Reclaiming our Purpose — Australia Remade

Reclaiming our Purpose: It’s time to talk about the public good

A practical and values-led framework for leaders

Here we are, on the other side of a transformative election. We’ve also come through the portal of fires, floods and pandemic — into a new world, and new era of Australian democracy.

After listening to Australians from all walks of life and political backgrounds talk about what they want for our country, we’re so pleased to offer this practical, research-based and values-led guide to reclaiming our sense of purpose as a country.

We explain the “3Cs” of public good, what people actually want (both the tangible, and the underlying universal drivers) and how to bring these ideas into your work and leadership easily and effectively. It’s time to talk about the public good.

Read the Report

Download the Summary

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Our politics has been sorely missing a clear articulation of purpose and values. How do we articulate that all the things we care about are pieces of the same solution? How do we not only challenge the old ‘Economy-First’ paradigm, but embed the new paradigm that makes the old one obsolete?

Building on this report we have launched a new project - A Public Service for the Public Good.

Listen to us chat about the Public Good on our podcast

Featured

May 19, 2022

Season 2, Ep 3: What’s our “why” as a country? (Part 2)

May 19, 2022

What does it look like to put the public good into action? Whether you’re optimistic, indifferent or freaking out about the election, this is a great conversation about purpose and how we build more of the public good.

May 19, 2022

May 5, 2022

Season 2, Ep 2: What’s our “why” as a country? (Part 1)

May 5, 2022

We’ve been through a lot lately, and more of us are questioning our priorities as a country. Add to that a federal election, and we’ve got a real opportunity to reset our sense of purpose as a nation.

May 5, 2022

Background and further reading

Methodology

Catch a glimpse of the community stories behind Reclaiming our Purpose

Most recent below. Read all here.

Featured

Women of Colour - Rootedness

As a woman of colour and culture my artistic activism voice is creating culturally safe spaces for people of colour. I held space for women of colour to talk and to create art as they discussed what public good means to them. We talked about belonging, cultural safety, the importance of fun and so much more...

“We don’t understand the essence of how amazing we are!”

Gloucester is a town full of people who know all about the public good and how to provide it. Whether it’s supporting community members through life’s ups and downs, helping to secure a safe climate future by fighting off a coal mine, or running their Sustainable Futures Convention, Gloucester is a small town with a big impact…

Whisky and prayer

We talk with more wonderful Australians about the importance of contribution and connection to community. As always it’s wonderful to hear what people want for their communities…

Talking public good in Frankston

We talk with five incredible women from Frankston, Victoria about their lives and communities: about who they are and what they and their communities need, how we might meet those needs better as a society…

Relevant background reading

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Unravelling + reMAKING the public good - Part 2: Unravelling privatisation

As we build this work we’ll be asking how do we reclaim the public good? Where is this happening across the world? And what do ordinary Australians think about it?

Unravelling + reMAKING the public good - Part 1

We’re at a crazy time. We’ve been talking to activists and leaders around the country. We’re excited. We’re tired. We’re overwhelmed by the possibility of a great re-set and reMAKE and worried we’ll screw it up.

The public good in practice

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How to talk about government and its work for the long-term public good by The Workshop

Our friends at The Workshop in New Zealand have created this guide to talking about government and its work for the public good. We recommend it for all advocates, policy-makers, journalists and others who communicate on these issues!

Pieces of the Same Solution – Dr Millie Rooney and Lily Spencer in Australian Quartlery

We’ve come through a transformative election, into a new dawn of possibility. Australia’s Parliament not only has a new government and Prime Minister, but an unusual crossbench configuration eager to fight for climate, integrity and democracy. To make it happen, record numbers of people volunteered like never before, ran for office like never before, and shifted their voting habits like never before….

Featured

Underlying issues: why language matters at election time

Words are powerful, particularly at election time. Three word slogans shape debate and lies become understood as truths if they are repeated often enough. To create an agenda for the public good we need to recognise the power of words and use them to our advantage…

Where is our budget for the public good?

What would it look like to have a budget for the public good?
Think of the things the government could be budgeting for that would help us here: no new coal or gas and a serious approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions; proper staffing ratios in arenas that truly matter like healthcare, education and social services; safe and secure housing for everyone; retrofitted buildings and landscapes that are climate positive and robust in the face of disaster.

That would be freedom

Imagine waking up and knowing that if you lose your job, health, family, you’ll be cared for. That there would still be meaningful (not de-meaningful) ways for you to connect with others, and that your contributions to society will be supported and validated. That would be freedom…

What are universities for?

What is the purpose of our public institutions? How do they best serve us as a community? And in this time of disruption and restructure, can we remember to look beyond the glossy reports and key performance indicators to true purpose?

Reclaiming our Purpose: It’s time to talk about the public good

Listen to us chat about the Public Good on our podcast