2018 Annual Plan

Background

S.W.O.T. Analysis

Strengths

  • Well distributed, active community
  • virtual meetings well catered for
  • open and free access
  • high take up by individuals and institutions as trusted source (Wikipedia)
  • high use of computer mediated communication in Australia per capita
  • International connections and participation
  • strong "galleries, libraries, archives, and museums” GLAM sector
  • Australian hot spots for activity tend to move leading to regional focus at different times
  • National matters are covered by the committee with other participation invited, while Wikimedians generally have a local focus

Weaknesses

  • physical distances between places and costs of travel
  • insufficient resourcing to service opportunities
  • lack of a continuing (paid?) secretariat to maintain coherence, continuity and administration
  • the long changing history and culture of Wikimedia chapters which may be unclear to newcomers

Opportunities

  • good news stories as Wikipedia and other wiki projects gain positive traction
  • Continuing improvement of relationships with "galleries, libraries, archives, and museums” GLAM sector
  • continuing GLAM sector communications on national and regional levels
  • Wikimedia Australia activities being shared positively -- WikiClubs, WikiTowns
  • baby boom phenomenon of educated computer literate potential editors and volunteers
  • potential for better explaining and communicating what Wikimedia is and what Wikimedians do
  • Increased membership
  • Increased involvement and participation
  • capacity to use wikilinks in documentation to enhance understanding

Threats

  • burnout (a frequent and recurring condition)
  • lack of general community understanding of Wikimedia
  • increasing under-resourced activities with personal costs of time and cash
  • rising costs of physical costs as fuel price rise
  • required skillsets becoming increasingly rare, high mobile use over PC base
  • monopolisation by major population centres
  • volunteers becoming increasingly time poor

Objectives

Wikimedia Australia supports the strategic direction of the Wikimedia Foundation

  • Knowledge as a service, and
  • Knowledge equity

We will undertake outreach activities, develop resources and build systems that empower and engage people to collect, develop, share and promote Free Cultural Works relevant to Australia and our region. Our specific objectives for 2018 are:

  • 1. Community support
  • 2. Outreach and engagement
  • 3. Chapter governance

See also our Statement of Purpose

Programs

Community support

  • WikiClubs

WikiClubs are based in and have a supportive positive relationship with their local State Libraries, there are four WikiClubs that will meet regularly in Australia during 2018. Each Wikiclub has a level of independence from the chapter with WMAU provisioning them to undertake small activities like regular meet ups, workshops and editathons that bring the contributors for the local area into collaborate. Like user groups the WikiClubs don't need the legal and financial structures which are provided under the umbrella of WMAU.

  • Volunteer support

The Volunteer Support Programme (VSP) is an initiative that supports Australian contributors to the projects to obtain resources or share their knowledge about the projects and WMAU. Funds involved are generally small amounts and designed for maximum flexibility and responsiveness. While most the VSP activities are ad hoc there are established VSP eligible activities. The Camera Equipment Program was started to help photographers maintain and improve their equipment. This was chosen over an equipment lending program which would be unable to support the needs of individuals due to logistics and costs. All VSP applicants are required to be in good standing as well as to have a demonstrated contribution history available for or in use in the projects.

  • Noongarpedia

The Noongarpedia project represents several areas of importance for Wikimedia Australia, and the Wikimedia movement. As an Indigenous language project promoting knowledge equity it involves partnerships with both the Noongar and the academic communities and is a tangible model for future Indigenous language partnerships in other states of Australia, and globally. The fact that this prestigious national research project is using the Wikimedia infrastructure also provides a powerful example of knowledge as service.

A significant project goal for the next period is to further develop Noongar Wikipedia and support the project team in moving from the incubator space to nys.wikipedia.org

  • Support for regional and global events

The Australian communities suffer from isolation from the wider movement. Previously the ability to develop and maintain community connections relied on the same few suspects. Over the last couple of years WMAU has taken the approach that we should be enabling wider community involvement in International activities. As part of this we aim to fund two community members to share our experiences and gain further knowledge of the WMF community along with one committee person to maintain the the relationships WMAU has with WMF and other Affiliates and to gain additional experiences.

Given the uncertainty over Wikimedia sponsored events in the funding period we are signalling our intention as a chapter to take on the organisation of an Asia Pacific Oceania regional event in 2019. This has support from East, South East, Asia, Pacific (ESEAP) regional conference affiliates, and will include a focus on local partnerships. In the current period funding is required to secure the venue.

Australia has wide and diverse population with unique regional identities the aim of regional events is to engage locals with the community, to foster the development of GLAM projects in additional areas. The goal is to sponsor a successful meetup focussed on community engagement in each capital city during 2018.

Objectives:

  • To support and strengthen the engagement of the Wikimedia community in Australia
  • To increase the diversity of participants participating in online and face to face activities, in terms of gender, region, language, and topics/sectors of interest.
  • To build community capacity

Metrics:

  • Number of events increased over 2017 total: Total of 20 event reports in 12 months
  • Details on attendees at those reports - names, number of attendees, interests in the Wikimedia projects which can be utilised later for future programs, details of their participation.
  • Increased diversity of attendees and applicants for scholarships
  • At least one successful Australian presentation

Assigned to: State-based WikiClub leaders and WMAU committee Vice-President, and one general committee member

Outreach and engagement

  • WikiTowns

WikiTowns are collaborative projects between local councils, historical societies and other interested partners, supported by Wikimedia Australia. They focus on supporting locals to contribute quality content about their town and heritage, and then use QR code technology to promote and educate about their place. It is another example of knowledge as service.

Australia has two mature WikiTowns projects and a proposal for at least one new project. With developments in Wikidata and QR code integration there is exciting work to be done across this project.

    • Toodyay - expand the number of articles and increase the number of QR codes within the area
    • Fremantle - re-engage community following the loss of a partner, expand content on Fremantle
    • create the foundations for a new WikiTown
    • establish permanent QR codes using Wikidata, and create a new Wikitown QR reader that expands across more Wikimedia projects
  • Content competitions

Competitions generate new Australian content on a particular theme from a broad range of contributors, many of whom are new to Wikimedia. The competitions raise awareness of open licences in the broader Australian community and provide Wikimedia with media opportunities. High quality images, datasets, and textual content can be promoted locally and globally, and there is an opportunity for email conversations with winning contributors.

    • WikiSource competition

In the month before the Wikisource conference (date t.b.d.) a proofreading competition will be run. Focusing on a predefined set of Australian source materials, it will aim to get 1000 pages proofread across 10 works. All metadata will also be added to Wikidata.

    • Wiki Loves Monuments

During the month of Wiki Loves Monuments, 1,000 images will be uploaded and 100 in use on Wikimedia pages. 10 new members will be brought in through this contest who will continue contributing 3 months after creating a new account.

    • Wiki Loves Science

Attempts will be made to increase participation in WikiLoves Science, which attracted around 90 entries in its inaugural year 2017, involving publicity for the 2017 winners, clarification of guidelines and perhaps targetting of scientific organisations in the GLAM sector to invite entries 2017 winners.

    • Wiki Loves Earth

During the month of Wiki Loves Earth, 1,000 images will be uploaded and 100 in use on Wikimedia pages. 10 new members will be brought in through this contest who will continue contributing 3 months after creating a new account.

  • Engagement with GLAMs
    • GLAM Peak workshops

Wikimedia Australia has a long history of GLAM-Wiki projects and continues to look for opportunities to build awareness of the benefits of partnering with Wikimedia. As well as collaboration with large GLAMs, particularly State libraries, there are opportunities this year to present to small to medium regional libraries, historical societies, museums and galleries

Wikimedia Australia will participate as a technology partner for the GLAM Peak Digital Access to Collections workshops during 2018. This free two-day workshop focusses on digitisation and the provision of digital access to collections in small to medium GLAM organisations around Australia.

During the ten GLAM Peak workshops Wikimedia Australia will engage with 300 staff and volunteers from Australian GLAM organisations. 10 new members will join, 20 participants will create accounts and contribute a photo, reference or fact about their local area. Lists and content about regional Australian GLAMs will be updated.

    • Wikimedia Australia invited speaker at Australian GLAM conference

An effective way to influence national thinking and policy in the Australian GLAM sector is a keynote presentation at one of the large national conferences for GLAM professionals. Wikimedia Australia will use its networks to recommend high calibre speakers from the movement, and then attend the conference to deepen the local knowledge and networks.

    • Wikimedia Australia invited speaker Indigenous Conference

Noongarpedia provides a platform to extend the GLAM conference strategy to one of the key Indigenous language, education or equity conferences.

Objectives:

  • Increase awareness and participation of new individuals and organisations
  • Establishment of two new collaborative partnerships
  • Participation in global content competitions and wide promotion in Australia

Metrics:

  • Number of new accounts generated through outreach events
  • Two new collaborative partnerships
  • Speaker requests to WMAU
  • Success of content competitions

Assigned to: Communications officer, and general committee members. Individual content competition coordinators.

Operational activities

  • Chapter governance

WMAU Committee of Management takes seriously its role to control and manage the business and affairs of the association, in order to realise the goals of WMAU, and to enhance the reputation of both the association and the movement. WMAU is an incorporated association registered in Victoria, and a charity registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC). As such WMAU has ongoing legal, financial and reporting responsibilities to Consumer Affairs Victoria, the Australian Taxation Office and the ACNC.

Communication and management tools are required for effective management of the association, and regular communication with members and the wider community requires infrastructure such as WMAU and committee websites, member management software, mailing lists, and email, calendar and event services.

The budget for this area covers fixed cost items that are incurred to ensure legal and effective running of the chapter. The expenses are based on known, regular (usually annual) payments. These include:

  • Costs of financial management: audit and bank fees
  • Regulatory bodies registration
  • Insurance
  • Software for member management, finance, email, committee management and communication
  • Mailbox, printing and stationery
  • Committee travel and accommodation costs for meetings and representing the chapter
  • Registration fees for office bearer and committee training
  • Contingency fund

Objectives:

  • To ensure WMAU is legally and efficiently managed
  • To communicate effectively about Wikimedia activities within Australia to build positive engagement with members and the wider community
  • To provide the necessary legal and financial framework to enable regional based groups to operate, without duplicating costs
  • To develop community capacity in depth and breath

Metrics:

  • Financial and legislative reporting is up-to-date
  • Regular newsletters, updates to WMAU website and social media are published
  • At least 80% of members renew each year

Assigned to: WMAU committee President, Secretary and Treasurer


Midpoint report

A brief report on progress against the Simple Annual Plan grant for the midpoint reporting period: 1 July 2018 - 31 December 2018.

This is Wikimedia Australia’s first mid-term report related to engagement in the Simple Annual Plan Grant process. It covers the period of 1 July to 31 December 2018. At the six-month stage, there is some activity to report against our annual plan, with strong metrics in some areas, and financial outlay running slightly below budget at this stage. Major achievements relate to outreach and engagement events, many of which have also involved community members. Targeted community support has seen less activity. Governance is well-established, with financial management a strong point. Reporting and collection of metrics is an area requiring development within the committee and the community.

Program story

Link to one program story that showcases your organization's achievements during the reporting period.

WikiShootMe Tennant Creek

Learning story

Link to one learning story

WikiTowns QR codes

Progress

Community support

  • WikiClubs

Three WikiClubs have met during this period, QWiki Club at the State Library of Queensland; WikiClub NT (see Program story); and WikiClubWest. WikiClub West’s usual format of activities is monthly meetings, sometimes bi-monthly. The second half of 2018 was the busiest six months in the ten years of the group. Events included: ASA conference meeting, Fremantle Maritime Day 2018 with the Australian Association for Maritime History, and Wikipedia Perth #54 with Asaf Bartov.

  • Noongarpedia

In this period, Gideon has worked in an official capacity with 6 new students from the University of Western Australia (UWA), one of whom has continued to edit independently. Engagement in this project has led to ongoing work with other organisations in Western Australia, for instances Museums. UWA & Murdoch Universities are considering up scaling their use of nys.wikipedia in the coming year.

  • Support for regional and global events

We have been advised that there is no longer funding available for an ESEAP regional conference. Following further investigation and discussion with WMF, we propose applying funding for a national community conference in June 2019.

Outreach and engagement

  • WikiTowns

The WikiTowns revival program has a technical issue requiring a solution (See [https://wikimedia.org.au/wiki/WikiTowns_QR_codes WikiTowns QR codes learning story).

  • Content competitions

Wiki Loves Monuments again provided a good outreach opportunity. Final results were slightly lower than 2017, but very close to our target. The quality was more variable this year. The work done by community members in obtaining local heritage lists, cleaning them and adding these to Wikidata was a major achievement and contribution.

  • GLAM Peak workshops

As the result of Wikimedia Australia presentation at GLAM Peak Perth, development of a partnership with Museum of Perthis in progress.

  • Invited speaker

The President was invited to present an overview of Wikipedia and Wikidata at the Analysis & Policy Observatory Forum 2018 in Melbourne on 25 Oct 2018. This was an audience of over 70 researchers in evidence-based policy.

Operational activities

  • Chapter governance: Committee capacity building workshop

In November the committee met in Melbourne with Asaf Bartov, and Wikimedians from NZ for a capacity building and planning workshop. See Details of meeting program and discussion.

  • Communication

A newsletter was published in September 2018

Social media: Baseline figures include:

Twitter: Total tweets 845, Photos and videos: 119, Followers 1,242

Facebook: Total posts 50, Followers 1559

LinkedIn: Posts 7, Followers 66

Membership: 12 new members joined Wikimedia Australia in this period.

Spending

Link to financial document showing total spending during the reporting period.

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