Sydney Ideas – The Ideas Roundtable: Is Australia Alright?

Is Australia still the Lucky Country? In public opinion polling, more and more Australians believe things are, on the whole, getting worse than better. 

Various data such as the longstanding Scanlon Social Cohesion Report point to society becoming polarised. A culture of suspicion continues to grow around our most important institutions, and loneliness and social isolation is common across our community.

Against such concerning trends, what can be done? In this open discussion led by Australia’s foremost social researcher, author and University of Sydney alumna Dr Rebecca Huntley, we address three key, interconnected issues that will have a defining impact on national progress and prosperity, for generations to come:

• Can acting on climate strengthen communities?

• Can acting on gender equality improve culture and productivity?

• Can AI bring human beings closer together?

Join our roundtable featuring Dr Marlee Bower (Matilda Centre and Sydney Environment Institute), refugee advocate and UN Women Australia MBA scholar ('24) Chantal Mousad, economist Dr Suneha Seetahul (Australian Centre for Gender Equality and Inclusion at Work), and more.