Community Development

Our community development programs are designed to proactively empower individuals and the community to actively and collectively contribute to positive change, both within the Sanctuary and the broader community.

By focusing on community engagement, public education and advocacy, we provide opportunities and support for people to connect, share skills, increase knowledge, and take initiative in driving meaningful progress.

Three Forces of Social Impact

Our community development initiatives are guided by three forces of social impact: Animal Protection, Environmental Sustainability, and Public Health. These areas are interconnected and mutually reinforcing, driving our goal to create a thriving future for our community —encompassing animals, people and the planet.

1. Animal Protection
2. Environmental Sustainability
3. Public Health

The animals we care for lie at the heart of our work, we also aim to address broader, interconnected systemic issues. Some examples include advocating for animals suffering due to industrial practices, promoting environmental sustainability and addressing dietary health issues in our community.

Three Pillars of Change

To achieve positive social impact our community development programs are grounded in Three Pillars of Change—Community Engagement, Public Education and Advocacy.

1. Community Engagement

Community plays a vital role in furthering our mission. Strengthening the bond between people, nature and animals is essential, as this connection is mutually beneficial and integral to our shared survival. By fostering relationships within the community, we aim to inspire a collective sense of responsibility for the well-being of animals, the environment and people.

Some examples of community engagement include:

• Volunteer Programs
• Community Events
• Partnerships

Liberation Sanctuary focuses on providing opportunities and creating a space where people are supported, empowered and equipped to drive positive change. The community—volunteers, employees, partnerships and participants collectively, bring their unique skills, strengths and ideas to make a positive impact while gaining new knowledge and abilities.

Through initiatives such as volunteer programs, individuals have opportunities to engage in hands-on animal care, participate in educational activities and collaborate with partner organisations—fostering meaningful engagement and skill development. By valuing everyone’s contributions we amplify our efforts and inspire an environment where positive social impact emerges through our community events, partnerships and volunteer programs.

Through meaningful and collaborative connections, Liberation Sanctuary ensures that change extends beyond its grounds, advancing progress in public health, environmental sustainability and animal protection in the broader community.

2. Public Education

Education is a cornerstone of transformation. By equipping individuals and the wider community with knowledge about the interconnections between animal protection, environmental sustainability and public health, we inspire actions that foster a thriving and sustainable world for all.

Some examples of public education include:

• Workshops
• School Programs
• Resource Sharing

At Liberation Sanctuary, we work with the community to inspire informed and impactful choices in everyday life. Educated communities are the foundation of thriving and sustainable societies.

We provide accessible and evidence based education—contributing to a reduction of injustices towards people, animals and nature. The Sanctuary is committed to enhancing the community’s understanding of the interconnections between issues impacting people, animals, and the environment.

3. Advocacy

We are committed to shaping policies and practices that protect animals, promote public health and safeguard the environment.

Some examples of our advocacy efforts include:

• Awareness Campaigns
• Collaboration and Co-design
• Political Lobbying

We aim to collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including schools, community groups and regulators to drive systemic change. This includes strengthening nutrition education, improving access to plant-based and whole foods, and supporting community-led campaigns that oppose projects perpetuating animal exploitation and harm.

Through co-design with like-minded organisations, community members with lived experience, researchers and experts—we elevate our social impact and drive long-term systemic change in society. Collectively, we work towards developing communities where animals, humans and the planet thrive in harmony.

Impact Measurement

At Liberation Sanctuary, we recognise animals as an integral part of our community. We ensure our initiatives align with our core values and prioritise the wellbeing of the animals in our care. We engage with the community by incorporating feedback and involving all stakeholders in key decisions. The impact of our programs is evaluated through feedback, surveys, frameworks and strategic partnerships, ensuring we meet the needs of the entire community.

We measure our impact via frameworks such as:

• The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs)

The UNSDGs provide a globally recognised structure for addressing interconnected challenges, enabling us to align our initiatives with international sustainability benchmarks.

• The Theory of Change framework

This framework supports the design and evaluation of our programs by mapping the pathways needed to achieve long-term, systemic outcomes in animal protection, environmental sustainability, and public health.

Join Us

We are in this together—Join us in creating meaningful social impact and driving positive change. Whether you wish to volunteer, participate in our initiatives, or explore placement opportunities, we would like to hear from you! Please contact us at info@liberation.org.au or go to the Volunteer page to apply.