Working in long-standing partnerships. Powered by science.
Our work is driven by your goal(s) and focuses on continual improvement. Every project and new partnership starts with understanding what outcomes we need to achieve and learning where people are at. We use a mixed methods approach that includes co-design to understand what people want and need while building trust and establishing the relationships needed to engage stakeholders and communities effectively. Our science shows that the more deeply people engage with your offerings, the better the outcomes.
Our team thrive on making change happen. We’re here to work alongside you to tackle the challenges impacting our communities and planet. Together, we’ve achieved some remarkable accomplishments over the past decade, thanks to the dedication and passion of our partners. Here are some examples of the incredible projects we’ve worked on to drive positive change.
Koala Threat Mitigation Project
Reduced koala deaths from dog attacks by 40% and decreased car strikes by 83%.
Blurred Minds
We’re on a mission to change how adolescents think about alcohol, drugs and vaping.
The Leaf Collective
Engaged communities and stopped over 345,000L of leaves from entering ACT waterways.
Tackling Asthma in Kids
12 key priorities identified to help children with asthma live their best lives.
Go Food
Altered the military dining environment to make healthy food prominent and convenient.
Measuring Effectiveness of Lasting Behaviour Change
11 barriers to practice change were identified to improve water quality.
Evaluation of Alcohol Warning Labels
37% increase in attention for the alternate warning label.
The Effectiveness of Graphic Health Warnings
The review informed Australian Government of its current tobacco control policy.
Evaluation of Healthy Eats
Knowledge of the daily recommended serves of fruit and vegetables had improved significantly.
Community Ideas to Prevent Youth Sexual Violence and Abuse
Co-designed strategies to prevent youth sexual violence and abuse.
Retaining Females in STEM2D
Retained 2% more females in STEM programs at Griffith University.
Reducing Light Pollution in Coastal Communities
Two projects have been conducted around light pollution and its impacts on marine turtles.
Electoral Commission
This project found effective concepts for understanding how to motivate young people to enrol and vote in the October 2020 election.
Take the Lead
This project explored the impact of human urbanization on wildlife biodiversity.
Energy QLD
176 participants engaged in co-designs to understand Queensland residents' energy behaviours.
Military Marketing and Consumer Behaviour
This project studied motives that influence eating behaviour amongst military personnel.
Street Crew Evaluation
This project found community involvement grew to 17% in addition to 15.4% engagement from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth.
Sunnybank Rugby Program
In collaboration with Rugby Australia, this project revealed a 65% enhancement in children's self-confidence.
Sk8 to Cr8
The project aimed to help volunteers engage with young people through discussing the harm associated with drugs and alcohol.
Hawai' i Cat Management
This project aimed to understand and co-create solutions to help reduce the impacts of cats on native species in Hawai' i.
Eating for the Future
This project consists of co-creating healthy eating behaviour programs with military personnel.
Cancer Council Design Thinking Workshop
More than 240 solutions were generated during the workshop.
Love Cats Love Wildlife
93% of participants believed in keeping cats indoors after the training.
Race for 2030
The project found one third of householdes considered adopting smart technology in the next 5 years.
No Bat, No Me
Funded by Byron Shire Council, NSW
What we're doing:
Co-create: Research and insights, Co-design
Build: Creative design
Engage: In-person, Online
Over the past 5 years Redland City Council has run an annual campaign aiming to increase awareness about koala breeding season, encourage residents to be vigilant and take appropriate action where possible. Insights from annual evaluations are used to adjust the campaign with clear improvements over time evident. This approach has proven successful in changing community conversations and is now being rolled out Southeast Queensland wide. Hear about the coordinated approach across 12 local government areas and about Logan City Council’s experience.
Dr Geoff Lundie-Jenkins
Director, Southern Wildlife and Koala Operations
Queensland Department of Environment and Science
Dr Geoff Lundie-Jenkins strategic oversight and leadership to the delivery of services to conserve and protect native flora and fauna in southern Queensland, including implementation of key elements of the SEQ Koala Conservation Strategy.
Geoff is presenting at Change 2022 in Session 1: Enacting Change – Putting it into practice along with Dr Cathryn Dexter and Samantha Colbran.
What is this session about
Over the past 5 years Redland City Council has run an annual campaign aiming to increase awareness about koala breeding season, encourage residents to be vigilant and take appropriate action where possible. Insights from annual evaluations are used to adjust the campaign with clear improvements over time evident. This approach has proven successful in changing community conversations and is now being rolled out Southeast Queensland wide. Hear about the coordinated approach across 12 local government areas and about Logan City Council’s experience.
No Bat, No Me
Funded by Byron Shire Council, NSW
What we're doing:
Co-create: Research and insights, Co-design
Build: Creative design
Engage: In-person, Online
Over the past 5 years Redland City Council has run an annual campaign aiming to increase awareness about koala breeding season, encourage residents to be vigilant and take appropriate action where possible. Insights from annual evaluations are used to adjust the campaign with clear improvements over time evident. This approach has proven successful in changing community conversations and is now being rolled out Southeast Queensland wide. Hear about the coordinated approach across 12 local government areas and about Logan City Council’s experience.
A/Prof Ann-Marie Kennedy
Co-founder, New Zealand Academics in Social Marketing
A/Prof Ann-Marie Kennedy specialises in systems thinking, and macro-level social marketing, focusing on societal norm change, social marketing ethics and co-design. Ann-Marie has a host of projects underway working in areas such as period poverty, transgender, infant feeding, zero food waste, vaccines and more.
Ann-Marie is co-presenting with Dr Janine Williams at Change 2022 in Session 2: Enabling Change – Making it possible along with Peter Cunningham, Yannick van Hierden and Murooj Yousef.
What is this session about
People need to engage with your program before you can attribute any changes observed to your work. What are the best ways to capture people’s attention? Can we have fun or is fear the better way to go? What other appeals have been used to make change happen? Learn how you can ensure your messages are hitting the mark every time. Learn about the 5E framework – a quick approach that can be applied to find the most cost-effective way to get people to take notice of your work.
Dr Janine Williams
Lecturer, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
Dr Janine Williams studies vulnerable consumers and social marketing communication with a particular interest in child consumers and their protection.
Janine is co-presenting with Ann-Marie Kennedy at Change 2022 in Session 2: Enabling Change – Making it possible along with Peter Cunningham, Yannick van Hierden and Murooj Yousef.
What is this session about
People need to engage with your program before you can attribute any changes observed to your work. What are the best ways to capture people’s attention? Can we have fun or is fear the better way to go? What other appeals have been used to make change happen? Learn how you can ensure your messages are hitting the mark every time. Learn about the 5E framework – a quick approach that can be applied to find the most cost-effective way to get people to take notice of your work.
Peter Cunningham
Co-founder, Redsuit and Founder, Pitch Camp
Peter Cunningham is the co-founder of award-winning Brisbane-based creative agency, Redsuit and founder of Pitch Camp, Redsuit’s presentation skills hub. For more than 30 years Pete has delivered brand, advertising and behaviour change strategies for businesses, not-for-profits and governments.
Pete is presenting at Change 2022 in Session 2: Enabling Change – Making it possible along with A/Prof Ann-Marie Kennedy, Dr Janine Williams, Yannick van Hierden and Murooj Yousef.
What is this session about
People need to engage with your program before you can attribute any changes observed to your work. What are the best ways to capture people’s attention? Can we have fun or is fear the better way to go? What other appeals have been used to make change happen? Learn how you can ensure your messages are hitting the mark every time. Learn about the 5E framework – a quick approach that can be applied to find the most cost-effective way to get people to take notice of your work.
Murooj Yousef
Research Fellow, Social Marketing @ Griffith
Murooj Yousef is helping social marketers to produce more effective messages through different digital and social media channels. She helped in evaluating many campaigns targeted at different behaviours including reducing drink driving among young adults, increasing quality donations for Australian charities, encouraging smoking cessation through different messaging strategies and increasing the uptake of COVID-19 vaccination.
Murooj is presenting at Change 2022 in Session 2: Enabling Change – Making it possible along with A/Prof Ann-Marie Kennedy, Dr Janine Williams, Yannick van Hierden and Peter Cunningham.
What is this session about
People need to engage with your program before you can attribute any changes observed to your work. What are the best ways to capture people’s attention? Can we have fun or is fear the better way to go? What other appeals have been used to make change happen? Learn how you can ensure your messages are hitting the mark every time. Learn about the 5E framework – a quick approach that can be applied to find the most cost-effective way to get people to take notice of your work.
Yannick van Hierden
Founder, Impaktr
Yannick van Hierden is the founder of a personal growth academy called Impaktr. Yannick specialises in behaviour change and brings ancient wisdom to modern practice to help people elevate their well-being. Through his training, he helps professionals to build brilliant life habits so they can become resilient, find clarity, and live with deep purpose and meaning.
Yannick is presenting at Change 2022 in Session 2: Enabling Change – Making it possible along with A/Prof Ann-Marie Kennedy, Dr Janine Williams, Murooj Yousef and Peter Cunningham.
What is this session about
People need to engage with your program before you can attribute any changes observed to your work. What are the best ways to capture people’s attention? Can we have fun or is fear the better way to go? What other appeals have been used to make change happen? Learn how you can ensure your messages are hitting the mark every time. Learn about the 5E framework – a quick approach that can be applied to find the most cost-effective way to get people to take notice of your work.
Dr Jill White
A/Manager, Place-Based Initiative
Department of Justice and Attorney General
Dr Jill White is currently working in the Department of Justice and Attorney-General managing place-based initiatives focussed on preventing youth sexual violence. Jill has over 10 years of experience managing evaluation units in the Queensland and NSW Governments across a range of social policy areas. She has also undertaken consultancy work in social policy, program design and evaluation.
Jill is presenting at Change 2022 in Session 3: Empowering Change in the Community along with Dr Nadine McKillop, Jenny Alchin and Jordyn McDonald.
What is this session about
Learn how engagement was maximised ensuring young voices were placed at the very heart of a Queensland Government project tackling youth violence and sexual abuse. Find out how this project engaged authentically right across community.
Dr Nadine McKillop
Deputy Head of School (Research), University of the Sunshine Coast
Dr Nadine McKillop is the Deputy Head of School (Research), Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Justice, and Co-Leader of the Sexual Violence Research and Prevention Unit at the University of the Sunshine Coast. With two decades of research, practice and teaching expertise in criminology and psychology, Nadine brings with her a suite of skills in the design, facilitation, and evaluation of offending and support programs.
Nadine is presenting at Change 2022 in Session 3: Empowering Change in the Community along with Dr Jill White, Jenny Alchin and Jordyn McDonald.
What is this session about
Learn how engagement was maximised ensuring young voices were placed at the very heart of a Queensland Government project tackling youth violence and sexual abuse. Find out how this project engaged authentically right across community.
Jenny Alchin
Assistant Operations Manager, Civic Assist
Jenny Alchin is the Assistant Operations Manager at Civic Assist, which is a not-for-profit organisation within the Toowoomba Community. Jenny is passionate about seeing people connected to their community and empowered to make positive choices so they can live their best lives.
Jenny is presenting at Change 2022 in Session 3: Empowering Change in the Community along with Dr Jill White, Dr Nadine McKillop and Jordyn McDonald
What is this session about
Learn how engagement was maximised ensuring young voices were placed at the very heart of a Queensland Government project tackling youth violence and sexual abuse. Find out how this project engaged authentically right across community.
Jordyn McDonald
Young Voices United Committee
Studying at the Youth Alive Academy, Diploma of Leadership, Jordyn is passionate about supporting young people who may be experiencing difficulties. Jordyn was involved in all aspects of the Young Voices United Committee (Young People’s Project), including Co-Design workshops, leadership training and co-facilitating a co-design session with young people from the Toowoomba community.
Jordyn is presenting at Change 2022 in Session 3: Empowering Change in the Community along with Dr Jill White, Dr Nadine McKillop and Jenny Alchin.
What is this session about
Learn how engagement was maximised ensuring young voices were placed at the very heart of a Queensland Government project tackling youth violence and sexual abuse. Find out how this project engaged authentically right across community.
Prof Alan Tapp
Professor of Social Marketing
Bristol Business School, University of the West of England
Formerly founder and Director of the Bristol Social Marketing Centre. Alan now works on public opinion and behaviour changes relating to travel and health in particular driver behaviour, car use, physical activity, in particular cycling, and more recently Covid work. He has attracted funding of £3m and is a regular expert advisor to the UK and Welsh Governments. He is currently consulting on behavioural science to the Welsh Government and Local Authorities in the South West of England.
Alan is presenting at Change 2022 in the Keynote Session: The Car’s the Star – But at what cost? Can we overcome our addiction to motor travel?
What is this session about
Alan discusses the sometimes quite peculiar values and beliefs that influence the place of cars in our lives. There's a strange 'discount effect' whereby we forgive and allow social consequences of car use in ways we wouldn't dream of doing in other areas of life. Are we addicted to cars? But are cars the new tobacco - something we need to get a grip of? If so, how? Alan's talk aims for a lively discussion on this important topic.
Waste Not Want Not
Funded by Redland City Council, QLD
What we're doing:
Co-create: Literature review, Surveys, Co-design
Build: Creative design, Advertising, Strategy, Behaviour change program
Engage: In-person, Online, Evaluation
Redland City Council is charged a kilogram per household fee for waste collection. Food waste is the heaviest component in wheelie bins. Reducing food waste saves the community money. In 2016, Social Marketing @ Griffith undertook extensive research to gain insights that were used to build the two-week Waste No Want Not pilot.
The research:
Insights gained from a systematic literature review, two surveys and co-design sessions clearly showed that people wanted help understanding what they could make from the food they had left in their fridge. A fridge audit survey also showed which foods were most commonly available in fridges.
The campaign:
Waste Not Want Not aimed to increase self-efficacy (improved ability to reuse leftovers). The pilot was built in partnership with three local chefs whom each designed recipes drawing on the most common food items identified in the fridge survey audit.
The two-week pilot program was tested in Stockland Shopping Centre, Cleveland, QLD. The pilot featured Dominique Rizzo cooking delicious and healthy meals each day to show people what they could make from the contents that were already in their fridges.
More than 5,000 food samples, 10,000 recipe cards, and 300 program flyers were distributed over the two-week period of the program delivery. 100 packs were also delivered to the target (program) group.
The outcomes:
Waste Not Want Not delivered extensive reach on a small budget. The campaign successfully decreased self-reported food waste and improved self-efficacy in the program group, while no significant differences were observed in the control group.
41% increase in hardly throwing away fruit and vegetables
The proportion of respondents who reported throwing hardly any fruit and vegetables out in the target (program) group increased by 41% after the program delivery.
Read more:
- Systematic literature review of best practice in food waste reduction programs
- Consumer perspectives on household food waste reduction campaigns
- Utilising stakeholder theory for social marketing process evaluation in a food waste context
- Outcome evaluation of an empirical study: Food waste social marketing pilot
- Waste Not Want Not: A Co-Created Food Waste Pilot
- Theory application in food waste reduction: A systematic literature review
- Laying the foundations for success: Co-creating sustainable marketing solutions
Dr Samuel Williams
Senior Fisheries Biologist, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Dr Samuel Williams is a researcher with Animal Science Queensland who provided expert advice on fisheries management, connected us with local fishing networks, shared local fishing knowledge and has led the analysis of fisheries data to understand the impact of the Switch Your Fish campaign.
Sam is presenting at Change 2022 in Session 4: Enabling Change – The power to do things along with Ben Glass, Mark Patterson and Dr Carina Roemer.
What is this session about
The net was cast wide to build “Switch Your Fish.” Project partners worked with recreational fishers, charter boat operators, scientists and researchers, government, tackle equipment retailers, fishing club members, behaviour change professionals, fishing industry representatives and more to co-design an innovative approach aimed at protecting two of Queensland’s most popular fish species - pearl perch and snapper. Learn what they did, what they achieved and what they learned.
Mark Patterson
Partner and Principal, Currie Communications
Mark Patterson is a champion for sustainability who gives voice to people and organisations that sustain life on the planet. Formerly an award-winning journalist and editor, as a business communicator he turns visions into strategies that are doable, tells stories that inspire sustainable action and brokers collaborations that solve problems.
Mark is presenting at Change 2022 in Session 4: Enabling Change – The power to do things along with Ben Glass, Dr Sam Williams and Dr Carina Roemer.
What is this session about
The net was cast wide to build “Switch Your Fish.” Project partners worked with recreational fishers, charter boat operators, scientists and researchers, government, tackle equipment retailers, fishing club members, behaviour change professionals, fishing industry representatives and more to co-design an innovative approach aimed at protecting two of Queensland’s most popular fish species - pearl perch and snapper. Learn what they did, what they achieved and what they learned.
Dr Carina Roemer
Industry Fellow, Social Marketing @ Griffith
Dr Carina Roemer is an Industry Fellow at Social Marketing @ Griffith with roots in marketing and communication. Carina is an experienced environmental behaviour change researcher and is working in meaningful partnerships. Her aim is to empower community involvement to deliver lasting social impact of value to people and the environment.
Carina is presenting at Change 2022 in Session 4: Enabling Change – The power to do things along with Ben Glass, Dr Sam Williams and Mark Patterson.
What is this session about
The net was cast wide to build “Switch Your Fish.” Project partners worked with recreational fishers, charter boat operators, scientists and researchers, government, tackle equipment retailers, fishing club members, behaviour change professionals, fishing industry representatives and more to co-design an innovative approach aimed at protecting two of Queensland’s most popular fish species - pearl perch and snapper. Learn what they did, what they achieved and what they learned.
Dr Timo Dietrich
Co-founder and Director, Blurred Minds
Dr Timo Dietrich co-creates solutions that are good for people and planet. He works with people and organisations that want to make the world a better place. He is the Co-founder and Director of the Blurred Minds initiative which offers gamified education resources that are changing Australia’s culture towards alcohol and drugs.
Timo is presenting at Change 2022 in Session 5: Enacting Change – Empowering lasting change along with Frankie Layton and Chris Boyle.
What is this session about
Creating initiatives that last are one key to creating a fairer, healthier and more sustainable world. We know this is more important than ever before. Commercial thinking can ensure initiatives stand the test of time and through their daily operations they can make the world a better place. Learn from three unique approaches on how social, health and environmental change is being delivered by ensuring that socially anchored businesses are here to stay.
Frankie Layton
Founder, The Dirt Company
Frankie Layton is the Founder of The Dirt Company, Australia’s first ever completely circular packaging brand. Following her university and a 7-year career in strategic consulting, Frankie had the idea to tackle this waste by redesigning a packaging system for household products. The Dirt Company was officially launched in 2017.
Frankie is presenting at Change 2022 in Session 5: Enacting Change – Empowering lasting change along with Dr Timo Dietrich and Chris Boyle.
What is this session about
Creating initiatives that last are one key to creating a fairer, healthier and more sustainable world. We know this is more important than ever before. Commercial thinking can ensure initiatives stand the test of time and through their daily operations they can make the world a better place. Learn from three unique approaches on how social, health and environmental change is being delivered by ensuring that socially anchored businesses are here to stay.
Chris Boyle
Founder and Executive Director, StandbyU Foundation
Chris Boyle is the Founder and Executive Director of StandbyU Foundation. His journey from social worker to social entrepreneur saw him establish the StandbyU Foundation, continuing his advocacy for change and the provision of timely supports to be offered to our communities' most vulnerable through their world first, StandbyU Shield.
Chris is presenting at Change 2022 in Session 5: Enacting Change – Empowering lasting change along with Dr Timo Dietrich and Frankie Layton.
What is this session about
Creating initiatives that last are one key to creating a fairer, healthier and more sustainable world. We know this is more important than ever before. Commercial thinking can ensure initiatives stand the test of time and through their daily operations they can make the world a better place. Learn from three unique approaches on how social, health and environmental change is being delivered by ensuring that socially anchored businesses are here to stay.
Dr Joy Parkinson
Principal Research Scientist, Australian eHealth Research Centre CSIRO
Dr Joy Parkinson is a senior health implementation scientist with the Australian eHealth Research Centre at CSIRO and an adjunct Associate Professor of Marketing at Griffith University. Joy is an implementation scientist working to create impact through translating research into evidence-informed practice in health service systems. She has published her work in a range of scholarly journals and is regularly invited to present both nationally and internationally.
Joy is presenting at Change 2022 in Session 6: Implementation and Evaluation – Closing the gap between what we know and what we do.
What is this session about
We all know that what gets measured gets done. The better we can align the activities we do with the changes we are trying to make happen the stronger we become. In this session, you will learn how to close the gap making sure you turn off the activities that aren’t delivering the changes you want to see.
Working with the Social Marketing @ Griffith team is a joy. They are a team of experienced professionals, who are driven to find effective ways to tackle entrenched problems. They are outcome focused and adaptive, making them an ideal partner for any organisation seeking to better understand the nature of the issues keeping problems in place, and to create tailored responses to address these more effectively. We look forward to continuing to work together to fully leverage the insights and ideas that emerged through the process.
Michele Goldman Chief Executive Officer, Asthma Australia
Interested in working with us?
More about Social Marketing @ Griffith
17-18 October 2024
Brisbane, QLD or Live-stream
Change 2024 conference is for anyone focussed on achieving measurable change that benefits people, communities, and the planet.
Contact details
socialmarketing@griffith.edu.au
Business 3 (N63)
Nathan campus, Griffith University
170 Kessels Rd
Nathan, Queensland, 4111
Australia
Centre Manager: 07 3735 4084
(Phone hours Tuesday to Thursday,
9.00am to 4.00pm)
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