Voices of Australia

S2 E6 | What Australians think about Climate Chane

In this episode, we turn our attention towards the not-so-silent giant that is climate change. However, our focus shifts away from statistics and environmental impacts. Instead, we delve into the often-overlooked human side of this vast issue: local and cultural community adaptation, educational campaigns, resilience, and more.
 
Climate change is not just a scientific concern; it's a social one. Our very ways of life, our cultures, our communities, are under threat from its unrelenting progress. Indeed, according to the most recent Mapping Social Cohesion results, climate change stands as the second-largest concern for Australians, superseded only by Australia-China relations.
 
Yet, in this crisis, there is also an opportunity. An opportunity for meaningful change and resilience. An opportunity as informed and engaged communities to build a sustainable future for us all.
In this episode we discuss:
How different societies tackle climate change
How we should find a role for all Australians in the climate conversation
Innovative practices to combat climate change
Voices of Australia is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

S2 E5 | What Australians think about mental health

Consider this: a striking 44% of Australians have experienced a mental disorder at some time in their life. With mental health challenges spanning from anxiety to depression, millions fight these invisible battles daily.Alarmingly, the suicide rate among First Nations People is almost double that of non-indigenous individuals, a stark reminder of the urgent need for targeted support.Furthermore, the lack of data on mental health within migrant and refugee populations underscores the call for extensive research and culturally sensitive approaches. Our society's pulse is intrinsically linked to our collective mental well-being - it shapes our social interactions, strengthens our communities, and constructs the bridges of understanding and cooperation that foster social cohesion. With our host Anthea Hancocks and guest Tigist Kebede, we turn our attention to mental health, a topic that weaves itself into every corner of our society. As we unravel the intricate tapestry of mental well-being in Australia, we examine the prevalence of mental disorders, spotlight disparities in different communities, and discuss strategies to foster resilience and happiness. In this episode we discuss:
What is culturally responsive practice
How someone's identity impacts how they experience the world
How we should reframe ‘resilience’
Understanding intersectionality and self - there is no single path to getting help
Voices of Australia is a Scanlon Foundation Research Institute podcast exploring all things interesting in the world of social cohesion.Voices of Australia is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Now available with video also, in addition to audio-only!We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes to info@scanloninstitute.org.auYou can also share your thoughts with us via LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

S2 E4 | What Australians think about Fairness and Inequality

The most recent Mapping Social Cohesion surveys tell us that economic concerns have surged to the forefront of many Australians' minds.
Unemployment and the rising cost of living are not distant worries but real and present issues for many Australians. An increasingly uncertain global economic climate only compounds these worries, with 76% of respondents expressing significant concerns about a potential downturn.
But perhaps even more distressing is the increasing financial stress borne by everyday Australians. An alarming 37% of people reported struggling to pay their bills in 2022, marking a significant rise from 31% the previous year.
As if this weren't challenging enough, the Poverty and Inequality Report of 2023 lays bare a stark reality. Our nation, long hailed as the land of the 'fair go', is grappling with profound economic disparities. The data is as clear as it is unsettling. A startling one in eight people in our country live below the poverty line, while the top 20% earners account for almost half of all income.
These figures serve as a sombre reminder that, despite our shared aspiration towards fairness, inequality persists in casting a long and deepening shadow over our society.
In today's episode with guest Matt Grudnoff - Senior Economist at the Australia Institute we aim to explore the contours of this inequality, understand its far-reaching impacts, and discuss potential pathways towards a more economically inclusive future.
In this episode we discuss:
Matts research on the patterns of economic growth
Changing voting patterns amongst younger people
The biggest indicators of poverty
How economic policies have profound impact on intergenerational inequality
The economy is there to serve us not for us to serve the economy
Why its important to engage in economic debate
Voices of Australia is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes to info@scanloninstitute.org.au

S2 E3 | What Australians think about...languages other than English

In a nation where over 300 languages reverberate from homes, workplaces, and public spaces, language is more than just a communication tool—it's a cultural lifeline that bridges our diverse communities.
Our linguistic diversity isn't just colourful, it's vital and influential. It's a Punjabi in radio podcast serving up global affairs alongside local news, it's a crucial health announcement rendered in Somali to ensure every community member is informed, it's the heart-warming banter between a shop owner and customers in Italian, across a bustling Lygon Street in Melbourne.
 
This linguistic diversity shapes our individual identities, our daily experiences, and the character of our public discourse. Yet, the role and influence of non-English languages continue to prompt discussions that stretch into the heart of cultural integration, societal cohesion, and the concept of belonging.
 
In this episode, we delve into the nuances in Australia’s linguistic diversity, exploring their far-reaching impact from business interactions to media broadcasts and government communications, and their ripple effect on our society's cohesion and shared, multicultural story.
Voices of Australia is a Scanlon Foundation Research Institute podcast exploring all things interesting in the world of social cohesion. You can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes to info@scanloninstitute.org.au

S2 E2 | What Australians Think About…Their Neighbourhood

Our sense of belonging is vital, as it provides us with a sense of identity, social support, safety, opportunities for civic engagement, and personal well-being. It helps build stronger communities, promotes unity, and enhances the overall fabric of society.
 
But there remain some concerns. The most recent results from the Scanlon Foundation Research Institute’s Mapping cohesion surveys reveal a decline in Australians' sense of belonging, especially among the young and economically disadvantaged. Yet, interestingly, despite Australia’s rapid demographic shifts, a strong sense of community persists within neighbourhoods.
 
In this episode, we will explore these changes in the context of Australia's fast-growing regions.
 
We're unpacking the implications of Australia's evolving neighbourhoods and demographic changes on our sense of belonging, both on a national and local scale. And most importantly, we'll discuss how we can ensure no communities in our rapidly expanding regions are left feeling disconnected or overlooked.
 
Voices of Australia is a Scanlon Foundation Research Institute podcast exploring all things interesting in the world of social cohesion.
 
In this episode we discuss:
How social and community infrastructure plays a role in community connectedness
Looking at opportunities in outer suburban areas
The role of volunteers in building neighbourhoods
The cultural shift moving away from CBDs to achieve the ‘city’ experience
How community services need to reimagine how they engage with young people
Voices of Australia is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes to info@scanloninstitute.org.au
 
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S2 E1 | What Australians think about Migration

Except for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, every Australian traces their roots to somewhere else. Since the time of Federation, the politics of who gets to start anew in this land has been a dominant theme.
 
According to recent results from the Scanlon Foundation Research Institute’s Mapping Social Cohesion survey’s, there has been a significant increase in positive attitudes towards migrants in Australia. 76% of people agreed that “immigrants make Australia stronger” in the 2022 survey, up from 63% in 2018, and 94% agreed that born outside of Australia can be just as good citizens as those born within the country.
 
However, an ever-developing housing crisis, an increase in the expected number of migrants for the year 2023, and a comprehensive overhaul of the migration system announced by the Albanese Labor government has brought further complication to the conversation surrounding migration in Australian.
 
Together, our guests delve into the nuances of Australia’s migration system, the impacts migrants have on our communities, and the necessary reforms needed to build a more cohesive society.
 
Voices of Australia is a Scanlon Foundation Research Institute podcast exploring all things interesting in the world of social cohesion.
 
In this episode we discuss:
Perspectives from two different migrant journeys
Challenges and opportunities for migration
How people’s attitudes have shifted over the years towards migrants including misconceptions about migration
Finding commonality to connect with one another
Applying a strength-based approach to supporting people of refugee backgrounds
Voices of Australia is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes to info@scanloninstitute.org.au

S1 E12 | The current state of social cohesion with Dr. James O’Donnell

In the final episode of the first series of the Voices of Australia podcast, Dr. James O'Donnell shares his insights on the current state of social cohesion in Australia. A lecturer at the Australian National University, Dr. O'Donnell is the author of the 2022 Mapping Social Cohesion Report.In this episode, we chat with James about:
Why he transitioned from working as a labour market economist to a career studying social cohesion.
What the key findings from 2022 mapping social cohesion report tell us about Australia today.
The key trends that make James optimistic about the future of social cohesion in Australia.
What we as a society should pay attention to in 2023.
Voices of Australia is a Scanlon Foundation Research Institute podcast exploring all things interesting in the world of social cohesion. You can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.Want to contribute to the conversation? Send us your reflections and comments to: info@scanloninstitute.org.auYou can also Tweet us @Scanlon_Inst
 
Meet our guest: Dr James O'Donnell
Dr. James O’Donnell is a Lecturer at Australian National University’s School of Demography within the College of Arts and Social Science.
James is currently working on the School of Demography’s ANU Social Cohesion project. This project involves researchers from disciplines across the University working to measure and analyse social cohesion within neighbourhoods and communities across Australia.
James is the winner of The Australian Population Association’s 2014 WD Borrie Prize and was awarded a PhD in Demography in 2019.
He was recently the author of the 2022 Mapping Social Cohesion Report published by the Scanlon Foundation Research Institute.

S1 E11 | Philanthropy’s role in building social cohesion with Vedran Drakulic OAM

On the eleventh episode of the Voices of Australia podcast, Vedran Drakulić helps us navigate the relationship between philanthopy and social cohesion. Vedran Drakulić OAM is the CEO of Gandel Foundation, one of the largest private family foundations in Australia.In this episode, we chat with Vedran about:
How Vedran's career began as a fixer for Sports Illustrated magazine at the Sarajevo '84 winter Olympics.
Vedran's story of settling his family in Australia.
The challenge of paternalism and the saviour syndrome in not-for-profit sectors.
The cultural shifts taking place in the philanthropic space.
The importance of organisational listening and when to accept you're not the expert.
Voices of Australia is a Scanlon Foundation Research Institute podcast exploring all things interesting in the world of social cohesion. You can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.Want to contribute to the conversation? Send us your reflections and comments to: info@scanloninstitute.org.auYou can also Tweet us @Scanlon_Inst
 
Meet our guest: Vedran Drakulić
Vedran Drakulić OAM is the CEO of Gandel Foundation, one of the largest private family foundations in Australia. Vedran was born and raised in Bosnia and left Sarajevo while it was under siege, in 1995. During the conflict, he served with the Red Cross as a logistics officer, interpreter and press officer. He worked on both sides of the frontline, providing humanitarian assistance to those in need. Since arriving in Australia as a refugee, Vedran has remained a true humanitarian, committed to promoting social justice and social cohesion. He has spent more than 15 years working in communications, marketing, and fundraising in the humanitarian sector, with Red Cross in Australia and overseas, and with Oxfam Australia, followed by a senior role in the corporate sector and then philanthropy. Vedran is a proud “Bossie” (Bosnian Aussie) and is committed to giving back to his community. He actively supports many community organisations, including the Vinnies’ CEO Sleepout, where in the past eight years, he individually raised over $1 million for their homelessness programs. Vedran received the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2017 for his service to the community
 
 

S1 E10 | Navigating culture in the workplace with Professor Nareen Young

'Organisations don't do things because it's the nice thing to do...change happens when we put pressure on.'In this episode of the Voices of Australia podcast, Professor Nareen Young helps us navigate how Australian workplaces can become more diverse and inclusive. Nareen is Professor for Indigenous Policy and Indigenous Workforce Diversity at the Jumbunna Institute at the University of Technology Sydney.  In this episode, Nareen sheds some light on:
How forces like BLM and D&I have impacted workplaces across the globe.
Why young people are pushing the dial on social issues.
The inadequacies of current D&I practices and frameworks
Why corporate Australia still has an issue with tokenism and stereotyping.
The need for middle management to show initiative in their advocacy for inclusion.
 
Meet our guest: Nareen Young
 
Professor Nareen Young is one of Australia’s leading and most respected workplace diversity practitioners and thinkers. Professor for Indigenous Policy at the UTS Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research, Nareen leads Jumbunna's highly innovative Indigenous People and Work Research and Practice Hub. Professor Young has previously led and managed two diversity peak bodies (Diversity Council Australia and NSW Working Women’s Centre). She has also worked as the Director and Employment Lead at PwC’s Indigenous Consulting for three years. She is influenced by both her Indigenous and culturally diverse heritages in this work and has received numerous awards and acknowledgements, including the inaugural Westpac 100 Women of Influence honour for diversity.
Nareen is an author of Gari Yala (Speak the Truth): Centering the experiences of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Australians at work, which is said to be the largest survey of the experiences of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people at work published.

S1 E9 | Olympian Peter Bol on the power of sport

'I don't need to copy the Jamaicans...I just need to be myself. When you're trying too hard to be someone else, it takes so much energy.'Have you wondered what it might feel like to run 800m at the Olympics for your country? Would you believe us if we told you that superstar Peter Bol considers himself an introvert?In this episode of the Voices of Australia podcast, Olympian Peter Bol helps us explore the role sport plays in fostering social cohesion. Peter shares stories about his family's journey to Australia, running in an Olympic final, and becoming the fastest Australian 800m athlete in history.In this episode, we chat with Peter about:
How the decision to leave basketball allowed him to travel the world and experience new cultures through athletics.
Making a career in sports when your family pushes you towards education.
The inspiration that drove him to be the fastest in his school, state, and then country.
The role sport plays in helping migrants navigate their identity.
Voices of Australia is a Scanlon Foundation Research Institute podcast exploring all things interesting in the world of social cohesion. You can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.Want to contribute to the conversation? Send us your reflections and comments to: info@scanloninstitute.org.auYou can also Tweet us @Scanlon_Inst
 
Meet our guest: Peter Bol
Peter Bol was born in Khartoum to a Sudanese mother and a South Sudanese father. After traveling through Eygpt at the age of 4, Peter and his family first arrived in Toowoomba when he was 8, before finally settling in Perth. Peter captured the hearts of Australia in the Tokyo Olympics by finishing 4th in the men’s 800m final where he was watched by over 2 and a half million people and produced the best result by an Australian male in an individual track event since 1988. It is not a surprise then that this was the most-watched event of the Tokyo Olympics. Ranked 19th going into Tokyo, Peter set the national record in his heat, and then won his semi-final in another national record time of 1:44.11. This year Peter won his third consecutive national 800m title and become the first-ever Australian to qualify for a world championship final in the 800m. And, of course, most recently, Peter won silver at the Birmingham Olympic Games. On and off the track, Peter is an extraordinary athlete, an accomplished public speaker, and has recently taken on the role of Ambassador for the community organisation, Youth Activating Youth.