Thank you!

We would like to thank our readers, contributors and partners for your support this year. We look forward to discussing a wide range of issues next year with your help. We wish you and your families all the best for the festive season. Have a restful break and a happy and successful 2015!

The four who would be king

The so-called Smart21 Intelligent Communities are based on nominations submitted by communities large and small from around the world. Louis Zacharilla explains what it took for the four Australian participants to make the cut.

Risky Business! Top 10 most dangerous jobs in Australia

Is going to work each day putting you at risk? Tatiana Coulter reveals the ten most dangerous jobs in Australia. 

Celebrate giving

The third annual GivingTuesday is on 2 December. It’s a national day of giving to kick off the giving season. Participants are asked to create and commit to a project for/on #GivingTuesday and then help spread the word to their networks. It’s a campaign to create a national day of giving at the start of the annual holiday season.

Job interview skills in a multicultural marketplace

The end of the year is a good time to brush up on your interview skills if you are considering applying for a new job. Sue Ellson from the Newcomers Network has some tips that are useful whether you are from a different cultural background or not.

Developing a design mindset rather than just methods and tools

Design thinking is a growing trend in business. Melis Senova explains what it is and how Huddle Academy supports people adopt a different mindset so they can lead the charge for large organisations.

Building a better mechanism for democratic engagement

Democracy is still a better form of government than all the other forms that have been tried so far. Fergus Neilson from THE FUTURES PROJECT therefore invites you to actively get involved and take part in an online social engagement enquiry into energy security and affordability.

Stop violence against women

On 25 November is White Ribbon Day. Australians are invited to send a united social media message to help put a stop to violence against women.

A ‘no-consequences’ education produces unemployable graduates

Our modern education system seems to have become complicit in the business of manufacturing aspirations, no matter how delusional. Rachael Sharman says we need a shift in attitude from educational organisations, students and parents.

Privacy – It’s as good for business as it is for people

The precarious balance between sharing information versus protecting our privacy is a pressing global issue which will be explored at the upcoming Privacy@Play Summit in Sydney. Emma Hossack attempts to clear up some of the misconceptions about privacy.

Creating a good society, a better society or a more civil society?

Do we have a healthy balance between the state, the market and the community? Sociologist and activist Eva Cox says we need to work on how to restore government and community power to avoid dire consequences for our society.

Government shall weary them

It has been recently suggested that the family home should be taken into account in determining age pension entitlements. Laurence Strano says this is the last thing we need as we are already over-governed and over-regulated.