Australia

Democrats Abroad Australia (DAAU) is the official country committee for US Democrats living in Australia. Membership is available only to US citizens. Joining Democrats Abroad will enable you to have a say in the future of our Party right from Australia. It’s critical that we continue to push for bold reforms in the United States. 

Make sure you vote from abroad. Once you have requested your ballot, we recommend that you share the www.votefromabroad.org website to other Americans or Australians who may know Americans! 

Everyone is welcome to like our Democrats Abroad Australia Facebook page.

Justin Underwood, National Chair

[email protected]

Democrats Abroad - Australia

For all media inquiries, please contact [email protected]

DAAU has chapters throughout Australia, all led by dedicated volunteers. If you're a U.S. citizen living in one of the areas and would like to be involved in our Get Out The Vote efforts,please get in touch. If you are interested in starting a local chapter please contact the National Chair at [email protected].

 

Chapters

New South Wales: [email protected]

Victoria: [email protected]

Australian Capital Territory: [email protected]

Queensland: [email protected]

DAAU has a number of representatives on the Democratic Party Committee Abroad (DPCA). The DPCA is the governing body of Democrats Abroad and is the principal body that develops the policy positions for Democrats Abroad. If you have an issue you would like to raise please get in touch.

DPCA representatives

Justin Underwood: [email protected]

Carmelan Polce: [email protected]

Kent Getsinger: [email protected]

Connie Gibbons: [email protected]

Josh Merriman :[email protected]

Interested in getting involved feel free to contact us at [email protected].




DA Australia Leadership:

Justin Underwood
| Chair, DA Australia
Joshua Merriman
| Treasurer, DA Australia
Laura Myers
| Chair, DA Australia New South Wales Chapter
Laura Eash
| Secretary, DA Australia
See all Leaders


  • News

    Candidates for 2023 Executive Committee statements

    Nominations for the 2023 Executive Committee elections for the 2023-25 term have now closed and voting has begun. A list of the candidates and their statements is below. You can vote by going to http://forms.gle/mMcv5gZPCY6inxTL7

    voting closes at the AGM on 1 April 2023.

    Role

    Candidate

    Statement

    Chair

    Emily Mosley

    Dear fellow Democrats Abroad members,


    I am honored to stand before you today as a candidate for Chair of Democrats Abroad. My name is Emily Mosley, and I believe that I am the best candidate for this position based on my passion for activism, my experience in politics, and my commitment to building a stronger, more connected Democrats Abroad community.


    I got started in politics at a young age, working on Beto O'Rourke's Senate campaign in 2016 while still in high school. I continued my activism by organizing the largest gun violence walkout in Texas in response to the Parkland shooting. In 2019, I was awarded the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal and the George H.W. Daily Point of Light Award for my GOTV and activism efforts. I was elected President of Baylor Democrats in 2019, where I worked with notable candidates like Elizabeth Warren, Michael Bloomberg, and Pete Buttigieg.

    My passion for politics led me to transfer to The George Washington University in 2020 to major in International Affairs and Political Science. I have been an active participant in protests for issues that I believe in, including Black Lives Matter, DC Statehood, and the protection of Roe v. Wade. Most recently, I moved to Australia to be with my partner and work at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute as Program Coordinator, where I work to influence policy to protect our rights in the cyber and data spheres, as well as meet with diplomats and embassies to strengthen US alliances abroad.


    Through my experience, I have learned that being connected and united is crucial to achieving progress. Democrats Abroad faces many challenges, including staying connected with US politics given the distance and time zone differences, staying connected with other members in Australia, and creating effective strategies to counter the GOP campaign for important races over the next several years. I plan to address these challenges by using our time zone difference to our benefit, accomplishing things overnight US time so there are Democratic efforts being run around the clock (quite literally saying a day ahead of the US political sphere). I will also use interactive tools created during COVID to keep us connected and allow us to bond despite our geographical distance. Finally, I will use GOTV and grassroots strategies I've learned in conservative Texas to effectively organize against the GOP.


    My top priorities as Chair of Democrats Abroad would be to build a more cohesive group that feels connected and to build friendships out of a shared passion. I believe that utilizing our advantage of having a nearly opposite time zone to work on projects overnight for our US colleagues is crucial to our success. Additionally, I would work with other members to build effective committees around people's interests and aims, and find opportunities for them to thrive and be successful in the Democrats Abroad space.


    I am committed to making sure that the voices of Democrats Abroad are heard, and that we have a strong presence in US politics. I plan to use the high-level connections I have built in the US and across DC to bridge the gap between the US and Australia, and actively seek ways for us to get involved in meaningful ways that show distinctive, measurable progress. I will consistently ask for members' feedback about decision-making processes, as well as make a conscientious effort to get to know group members personally so that they feel heard and that senior staff is approachable.


    In closing, I want to thank you for considering me as a candidate for Chair of Democrats Abroad. I am confident in my ability to make a positive impact on our organization and am eager to work with all of you to achieve our shared goals. Together, we can build a stronger, more connected Democrats Abroad community and make a real difference in US politics. Thank you.

    Vice Chair

    Chris Pedersen

    I am running to try and make an improvement in overall participation to try and obtain more considered feedback for our benefit in Australia from Global DA

    Secretary 

    No Candidate

    Candidate will be nominated from the floor of the AGM

     

    Treasurer 

    No Candidate

    Candidate will be nominated from the floor of the AGM

     

    Legal Counsel 

    Don Anton

    Given an absences of candidates, I have been recruited to nominate for the the position given long past involvement with DA Australia. I have previously served as Legal Counsel.

    DPCA Representative

    Carmelan Polce

    I am delighted to run for one of our 5 DPCA Voting Representative positions.  As co-founder of DA Australia and a long-time leader of our organisation I feel uniquely positioned to represent our country committee on the body that runs Dems Abroad and to bring information and advice from the global and regional level back to our country committee.  I will very much look forward to working through 2023 to prepare our country committee to man a robust Get Out The Vote campaign through 2024 and, of course, run successful Global Presidential Primary voting centers.  There’s a lot to do between now and then and I look forward to working with the other CCs in the Asia Pacific region to get our houses in order.  I ask for the support of my fellow DA Australia members living throughout Australia and commit to making our operations, events and campaigns the best they can be.  Thank you for your consideration.

    DPCA Representative

    Laura Myers

    I have served as NSW Chapter Chair since 2019, overseeing our GOTV and chapter activities in NSW across the 2020 and 2022 midterms.  While serving as chapter chair, I've shown my commitment to our organisation and to achieving our goals.  I have also become further educated on our organisation's activities and unique challenges at the global, regional and national levels, which I believe makes me qualified to serve as an informed DPCA voting representative.

    DPCA Representative

    No Candidate

    Candidate will be nominated from the floor of the AGM

     

    DPCA Representative

    No Candidate

    Candidate will be nominated from the floor of the AGM

     

    DPCA Representative

    No Candidate

    Candidate will be nominated from the floor of the AGM

     
    read more

    Candidates for 2023 Executive Committee statements

    Nominations for the 2023 Executive Committee elections for the 2023-25 term have now closed and voting has begun. A list of the candidates and their statements is below. You can vote by going to http://forms.gle/mMcv5gZPCY6inxTL7

    voting closes at the AGM on 1 April 2023.

    read more
    See all posts

    Upcoming Events

    Friday, March 03, 2023 at 12:00 AM through March 31, 2023 Eastern Time (US & Canada)

    ERA Call to Action - Cake time

    The Equal Rights Amendment was first introduced
    in Congress in 1923 - 100 years ago!

    To commemorate that, Democrats Abroad is joining women across the U.S.
    holding birthday parties 
    in March – many on March 22
    the date in 1972 that Congress submitted the ERA to the states for ratification.

    Despite that we’ve met all the constitutional requirements, the ERA has not been published.

    The goal is to raise awareness that the ERA is still not officially in the US Constitution.

    So have a little party with a birthday cake or cupcakes in recognition that we are still waiting for the Equal Rights Amendment to be added to the US Constitution.  This can be a small gathering in you home, a large gathering, or simply part of an already planned meeting or event.   Take lots of photos and post on social media with hashtag #ERA100.
    Please share these flyers at the birthday party and with your family and friends:

    Equal Means Equal has created a "cookbook" of ideas and graphics for groups to leverage. Click here to access.

    For more details on the ERA 100th birthday party, listen to Shari Temple’s appearance on the DA Blue Cafe podcast. 

    Friday, March 31, 2023 at 09:00 AM Eastern Time (US & Canada) · 5 rsvps
    Zoom in Washington, DC

    Monthly Friday Casual Social

    Democrats Abroad Global Seniors and Disability Caucuses invite you to join us for our monthly Social -- a time for Seniors and members of the Disability Caucus to connect with one another and discuss topics of concern and information. We will reflect, discuss, plan, and strategize together from the comfort of our own homes and with no duties or assignments! This will be fun as we can discuss freely any topic we would like.

    RSVP BELOW TO JOIN US ON ZOOM!


    LOCATION LOCAL TIME
    Vancouver CA 6:00 AM
    Washington DC 9:00 AM
    London UK 2:00 PM
    Berlin DE 3:00 PM
    Nairobi KE 4:00 PM
    Beijing CN 9:00 PM
    Tokyo JP 10:00 PM