Cuts to aid funding in the Budget 2015 unfair and short-sighted

The Government announced severe cuts to Australia’s aid funding in the Budget 2015. Dr Kylie Bourne explains why lifting people in our region out of poverty is in our own interest.

Unemployment and technological change

The conventional definition of employment is undergoing a gradual transformation. David Coleman says we need to change our mentality to one where material necessities are provided for without having to work in the traditional sense.

Branding war: Anzac vulgarity and the cult of austerity

Woolworths was forced to take down its “Fresh in Our Memories” ANZAC Day ad campaign after it was criticised as tasteless. Binoy Kampmark says commercialising war for profit is nothing new.

Australia’s women: the proposed front line soldiers to support Australia’s future

Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey predicts women’s participation in the workforce to be the front line solution to assist Australia’s future economy. Despina Cassimatis says he fails to suggest what impacts this will have on the female population.

Domestic and family violence in the spotlight, for now

Despite more media coverage and public attention, domestic violence is still increasing across the nation. Caitlin Mollenhagen lists some of the social and economic costs of domestic violence that show that this issue should stay at the deserved forefront of discussions.

Rise of mastermind groups

The support from your network can provide important insights and can help achieve business growth. Suzi Dafnis, CEO of the Australian Businesswomen’s Network, explains why smaller, intimate gatherings like mastermind groups work best.

Facing a performance review at work successfully

Performance reviews can be daunting for both employees and managers. Saurabh Tyagi has some tips on how to get through the process unscathed.

Driven to budget distraction

The Australian government has pulled back on planned funding cuts to the automotive industry. Simon Cowan says this is just another capitulation to vested interests two months before a crucial budget.

STEM: Part culture war, part cargo cult

How can we get the teaching of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) right in Australian schools and universities? Nicholas Gruen says it is about more than just funding.

Is inequality good or bad for growth?

Some level of inequality might be necessary in a modern economy, but new research indicates that income inequality has curbed growth significantly. Sergio Arzeni from the OECD in Paris says it’s vital to understand how this impacts our societies and economies.

The social economy – working together towards the common good

There is a noticeable shift from purely profit-driven capitalism towards an integrated social citizen. The founder of Pro Bono Australia, Karen Mahlab, sees it happening in Australia and around the world.

Integrating social impact management and stakeholder relations

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is well developed in most established large organisations. Richard Parsons says the challenge now is to find a holistic approach that integrates both impact and relational dimensions of CSR.