Aim and purpose

Ignite an exciting and enthusiastic public conversation about why we do what we do as a country using the language of public good as a focal point.

To build a collective national conversation around the idea of public good and to do this in a way that is directed by, and inclusive of, those people and communities most likely to be impacted.

We think that there is an opportunity for building a non-party political language and national conversation about the purpose of Australia in a way that moves the emphasis from money and markets to communities and nature.

We are undertaking this project to:

• Expand our understanding of what could/should be publicly provided

• Expand our understanding of how public goods should be decided/provided

• Build networks, collaboration and shared concepts and language across different communities and sectors

• Build a catalogue of community led language and solutions that are vision-led and cross-siloed.

Outputs

Ultimately the outputs of the project will be shaped and determined by the content of conversations and the needs and recommendations of participants. However, we’re embarking on this project with the intention of creating the following key outputs:

• A series of blogs that highlight themes and stories of communities we’re speaking with (anonymous or named depending on preference of participants who are invited to co-author with us – you can visit our blog here).

• A messaging guide and/or reMAKER Memo that shares what we have learnt in simple practical ways (see our previous reMAKER memos and messaging guides).

• Up to three discussion papers on the concept of the public good, what it means, why it is a useful concept, and how to deliver it to create an Australia reMADE (these will build on the thinking already done in our paper Introducing the Public Good).

• A public seminar and/or workshop with key thinkers/practitioners/experts in this area (these people will be sought from the groups and individuals we speak with and experts include those with lived expertise).

Background

First the bushfires and then Covid-19 have shown us the importance of the provision of the public good. It’s our hospitals, our public broadcasting, our welfare frameworks (as imperfect as they are) and our sense of community solidarity (among other things) that are helping us to weather the storms.

As we work out how to respond to these crises people are asking questions about what should be provided for our communities.

In our initial discussion paper Introducing the Public Good we say that “Creating the public good… means making decisions that prioritise the needs of people and planet rather than the wants of money and markets. it means ensuring that the things we decide are important are available and accessible where they are needed, regardless of whether or not they turn a profit”.

We also propose three broad categories for thinking about it: public good as material things or services (like hospitals, schools, and sewerage systems), public good as contexts or protections (like clean air, clean water, safe climate, and democracy), and public good as capacities or opportunities (like time, creativity, community, culture, and imagination).

Method

We will be conducting interviews and focus groups with individuals, communities and leaders across Australia until the end of October 2020.

Participants will be recruited through the Australia reMADE network as we work with community organisations and leadership.

Interviews and focus groups will be semi-structured primarily exploring the following questions:

• Where does joy exist in your community?

• What does public good mean to you?

• What should be provided for your community, and who should provide it?

Please contact Dr Millie Rooney with any questions and feel free to add your thoughts in the form below.