Open House Interviews

Salvation Army Rural Chaplains, Rusty and Dianne Lawson have been hitting the dusty back roads of northern NSW. They are extending to drought stricken farmers the practical and spiritual help the Salvos bring to every situation.

Caroline Cox qualified as a nurse, graduated as a social scientist and in 1982 was made a life peer. Baroness Caroline Cox of Queensbury is a Christian, and sits in the House of Lords. She is also a passionate advocate for human rights and the rights of women especially. She is the founder of the Humanitarian AId Relief Trust (HART) and is actively engaged with their work around the world in Africa, Eastern Europe and in Timor Leste.

A study by international experts on climate change finds we may have already reached a point where further change processes have already been triggered. Lead researcher Professor Will Steffen from ANU walked Open House through the science.

On Open House CEO of CBM Australia, Jane Edge explained the impact Miracles Day has on the people who have cataract operations to restore their sight. Most cataract operations take just 12 minutes, but can change a person’s life. Give the miracle gift of sight by calling 131 226 or going to cbm.org.au/miraclesday

Francis Chalwell is a great storyteller and listener. Little wonder he's such a great chaplain to older people.

The latest HILDA Survey reveals Australian incomes are stabilizing and we have a better educated population (especially women) but there is inequality among seniors, higher house prices are leaving younger people renting and women are still taking a heavier load of housework and childcare. The report also questions widespread commentary about the rise of the gig economy.

Amid all the fury, shouting and corporate repositioning on the issue of plastic supermarket bags, we have somehow lost sight of the big picture on plastic waste. 

As Pete Shmigel, CEO of the Australian Council of Recycling, explained on Open House the amount of plastic waste generated by single use shopping bags is a tiny proportion of the plastic waste generated by households.  Every year Australian households generate around 60 kg of plastic waste of which 2 kg is disposable shopping bags.

People with difficult mental health conditions face tremendous stigma which affects their connection to community, their physical health and emotional wellbeing. The stigma of issues like psychotic episodes can make it hard to find and stay in housing or to hold a job. SANE Australia is researching the issue and wants to survey 7,000 Australians who have suffered the effects of being stigmatised for their mental health condition.

It was once thought all swans were white. However, once Europeans discovered Australia it turned out they could be black too. Dean Foley has named his indigenous business accelerator Barayamal or Black Swan as a reminder to naysayers that success, just like swans, can be black or white. Barayamal is taking a group of indigenous entrepreneurs to the USA to take part in the world's biggest event for startups.