Australia’s Health

Health care remains one of the major political, financial and social issues in Australia and other OECD countries. National surveys reveal a common contradiction between people’s greater satisfaction with their personal experience of care and a high level of dissatisfaction with “the system” as a whole.

Better Regulation Choices

What happens after the COAG regulation ‘hotspots’ agenda?

Global Connections: A study of multinational companies in Sydney

The Australian Business Foundation is an independent organisation undertaking evidence-based research to deliver fresh insights and practical intelligence to boost Australia’s capabilities and global competitiveness.

International Voices

Australian Social Innovation eXchange (ASIX)

The Australian Social Innovation Exchange (ASIX)– www.asix.org.au – is part of a global community; a ‘network of networks’ bringing together thinkers and practitioners in social innovation. Meeting online and in person, the aim is to get connected. In July 2009, the Global Social Innovation Summer Camp was held in Lisbon.

Managing Spatial Data

Healthy Ageing

If only we could all die young, but at a very old age.

In the midst of winter, when it is that little bit harder to go for a walk in the morning and that whole lot more tempting to spend the evenings snuggled on the couch watching a DVD with tea and tim-tams, July is the perfect month to promote Healthy Ageing as our featured ‘Topic of the Month’ here on Open Forum.

Healthy Ageing isn’t about feeling inadequate because you’re 50 and you don’t have pecs like Madonna. Healthy Ageing is about promoting ongoing physical and psychological wellness to live the best life possible. And remember, you’re never too young to begin.

Healthy Ageing concerns us all, whether as individuals, children of ageing parents, or parents of growing kids; indeed it’s a vital issue for Australia as a whole.

e-Security & Small Business Forum

e-Security is an important issue for the livelihood of every small business in Australia.

All throughout National e-Security Awareness Week, 5-12 June 2009, Open Forum will be featuring a range of expert bloggers in the field of e-Security, particularly for small business. The Hon. Senator Stephen Conroy MP, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, will be our first blogger in this special e-Security & Small Business forum.

National Human Rights Online Consultation

Between 19 May and 26 June 2009 Open Forum is hosting the National Human Rights Online Consultation, proudly supported by the National Human Rights Consultation Committee (NHRCC). The Consultation is a chance to hear people's ideas about human rights and talk about ways to protect and promote human rights in the future.

Share your views! Follow these links to comment on the 3 key consultation questions:

1. Which human rights and responsibilities should be protected and promoted?

2. Are human rights and responsibilities sufficiently protected and promoted?

3. How could Australia better protect and promote human rights and responsibilities?

By leaving a comment on this forum, you aren't merely sharing your opinion online, you are communicating with the  NHRCC. Open Forum will be reporting to the NHRCC and we want to consider as many people's views as possible when preparing our final submission to the Australian Government. All participants are asked to respect Open Forum's Terms and Conditions and comment policy.

Australia’s Broadband Regulation: a virtual community roundtable

Did you know that until 3 June 2009 the Australian Government is running a public consultation into regulatory reform of the National Broadband Network?

The "National Broadband Network: Regulatory Reform for 21st Century Broadband" discussion paper outlines various options that the Government is considering to reform Australia’s telecommunications regulatory framework. Anybody can lodge a complete personal submission at the DBCDE website.

Cool in a Crisis

We felt we had no choice, it’s all anybody wants to talk about: the crisis, the downturn, the GFC, the R-word.

Fair enough, we’re a few months in now and the news is starting to feel real.

Good advice and strong connections have never been more valuable.  

How old is old enough?

Many milestones in life are determined by the law, such as when we can vote, get married or go to war. Then there are drinking, smoking or sexual activity, which the law attempts to govern according to aged-based regulation, with only limited success. Even amongst activities which are illegal at any age, different cultural attitudes often bestow judgments of age appropriateness.

All throughout March we’ll be showcasing the opinions of those who’ve struggled with difficult questions about how old is old enough, whether in their role as regulator, policy maker, law enforcer, academic, or citizen.

Are you struggling over decisions about how old is old enough with your teenager? Have you ever felt discriminated against based on your age? In instances where the law is unclear, are there standards we can turn to for help? Are you ever too old?

If you have a strong view then tell us, how old you believe is old enough.