---
title: Conversations at the Crossroads
type: advocacy
status: active
country: AU
website: https://www.crossroadsconversation.com.au
logo: /assets/org-logos/conversations-at-the-crossroads.png
contact:
  checked: 2026-07-24
  email: admin@crossroadsconversation.com.au
  source: https://www.crossroadsconversation.com.au
summary: An independent Melbourne-based civic network running deliberative democracy
  initiatives, including large-scale citizens assemblies and a national program to
  scale deliberative participation.
concepts:
- citizens-assembly
- deliberative-democracy
- democracy
location:
  latitude: -37.8136
  longitude: 144.9631
  name: Melbourne, Australia
  precision: city
news_page: https://www.crossroadsconversation.com.au/events
events:
- date: '2023-10-22'
  title: Held its inaugural Annual Lecture (Joseph Camilleri, "Australia the Week
    After") at the University of Melbourne
  url: https://www.crossroadsconversation.com.au/events/on-the-importance-of-conversation-for-the-very-idea-of-a-common-humanity
  quote: You speak not to say something and to hear something back, not to dazzle,
    be right or stake a claim, but to be held accountable to each other.
  proof_level: high
  url_checked: '2026-08-10'
  notable: true
- date: '2026-05-09'
  title: Convened "Reclaiming Democracy Together" national launch at Melbourne Town
    Hall, marking the 125th anniversary of Australia's first federal parliament
  url: https://www.crossroadsconversation.com.au/events/reclaiming-democracy-together
  quote: 'On 9 May 2026, we gather to launch Reclaiming Democracy Together — an ambitious
    seven-year project. The aim: to rethink and revitalise democratic life in Australia,
    and beyond.'
  proof_level: high
  url_checked: '2026-08-12'
  notable: true
activity:
  manual:
    checked: 2026-06-07
    date: 2026-06-07
    note: Website loaded. https://www.crossroadsconversation.com.au/events says next
      event is at  Tuesday 30 June 2026  'The decline of democracy and the rise of
      the far-right'
    url: https://www.crossroadsconversation.com.au/events
  scrape:
    date: 2026-08-06
    note: Latest news page scraped
    url: https://www.crossroadsconversation.com.au/events
    checked: 2026-08-17
  sitemap:
    date: 2026-08-12
    note: Page last modified (from sitemap)
    url: https://www.crossroadsconversation.com.au/sitemap.xml
    checked: 2026-08-17
last_checked: '2026-06-29'
---

Conversations at the Crossroads is an independent Australian civic network focused on democratic renewal through thoughtful, informed conversation. Founded around 2020 by Professor Joseph Camilleri (Professor Emeritus, La Trobe University) and colleagues, the network runs public events, citizens assemblies, educational series, and podcasts aimed at connecting progressive social movements and scaling deliberative participation.

Their stated mission is to "bring people back together, to be inspired and energised, and to learn from each other" — equipping people to become drivers of change in their communities. They operate nationally and internationally.

Their major 2026 initiative, *Reclaiming Democracy Together*, launched on 9 May at Melbourne Town Hall (the 125th anniversary of Australia's Parliament opening) with around 2,000 participants. It is conceived as a seven-year program structured around three pillars: education for democracy, connecting social movements, and scaling large-scale public deliberation.

They also ran an online Citizens Assembly on nuclear energy using a deliberative method developed at Stanford University.

## Links

- Website: [crossroadsconversation.com.au](https://www.crossroadsconversation.com.au)