What is the Voices of Chisholm?

Who are we?

We are a volunteer community group, in the Victorian federal electorate of Chisholm, dedicated to having the concerns and aspirations of Chisholm voters robustly represented in Canberra.
We believe that the concerns expressed in our community could be more effectively represented in federal Parliament.
We believe we can do democracy better with a Member of Parliament who will represent the community independently of party-line politics.

At the last federal election in May 2025, Voices of Chisholm supported an Independent candidate, Kath Davies, who won the vote of 6,665 residents of Chisholm.

We have a small group of volunteers now ready to organise and assist the people of Chisholm in the next election to elect a Community Independent Member to be our Representative in government.

Who is VoC for?

Voices of Chisholm is for people who live in Chisholm and want to participate actively in our community, civil society and democratic system.

Those who believe

Progress can be achieved more effectively and democratically, especially in times when politics shifts towards extremes.
A Community Independent MP can represent our views and values more frankly and freely in Federal Parliament.
Many important local and national concerns are not being addressed properly at a federal level.

What is the aim of VoC?

Our aim is to ensure that the people who vote in the electorate of Chisholm are represented in the Federal Parliament by an independent candidate who understands and advocates for their concerns, values, hopes and aspirations, and will voice and work for these in Federal Parliament, independent of party constraints.

Come and join us, to support the election of an Independent candidate as our MP for Chisholm in 2028

Why an Independent MP?

Community Independent Members of Parliament are an impressive story – from the pioneer effort of Kathy McGowan, winning the seat of Indi, in the northwest of Victoria, in 2013, to the 2025 federal election, when seven Independent MPs and a Senator were elected, in a fast-growing national movement for community-based ‘people-powered politics’. The Community Independents Project (CIP) is values driven and focused beyond the electoral cycle for the greater good of society, the environment and the economy. You can read more about it here: https://www.communityindependentsproject.org/

The movement towards electing Independent Members of Parliament was boosted by other support, such as Climate 200, which is a ‘community crowdfunding initiative that supports community-backed Independents to stand for election to advance climate policy’ in Australia (commonly but sometimes inaccurately dubbed ‘Teals’ by media).

The successful initiatives of Independent MPs in our Parliament shows the difference that can be made in our politics by community representatives with integrity and purpose. Community independent MPs - such as Kate Chaney, Zali Steggall, Helen Haines, Monique Ryan, Sophie Scamps, Allegra Spender, Kylea Tink, and others – have contributed significantly on integrity and corruption (e.g., the NACC National Anti-Corruption Commission), as well as on long-term climate resilience, and continue to push for reform on political donation laws. Their impact shows how cross-benchers, while rooted in community mandates, can successfully drive systemic change for the greater good.

The Story of VoC, so far …

Just five weeks out from the last election, in May 2022, the newly formed Voices of Chisholm decided to make the bold decision to field a candidate in the federal election. Despite lack of time, experience and resources, there was enthusiasm in the community for the idea to ‘just have a go’. With the goal not only about winning but as much about learning, we embarked on our journey to get our independent representative to Canberra.

We followed a democratic process and the community endorsed the wonderful Kath Davies as our candidate. Kath is a dedicated community leader, climate activist, and independent thinker who has called Chisholm home for over 27 years. You can read more about Kath and see her campaign at Kath4Chisholm.

Chisholm voiced its support of Kath in 2022 because of her aspirations as a candidate:‘to get the best for our local Chisholm community, and for the nation as a whole. This means a healthy, equitable, safe, sustainable, and prosperous future for all, and a fairer society that respects human dignity and the wellbeing of all its citizens.’

Kath’s enthusiasm, hard work and dedication propelled us forward over the five weeks and resulted in getting an amazing 6% of the vote – from a standing start. Quite an achievement with limited experience and resources, and with such a small team. Now we can build on that good experience for 2028.

What have been main concerns of Chisholm voters?

We’ve continued to listen actively to the people of Chisholm - through Kitchen Table conversations, chats with locals in the streets, around shopping centres and train stations, website surveys, and social media responses.

Leading up to the last federal election some of the main concerns for the community were:

transparency, accountability, truth and integrity in politics
climate change and a healthy environment
living costs
housing
social equality

Now, in 2025, these issues are still with us, and new concerns are arising, in our community (e.g., harmful social media) so we are pressing the Reset button. We are going back to the electorate to ask the big questions again, about community concerns, values, aspirations and hopes.

We are now in our listening phase. We aim to:

Know what matters most to the people of Chisholm, in your own words.
Know what issues you want championed in our Parliament.
Understand what strategies give us the best chance of success on these issues.

We are restarting our surveys of current community concerns now, reaching out to the community in as many ways as we can, within our limited resources - including trusted personal approaches through Kitchen Table conversations, street chats, and community events.

We’d love to hear from you, too! Please do complete the form asking for your views: What would you like your Independent MP to advocate in the Federal Parliament for you, for the Chisholm community and for our nation?

A report on current concerns will be published by VoC as we hear more from the community, at the end of the next stage of the listening process.

We hope everyone in Chisholm can be inspired to action in our democracy.

Voices OF Chisholm out in the community talking to people

Democracy is a privilege and a responsibility.

Participating in democracy in your community is also fun. You meet new people in lively social settings, where you can share views and ideas about the future you want for Australia.

Sounds interesting to you? If you want to know more, be kept in the loop, volunteer, donate, or get involved in any way.

How do we achieve our aim?

We shall canvass the electorate to identify the main concerns and aspirations.
We shall seek from the electorate a person who understands these, is confident to stand and campaign as a candidate in the Federal election, and has the attributes and skills to win.
We will work with that person and with the community and campaign to get our independent candidate elected into federal Parliament to represent us.

What will be our measures of success?

To have identified the main concerns and aspirations of the voters of Chisholm.
To have put the case to Chisholm voters that the best way to have their concerns heard in Canberra is through a truly independent community candidate.
To find a community member who believes in the concerns of the community and who is willing and able to stand as a federal candidate.
To get a truly independent community candidate elected in the seat of Chisholm.
To have a community proud of their representative for the positive contribution being made to effective democracy.

Get Involved

Are you worried about the state of the world and want to be part of a movement that is genuinely making a difference to politics in Australia, and beyond?

Then please sign up to our mailing list, follow us on Social Media, or better still, get involved.

We are looking for volunteers to help us shape the future of Voices of Chisholm. Volunteers are the heart, minds, arms and legs of the Voices of Chisholm. All of us working with the organisation are volunteers from the community, for the community.

You can work with us to help: