The world is awful. The world is much better. The world can be much better.
— Max Roser, Our World in Data
If the world can be much better, how do we get there? It's hard to know where to start.
Many of us devote our career, time or money to causes we care about, but it is hard to know whether that effort goes as far as it could. We rarely get clear information to compare our options. When we do, the differences can be surprisingly large. They depend on where an opportunity happens to be, rather than how much people care.
Effective altruism is the practice of taking this line of thinking seriously, using evidence and careful reasoning to find ways to help others as much as we can, and then acting on them. At its core it is a question: how do we do more good?
The Intro to Effective Altruism Course is six weeks set aside to explore that question properly, alongside a small group of people working through the same ideas.
What the EA Intro Course covers
Each week for six weeks, you explore a different way of thinking about how to do good. You read a curated piece, meet your small group led by volunteer facilitators, and talk it through.
Apply now
Questions you'll explore:
- How much more good can the best options do?
- Where does a donation save the most lives?
- How much should we care about animal suffering?
- What do we owe future generations?
- What could AI mean for humanity?
- How far can your career and giving go?
The syllabus draws on the Introductory EA Program, a curriculum developed by the Centre for Effective Altruism and used by groups around the world.
No background knowledge needed. Just bring the questions you already have.
The thoughts I'm having in my spare time are actually worth pursuing... getting in touch with EA will help me get a broader reach for these ideas.
— Cameron, 2026 course participantThe course has opened my eyes to what altruism means to many people. It isn't one thing... it has provided tools I can use to support my arguments. I am keen to start.
— Liz, 2026 course participantI was wanting to change my career to something more meaningful... this clarified that into wanting to do something meaningful and effective.
— Andrew, 2026 course participantHow it works
Apply
Fill out the short application form — it only takes a few minutes.
Get matched
We'll place you in a small group of 5-7 with an experienced facilitator.
Show up
One 90-minute session a week, plus about an hour of reading. 20 July to 29 August. Free.
Who's behind this
We're Effective Altruism Australia, a nonprofit that's been running community programs since 2022. We've seen what happens when people get the space to think this through: careers shift, giving changes, people find a community they didn't know existed.
It's free because our programs are funded by the Centre for Effective Altruism, a global organisation that supports EA community building worldwide.
What past participants say
I'd been thinking about these ideas for a while. The course was an amazing place to meet other people, ask questions, and it gave me the confidence to dive into a career change.
— Kevin Rassool, Operations, Strategy & Community Building @ High Impact AthletesThe course is just the start.
1:1 career advising to talk through your options with someone who knows the landscape
EAGxAustralasia our flagship annual conference for the effective altruism community in Australia and New Zealand. 27–29 November, Melbourne.
Local events and meetups to keep the conversation going in your city
Course runs 20 July – 29 August 2026 · Applications close Monday 13 July
Six weeks could change how you think about doing good.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Questions? Email us at community@eaa.org.au