard questions asked properly.

House rules

Argue hard. Play fair.

Now casting

Got a view you can defend?

We are looking for uni students and anyone else with a strong opinion and the nerve to say it on camera. No debating experience needed. It takes about five minutes to apply.

Apply to debate Visit groundedstate.xyz

Who takes a seat

Anyone who cares about this city.

There is no membership fee and no party line. You do not need experience, only an interest in how Melbourne is run and a willingness to listen to people who see it differently.

Young people Students and young workers who want to lead
Residents People who want a real say in their suburb
Mentors Leaders ready to pass on what they know
Partners Organisations that want to back the next generation

For mentors, volunteers and partner organisations

Have your say

Put an issue on the agenda

If something in this city was promised and has not happened, or a service that used to work no longer does, tell us. You do not need to be angry. You need to be specific.

Send in an issue

You can stay anonymous. Everything is checked against the public record before anything is published. How the agenda works

Start here

Take your seat and hear first about forums, workshops and debates.

Join Agenda.Melbourne

We use what you send only to contact you about Agenda.Melbourne and Grounded State, and to follow up on what you raise. Your details are not sold or shared. Ask us to remove them at any time and we will. Read the privacy page