On this episode, we’re joined by top health practitioners and policy experts to tackle the elimination versus suppression debate, plus why a comprehensive approach to health and wellbeing is so important for our future.

With another outbreak of COVID-19 in Victoria, and the threat of more cases emerging across state borders weighing heavily on the minds of the Australian population, the country’s suppression strategy has been called into question. But is eliminating the virus a possibility as case numbers globally skyrocket? In the second edition of Dr Arnagretta Hunter’s ‘human futures’ Policy Forum Pod takeover, infectious diseases expert Dr Ashwin Swaminathan draws on his first-hand experience treating COVID-19 cases as Clinical Director of General Medicine at Canberra Hospital to shed light on the situation. Plus returning pod guest Sharon Friel, Professor of Health Equity at The Australian National University (ANU), joins us to talk about why our future health and wellbeing requires a comprehensive approach from government that goes beyond just primary healthcare.

Dr Ashwin Swaminathan is a physician and infectious diseases specialist. In addition to his clinical work he has completed a PhD at The Australian National University looking at climate change and infectious diseases, and has research interest in environmental epidemiology. He is also Clinical Director, General Medicine at Canberra Hospital.

Dr Sharon Friel is Professor of Health Equity and Director of Menzies School for Health Governance at The Australian National University

Dr Arnagretta Hunter is a cardiologist, physician, and a Senior Clinical Lecturer at ANU Medical School.

Policy Forum Pod is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Subscribe on Android or wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear your feedback for this podcast series! Send in your questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes to [email protected]. You can also Tweet us @APPSPolicyForum or join us on the Facebook group.

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On this special ‘human futures’ episode, Dr Arnagretta Hunter takes the reins and is joined by Dr Robyn Alders and Dr Tayanah O’Donnell to discuss a rethink in how we value food, and why mitigation and adaptation to climate change are key to building a better future.

Food is at the heart of how we live and where we live. But around the world, agricultural systems are being challenged, food producers are often not reaping the fruits of their labour, and obesity is on the rise in highly developed nations. Joined by Future Earth’s Dr Tayanah O’Donnell and Professor Robyn Alders AO, guest presenter Dr Arnagretta Hunter looks why food is at the heart of our future, why policymakers must provide the frameworks to simultaneously mitigate and adapt to climate change, and asks whether constant growth is really the only way for humans prosper.

Dr Tayanah O'Donnell is a lawyer, human geographer, and Executive Director of Future Earth Australia.

Robyn Alders AO is an Honorary Professor with the Development Policy Centre at The Australian National University (ANU), a Senior Scientific Advisor with the Chatham House Centre on Global Health Security, and Chair of the Kyeema Foundation.

Dr Arnagretta Hunter is a cardiologist, physician, and a Senior Clinical Lecturer at ANU Medical School.

Policy Forum Pod is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Subscribe on Android or wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear your feedback for this podcast series! Send in your questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes to [email protected]. You can also Tweet us @APPSPolicyForum or join us on the Facebook group.

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On this episode, we speak with The Australian National University’s Meg Keen, Henry Ivarature, and Nicole Haley about the successes and struggles in the Pacific Island region as it manages the coronavirus crisis.

Despite so far avoiding widespread COVID-19 infections, the risk of a major outbreak in the Pacific Island region remains real while the virus continues to wreak havoc around the world. In addition to the ongoing health threat, the region is dealing with the devastating economic impacts of the pandemic. With tourism representing a major component of the regional economy prior to the crisis, how are governments and donors in the region supporting people now out of work? What impact has the crisis had on policymakers’ ability to address other challenges in the region, like the deadly rise of non-communicable diseases? And is Australia delivering on its promised ‘step-up’? On this episode of Policy Forum Pod, we chat with Professor Meg Keen, Dr Henry Ivarature, and Associate Professor Nicole Haley about how the region is managing the crisis, what has worked in the response so far, and what else needs to be done as the pandemic rolls on.

Dr Nicole Haley is Head of the Department of Pacific Affairs and Associate Professor at The Australian National University.

Professor Meg Keen is Director of Australia Pacific Security College at The Australian National University. She has also a been senior policy fellow in the State, Society and Governance in Melanesia program at ANU.

Dr Henry Ivarature is a Pacific Lecturer at Australia Pacific Security College at The Australian National University.

Martyn Pearce is a presenter for Policy Forum Pod and the Editor of Policy Forum.

Policy Forum Pod is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Subscribe on Android or wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear your feedback for this podcast series! Send in your questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes to [email protected]. You can also Tweet us @APPSPolicyForum or join us on the Facebook group. Image: Michael Coghlan on Flickr.

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Even before COVID-19 struck, local news was struggling, with newspapers moving online or disappearing completely. So is there a role for policy in protecting and supporting the essential role local news plays in our democracy? We’re joined by Caroline Fisher and Carolyn Hendriks to get the headlines and check the small print.

New research has revealed that while rural and regional Australians value local news, about a quarter have no local news at all. Journalists, meanwhile, are being asked to cover expanded geographical areas, and having to apply their skills well beyond writing articles. So what effect is this squeeze on local news having on communities, what are communities doing to tackle it, and is there a role for policy that ensures communities are informed? Joining us to talk about her new research is Associate Professor Caroline Fisher of the University of Canberra, and Associate Professor Carolyn Hendriks of Crawford School of Public Policy.

Caroline Fisher is an Associate Professor in journalism at the University of Canberra. She is a member of the News & Media Research Centre and co-author of the annual Digital News Report-Australia.

Carolyn Hendriks is Associate Professor of Public Policy and Governance at The Australian National University's Crawford School of Public Policy.

Martyn Pearce is a presenter for Policy Forum Pod and the Editor of Policy Forum.

Policy Forum Pod is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Subscribe on Android or wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear your feedback for this podcast series! Send in your questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes to [email protected]. You can also Tweet us @APPSPolicyForum or join us on the Facebook group.

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In part two of our special episode of Ask Policy Forum, the panel tackles your tough questions, from the struggling arts sector, to how health systems around the world are coping with the COVID-19 crisis, to the serious business of lockdown snacks.

Led by Professor Mark Kenny, we take you on a fairly raucous ride, discussing health, education, technology, and the arts, in part two of our special edition of Ask Policy Forum. Responding to your questions from the past few months, the team is also joined for the first time by a live online audience of our pod squad.

You can get early access to this series, the chance to join our live audience in future editions, and chat with pod hosts and panellists about new episodes by joining our Policy Forum Pod Facebook group

Mark Kenny is a Professor in the ANU Australian Studies Institute. He came to the university after a high-profile journalistic career including six years as chief political correspondent and national affairs editor for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and The Canberra Times.

Elizabeth Ames is an international trade policy expert. She is the National Director of the Britain Australia Society and an international trade policy expert with a strong background in senior business and financial advisory. She is also Trustee of the Menzies Australia Institute at King’s College London.

Dr Kim Cunio is a Senior Lecturer in composition and musicology in the School of Music of The Australian National University. He is an accomplished researching composer and performer and was awarded an ABC Golden Manuscript Award in recognition of his work with traditional music.

Professor Sharon Bessell is co-leader of the ANU Individual Deprivation Measure (IDM) team at Crawford School of Public Policy. The IDM is a new, gender-sensitive and multidimensional measure of poverty.

Dr David Caldicott is an emergency consultant at the emergency department of the Calvary Hospital in Canberra and a Senior Lecturer in the College of Health and Medicine at ANU.

Martyn Pearce is a presenter for Policy Forum Pod and the Editor of Policy Forum.

We’d love to hear your feedback for this podcast series! Send in your questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes to [email protected]. You can also Tweet us @APPSPolicyForum or find us on Facebook.

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On this episode, we bring you part one of our first-ever online live recording of Ask Policy Forum, the podcast where you ask the questions.

This week we’re bringing you something a little special on today’s Policy Forum Pod. With an all-star panel of pod regulars, plus one or two new faces, we tackled your questions in the third edition of our Ask Policy Forum series. From hard-hitting policy queries on the health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 crisis, to the serious business of lockdown snacks, our panel answered the questions that matter to you - and had a good laugh along the way. The team is also joined for the first time by a live online audience of our pod squad. So kick-back, relax, and enjoy the Ask Policy Forum ride.

You can get early access to this series, the chance to join our live audience in future editions, and chat with pod hosts and panellists about new episodes by joining our Policy Forum Pod Facebook group.

Mark Kenny is a Professor in the ANU Australian Studies Institute. He came to the university after a high-profile journalistic career including six years as chief political correspondent and national affairs editor for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and The Canberra Times.

Elizabeth Ames is an international trade policy expert. She is the National Director of the Britain Australia Society and an international trade policy expert with a strong background in senior business and financial advisory. She is also Trustee of the Menzies Australia Institute at King’s College London.

Dr Kim Cunio is a Senior Lecturer in composition and musicology in the School of Music of The Australian National University. He is an accomplished researching composer and performer and was awarded an ABC Golden Manuscript Award in recognition of his work with traditional music.

Professor Sharon Bessell is co-leader of the ANU Individual Deprivation Measure (IDM) team at Crawford School of Public Policy. The IDM is a new, gender-sensitive and multidimensional measure of poverty.

Dr David Caldicott is an emergency consultant at the emergency department of the Calvary Hospital in Canberra and a Senior Lecturer in the College of Health and Medicine at ANU.

Martyn Pearce is a presenter for Policy Forum Pod and the Editor of Policy Forum.

We’d love to hear your feedback for this podcast series! Send in your questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes to [email protected]. You can also Tweet us @APPSPolicyForum or find us on Facebook.

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On this episode, we’re joined by Associate Professor Ben Edwards to discuss why the mental health of younger Australians has been so severely impacted during the COVID-19 crisis.

New research from The Australian National University (ANU) has revealed a spike in severe psychological distress in young Australians under 35 since the start of the pandemic. But why is COVID-19 impacting the mental health of younger Australians so seriously? What role does economic insecurity brought on by the crisis play in the emotional wellbeing of this group? How do these impacts compare with other nations? And what can policymakers do to address the challenges younger Australians are facing? On this episode of Policy Forum Pod, Associate Professor Ben Edwards from ANU joins us to talk about his new research on the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 crisis, and why more younger Australians are experiencing serious psychological distress. 

Ben Edwards is an Associate Professor of Child and Youth Development at ANU Centre for Social Research and Methods.

Martyn Pearce is a presenter for Policy Forum Pod and the Editor of Policy Forum.

If you or anyone you know needs help you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 and Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36 for support. Both Lifeline and Beyond Blue also both have information specifically for looking after your mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Policy Forum Pod is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Subscribe on Android or wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear your feedback for this podcast series! Send in your questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes to [email protected]. You can also Tweet us @APPSPolicyForum or join us on the Facebook group.

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In part two of this special Policy Forum Pod, we hear personal perspectives and COVID-19 policy prescriptions from Sara Bice, Matthew Sussex, and Libby Hackett.

What are the qualities of successful institutions and leaders during a crisis? How can governments improve their public messaging and arrest a trend of declining trust? And how are globalised educational institutions coping and adapting to the major ruptures caused by the coronavirus crisis? On this Policy Forum Pod, we hear from three experts from ANU Crawford School of Public Policy - Sara Bice, Matthew Sussex, and Libby Hackett - about public policy, leadership, and political communication in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Matthew Sussex is an Associate Professor and Academic Director at the National Security College. His main research specialisation is on Russian foreign and security policy.

Libby Hackett is Principal at Nous Group, an international management consultancy people working across Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada. Libby is a recognised expert in higher education policy and strategy in Australia and the UK.

Sara Bice is Co-Director of Research Translation at the Melbourne School of Government and Senior Research Fellow at Crawford School of Public Policy.

Martyn Pearce is a presenter for Policy Forum Pod and the Editor of Policy Forum.

You can check out all the COVID-19 analysis from Crawford School of Public Policy here.

Policy Forum Pod is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Subscribe on Android or wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear your feedback for this podcast series! Send in your questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes to [email protected]. You can also Tweet us @APPSPolicyForum or join us on the Facebook group.

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This week on Policy Forum Pod we get some personal perspectives on some of the many policy problems that the pandemic presents from Quentin Grafton, Helen Sullivan, and Kuntala Lahiri-Dutt.

The coronavirus crisis has raised some big questions for policymakers and shone a light on policy problems around the world. On this special Policy Forum Pod, we hear some personal perspectives on the policy challenges that matter to Professor Quentin Grafton, Professor Helen Sullivan, and Professor Kuntala Lahiri-Dutt – from how to get better leadership, to creating an economy that works for everyone, and ensuring that post-crisis policy doesn’t make life even worse for those already struggling.

This week’s pod is the first in a two-part special where we look at some of the perspectives shared on Crawford School’s new COVID-19 micro-site. The micro-site brings together contributions from academic and professional staff reflecting on the coronavirus crisis, what they think are the key issues that need addressing, how a public policy school can go about helping provide some of those solutions, and even how their work has been changed by the crisis.

Professor Helen Sullivan is Director of Crawford School of Public Policy. She has published widely on public policy, public governance and public service reform, and in 2013 established the Melbourne School of Government.

Professor Quentin Grafton is Director of the Centre for Water Economics, Environment and Policy, Professor of Economics at Crawford School, an ANU Public Policy Fellow, and Editor-in-Chief of Policy Forum.

Professor Kuntala Lahiri-Dutt is a Professor in the Resource, Environment and Development Program at Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University.

Martyn Pearce is a presenter for Policy Forum Pod and the Editor of Policy Forum.

The pieces discussed in this week’s podcast are:

Kuntala Lahiri-Dutt – Livelihoods, workers, and COVID-19 in India

Helen Sullivan – Leading in and out of the crisis

Quentin Grafton – Economic justice for all

Policy Forum Pod is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Subscribe on Android or wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear your feedback for this podcast series! Send in your questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes to [email protected]. You can also Tweet us 

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On this special episode during National Reconciliation Week, we speak to Dr Virginia Marshall and Professor Tony Dreise about Indigenous health, listening to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices, and the ongoing march for equality.

With outcomes on many key indicators of Indigenous health falling short of those for non-Indigenous Australians, how can policymakers better listen to Indigenous voices and improve community wellbeing? How will the economic crisis brought on by the coronavirus pandemic impact Indigenous Australians? And what does National Reconciliation Week mean for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in the context of ongoing policy failure? On this episode of Policy Forum Pod, Professor Sharon Bessell speaks with Dr Virginia Marshall and Professor Tony Dreise about Indigenous health policy, the COVID-19 crisis, and what’s needed for Australia to achieve genuine reconciliation.

Dr Virginia Marshall is an Inaugural Indigenous Postdoctoral Fellow with the ANU School of Regulation and Global Governance (RegNet) and the Fenner School of Environment and Society.

Tony Dreise is Professor of Indigenous Policy Research and Director of the ANU Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research (CAEPR).

Sharon Bessell is a Professor at Crawford School of Public Policy, where she is co-leader of the ANU Individual Deprivation Measure (IDM) team. The IDM is a new, gender-sensitive and multidimensional measure of poverty.

Policy Forum Pod is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Subscribe on Android or wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear your feedback for this podcast series! Send in your questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes to [email protected]. You can also Tweet us @APPSPolicyForum or join us on the Facebook group.

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