What a wellbeing budget means for government policy

Governments have always been concerned about health, income distribution and other indicators, but bringing wellbeing formally into the budget process is a significant step in economic reform.

Measuring what matters

It wasn’t Australia’s first wellbeing budget, as the Treasurer has many economic fires to fight, but he’s taken the first step to get a sense of what we want for society and measuring ‘what matters’.

Beyond GDP

Australia’s new federal treasurer Jim Chalmers’ has the opportunity to draw a line under the Coalition’s narrow economic focus and follow the example set in New Zealand to build a well-being focused economy.

What’s your pleasure?

A nationwide survey investigating the nature and extent of Australians’ pleasures has been launched this week by Southern Cross University Senior Lecturer in Psychology, Dr Desirée Kozlowski.

Assessing a life well lived

Performing meaningful activities, engaging in absorbing tasks and pursuing goals which generate a sense of achievement all contributed to a life well lived.

Improve your wellbeing all year round

During times of uncertainty it’s important to support your own mental wellbeing. If you’re not started yet, here are a few easy-to-implement self-care tips to improve your daily wellbeing.

Supporting worker wellbeing after COVID 19

Business leaders should do these four things to help improve psychological resilience and employee wellbeing post-coronavirus, says the Associate Dean of Research at UNSW Business School.

Measuring progress and wellbeing in Australia

Attempts to measure wellbeing in Australia, and factor it into public policy have stalled, but wellbeing measures are being used with success in Iceland, New Zealand and elsewhere, offering hope their adoption will rekindle interest in this country.

The hidden history of Australia’s own well-being framework

Australia’s treasury adopted a well-being framework well before New Zealand’s much celebrated “well-being budget”. Here’s what happened to it.

How are Australians faring?

Every year, the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey, or HILDA, gives us a snapshot of the economic and social wellbeing of Australians. How are we doing this year?

Well-being and the great outdoors

Time spent outdoors in green space is good for our physical and mental wellbeing. It sounds simple. But making sure those positive benefits are extended to all corners of our community is a considerably more complex issue.