• Defence and Security

    A mandate for innovation


    Jason Van der Schyff |  July 16, 2025


    Sovereign capability is no longer just a function of industry planning or academic excellence; it is a national security requirement.


  • Neuroscience

    How does consciousness work?


    Timothy Bayne |  July 16, 2025


    Human consciousness remains a puzzle to be solved, and two current theories – global neuronal workspace theory and integrated information theory – are battling it out without a clear result.


  • Defence and Security

    Paying the price of freedom


    Andrew Forrest |  July 16, 2025


    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese should put down his glass and make a formal statement to the Australian Parliament addressing Australia’s place in a changing world and unambiguously asking the Australian public to pay the price required to defend the nation’s basic freedoms.


Latest Story

  • When it comes to Social Innovation…every State is different

    Brodie McCulloch     |      June 21, 2010

    An unnofficial survey of who’s who and who’s doing what in which state when it comes to social innovation.

    Over the past few months I have been hunting down the right people to talk to about Social Enterprise and where it is currently heading in Australia. This stemmed from the desire to start a bike sharing social enterprise in the City of Fremantle, Western Australia and quickly finding out that very few people actually knew what I was talking about when I mentioned Social Enterprise and my Socially Innovative solution to inner city transportation.

  • Uncategorised

    2010 Australian International Design Awards Supporting Innovation

    editor     |      June 21, 2010

    The Hon. Richard Marles MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Innovation and Industry on the role of good design and intellectual property in commercialising creative Aussie ideas. Read his blog >>

  • IT Security Threats to Small Business

    Nick Savvides     |      June 18, 2010

    No business is too small to be a target of cyber crime.

    The Internet and Information Technology have changed the way people, business and the government communicates. Even the smallest of businesses now depend on the Internet to operate and communicate with customers and have access to automated tools and technology that were previously only feasible for large organisations.

  • Victoria is a ticking health time bomb!

    Les Pickett     |      June 17, 2010

    According to a recent survey by WorkHealth more than 40 per cent of the 56,000 Victorian employees surveyed have a high or very high risk of getting type 2 diabetes or heart disease.

  • Employment – what is the real situation?

    Les Pickett     |      June 17, 2010

    Are recent employment statistics as positive as they first appear?

    Latest statistics show that employment in Australia has grown by 140,000 during the first five months of 2010 with 26,900 jobs created in May. Our unemployment rate of 5.2% is generally recognised as full employment and our growth in employment is excellent compared with the US and Europe.  

  • Uncategorised

    Human Rights Act door still swinging

    editor     |      June 15, 2010

    Writing for Eureka Street Fr Frank Brennan, Chair of the National Human Rights Consultation concludes that "there is no turning back from the federal dialogue model of human rights protection". Full article>>

  • 2010 Australian International Design Awards Supporting Innovation

    Richard Marles     |      June 15, 2010

    On a very rainy Friday night in Sydney on 4 June it was my pleasure to open the 2010 Australian International Design Awards.  This blog is based on the speech I gave on the night.

  • Nick Rennie “Chiku” Interview: Australian International Design Awards 2010

    Kate Williamson     |      June 10, 2010

    Nick Rennie of Happy Finish whose design “Chiku” was selected as an Australian International Design Awards 2010 finalist in the category of Architecture and Interior, he spoke to Open Forum’s Kate Williamson. 

  • Innovative products call for innovative thinking

    Rohan Macarthur-Onslow     |      June 10, 2010
    Rohan Macarthur-Onslow designer of the RockSteady table system which  received an Australian International Design Mark at the Australian International Design Awards, reflects on the challenges faced by a small Australian business to get a novel product to the market. 
     

    The RockSteady design was realised to solve the common problem of café tables losing stability when placed on paved surfaces.  One of four table base legs hinges in a way that raises and lowers the foot pad, thus adjusting the height to suit any uneven pavement or floor. 

  • Neil Ronaldson Interview: Spotlight on Australian International Design Awards 2010

    Kate Williamson     |      June 10, 2010
    Neil Ronaldson of Form+Fuction is the Australian representative for “LINK – Modular Partitioning System” designed by PearsonLloyd of the UK and manufactured in Germany by MOVISI GmbH. It was an Australian International Design Awards 2010 finalist in the category “Architectural and Interior Products”, Neil spoke to Open Forum’s Kate Williamson.
     
    Congratulations on being a finalist for the awards.

  • How can Australia learn from the US when it comes to energy efficiency?

    Scott Warren     |      June 9, 2010

    Energy efficiency is currently high on the Government’s agenda and how best to encourage businesses and consumers to prioritise sustainability is a key topic of debate. While some feel punitive measures are necessary, it may be advisable to take a leaf out of the US’s book and try rewarding energy efficiency instead.

  • Brandon Gien Speech AIDA 4 June 2010

    Brandon Gien     |      June 8, 2010

    The following is a transcript of the speech delivered by Brandon Gien, Executive Director of the Australian International Design Awards at the Awards ceremony in Sydney on Friday 4 June 2010.