Australasian organisations

Organisations affiliated with VAPS

The Federation of Australasian Philosophy in Schools Associations (FAPSA) is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to promote philosophy in schools in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. VAPS is a member of FAPSA.

The Australasian Association of Philosophy (AAP) is the professional organisation of academic philosophers in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. The purpose of the Association is to promote the study of philosophy in Australasia, and to co-ordinate professional activities.

The Council of Professional Teaching Associations of Victoria Inc. (CPTAV) is the peak organization representing professional teaching associations in Victoria. It helps member associations to deliver quality professional learning and thereby to improve student learning. VAPS is a member of CPTAV.


Other members of the Federation of Australasian Philosophy in Schools Associations (FAPSA)

Canberra Society of Philosophy for the Young (SOPHY)

Philosophy in Schools Association of NSW

Queensland Association of Philosophy in Schools

Association for Philosophy in Schools (WA)

Philosophy for Children New Zealand


Other Australian organisations of interest

No endorsement by VAPS is to be inferred from the listing of the following sites.

Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics (CAPPE) is an Australian Research Council Special Research Centre. CAPPE is the world’s largest concentration of applied philosophers. Its purpose is to connect rigorous philosophical thinking with policy input, community discussion, and professional aims. The Melbourne division of the Centre presents regular seminars at the University of Melbourne.

St James Ethics Centre is an independent, not-for-profit Australian organisation which provides a non-judgemental forum for the promotion and exploration of ethics. Its mission is to encourage and assist individuals and organisations to include the ethical dimension in their daily lives, and thereby help to create a better world.

The Humanist Society of Victoria
 (HSV) is a non-profit body which aims to help develop a civil society; to advocate for ethical decision-making and responsibility for one’s actions, based on respect for individual autonomy, peaceful coexistence between peoples of differing ways of life, and maintenance of a sustainable environment; and to support human rights, civil liberties, secular education and a scientific approach to human problems. HSV conducts regular public lectures aiming to stimulate active, rational debate on a wide range of current social and ethical issues. HSV holds regular discussion meetings of members, advertised in the monthly newsletter. Typical subjects of discussion are submissions to be made by the Society to public bodies, presenting the Humanist view of important social questions.

The Existentialist Society holds monthly philosophical lectures for those who question whether life has a meaning and a purpose. Sometimes the lecture topics have no direct bearing upon Existentialism. A question-to-the-speaker period follows the lecture.

The Australasian Nietzsche Society contains links and materials that be of interest to Philosophy teachers and philosophers in general, including archival materials, scholarly papers, links and contacts for Nietzsche scholars.

The Atheist Society presents monthly public lectures and pub gatherings in Melbourne.

Vic Skeptics promotes rational thinking and is the Victorian branch of the Australian Skeptics. This organisation investigates claims of pseudoscientific and paranormal phenomena from a responsible, scientific point of view, and publicises the results of these investigations. The Australian Skeptics establishes a network of people interested in critically examining claims of the paranormal; publishes a periodical as well as articles and books; commissions research by objective and impartial inquirers; and conducts meetings, seminars and conferences.

Sea of Faith in Australia (SoFiA) is a network of Australians who are interested in the non-dogmatic discussion of religion, faith and meaning. SoFiA is a forum for discussing ideas, experiences and possibilities. It affirms the continuing importance of religious thought and practice, but sees religion as a field of creative human endeavour which must be ever-changing to remain relevant. The network welcomes people from all faith communities as well as those with no involvement in any organised religion. Many in the network meet regularly in local groups to share ideas and to discuss issues related to the making of meaning.

The Rationalist Society of Australia is the oldest freethought group in Australia, promoting reason since 1906. Members and supporters hold that all significant beliefs and actions should be based on reason and evidence, that the natural world is the only world there is, and that answers to the key questions of human existence are to be found only in that natural world. Their Reason Project will bring together in one place an expanding set of tools to educate about Reason and to improve the skills of Reasoning – a sort of one-stop shop of Critical Thinking for Adults.

QuitDay.org, who raises awareness on the environmental impact of tobacco companies and products.

The Nature Conservancy, who also promotes environmental responsibility through education and awareness.


Asian Organisations

The Philosophy with Children and Youth Network for Asia and the Pacific (PCYNAP) was founded in 2011 by philosophers and teachers in Asia-Pacific region and beyond who are interested in engaging children in philosophical inquiry. Among its aims are to promote, coordinate and disseminate research and to organise international congresses; to promote relationships between philosophers and educators and others concerned with the fostering of children’s and youth’s development through philosophy; and to coordinate efforts of those seeking to introduce philosophy into all formal and informal school curricula.

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