Per Capita Podcasts

There are challenges many women face when navigating the legal system, whether if that is a result of domestic violence or divorce. Such challenges compound the already complex challenge of finding adequate housing. On this episode of Homes Not Houses, Dr Kate Raynor explores these challenges of navigating the legal system with Jackie Galloway, OAM, CEO of the Peninsula Community Legal Centre.  Th...

Life has its twists and turns, and for women, the challenges of gender and disadvantage intersect many times over their lifetimes.   From the huge changes presented in relationships and starting a family, to the inevitable changes in health, such as menopause and so on. Factor these in with the broader challenges of gendered violence and the many iterations it manifests, and you get a bigger pictu...

Like with many things in life, money, and our access to it, is a crucial factor.   How does banking and mortgages and financial management impact women differently? And how could we structure financial models to suit women?   What can the financial sector do to help women in housing?   Dr Kate Raynor asks Unseen’s Kath Leong just that in this episode of Homes Not Houses.   This season is proudly s...

Outside of government there are a two areas where we can find people trying to make substantial change: Philanthropy and impact investment.   On this week’s Homes Not Houses, Dr Kate Raynor takes a close look at the role of philanthropy and impact investment with Julie Reilly OAM, the CEO of Australians Investing in Women.     This season is proudly sponsored by the YWCA and Australians Investing...

How does urban form support or constrain people, depending on gender? How do we build more gender inclusive cities, neighbourhoods and houses?  Architecture and urban planning play a substantial role in creating affordable and accessible housing.   On this week’s episode of Homes Not Houses, Dr Kate Raynor speaks with researcher Nicole Kalms from Monash University, and Allison Heller of Urbis to e...

Language shapes policy. And timing can make or break government decisions.   And while governments have an obligation to create policy that is beneficial for everyone, it’s up to advocates to push the envelope for change.  The same is true for housing policy.   So, with those things in mind, how can housing advocates move the needle on housing policy, to make the system more gender equitable?   Wh...

As with any social issue or call for reform, the greatest challenge is not finding evidence but changing minds.  A researcher can write a compelling report, but without the support of the community and its leaders, change is virtually impossible.   On this week’s episode of Homes Not Houses, Dr Kate Raynor and Professor Carolyn Whitzman will unpack how to influence people and make them care about...

Last season on Homes Not Houses, the CEH team unpacked the Australian housing crisis as a whole, diving into our history, the policies that shaped that market, and the solutions that could solve it.    However, one factor that is often overlooked in the housing debate is how women interact and a treated by the housing sector.   From home ownership to accessing social housing, women tend to have a...

In an age of existential threats for Australia and the world, what does society need from companies and how should companies respond?   In this groundbreaking book, Professor Bryan Horrigan provides a roadmap for navigating the complexity of corporate social responsibility and the current controversies surrounding it.    He joined Per Capita to discuss his book "Corporate Social Responsibility in...

In Quarterly Essay 100, author Sean Kelly considers the enigma of the Albanese government. With wide yet shallow support, will it change the country? Does it have big ideas, or is it content just to become "the natural party of government"? Sean joins Per Capita for their first John Cain Lunch for 2026! Be part of our next JCL. Visit www.percapita.org.au for more on our research and events. Per Ca...

In his new book "From Resistance to Reform: Case studies of long term social justice advocacy in Australia", Prof Philip Mendes presents a comprehensive historical and political analysis of four policy areas where reform was achieved after many years of neglect. Including: - Young people transitioning from out-of-home care - Medically supervised injecting facilities - Social security payments for...

Political skills are the skills to build trust, influence, and persuade others to support a decision within a political context. These abilities underpin effective political leadership, advocacy, and decision-making, yet they are often invisible and difficult to define. This is especially true for people from minority backgrounds who may not be as familiar with Australian cultural and political no...

Power is the only measure of a politician that matters. How they win power. How they wield power. How they lose power. This new edition of an Australian classic features a new introduction by the author taking into account the latest developments in Australian politics. Catch and Kill is an inside account of the beguiling and nomadic nature of that unholy trinity of politics. Taking us into the in...

The length of the working day and the challenges of work–life balance are pressing issues for many Australians, as well as lively matters of public controversy. While the winning of the eight-hour day is celebrated as a past industrial achievement, contemporary discussions of working hours often overlook its rich history.   Professor of History, Sean Scalmer, will be joined Per Capita for our Augu...

The Federal Government recently announced a Productivity Roundtable, indicating that broad tax reform will be part of the discussion to tackle the economic pressures our country faces today, to boost national prosperity, to reduce growing inequality and to improve living standards for future generations.   Following the popularity of her keynote speech at the Community Tax Summit in February 2025,...

Unions are making a comeback. Labour disputes around the world have hit the headlines as unions take action to challenge inequality. But while media coverage has increased, understanding of unions has not. Liam Byrne seeks to illuminate what unionism means, exploring why successive generations of working people organised unions and nurtured them for future generations. Liam spoke at Per Capita's J...

Welcome back to Re:CAP! On this episode, acting Executive Director, Sarah McKenzie is joined by the Executive Director of the Chifley Research Centre, Emma Dawson, to chat about how the upcoming federal parliament will be the first gender-equal parliament in Australian history.  Read Sarah’s blog on this historical achievement: “A Question of Quotas” If you’re a young policy student or professiona...

Is big policy reform still possible? Does Australia have the political will to tackle generational issues such as climate change, the housing crisis, rising inequality and Closing the Gap? Legendary Labor policymaker Jenny Macklin believes that if Australia wants to remain prosperous and fair, big policy reform is not just possible, it's essential.  Listen to our May John Cain Lunch, with Labor’s...

Gippsland has proudly powered Victoria for generations. Now it’s forging a new energy future, powered by abundant resources of offshore wind and community spirit. Senator Jess Walsh details her experience with Gippsland’s community driven energy shift, the critical role of government in making it happen, and how to cut through the nuclear noise to focus on real, sustainable solutions. Jess spoke a...

An inside look at effective policy making, realised through hard-won public policy battles. What does successful public policy look like, and how has it been achieved in Australia? John Brumby and Stuart Kells, co-authors of "In A Better Australia" joined Per Capita for their March John Cain Lunch. Visit www.percapita.org.au for more on our research and events. Per Capita's podcasts are recorded a...

In the latest episode of Re:CAP, Emma Dawson is joined by professor Miranda Stewart to unpack her keynote address from the Community Tax Summit, as well as discuss some of the other takeaways from the summit.    Join our new early career policy network for policy professionals, students and anyone interested in learning more about how they can influence policy and politics to build an Australia ba...

All our lives, we’ve been told that hard work leads to economic security and a good life. For many younger Australians, particularly those without family wealth, this now feels like a lie.   Instead of being able to set up their lives, young people are loaded up with increased education and housing debt, or stuck paying unaffordable rents to grow the wealth of others, all while real wages decline....

Re:CAP is back for 2025 with a new episode covering Per Capita's annual Tax Survey and the upcoming Community Tax Summit.   Essential's Peter Lewis joined Emma Dawson for a chat about how the Tax Survey unveils Australian's growing belief that the current tax and transfer system makes income and wealth inequality worse and how this sentiment inspired the formation of the Community Tax Summit, whic...

An idealist as well as a pragmatist, and someone who believes passionately in equality, democracy and empowerment, Race Mathews has inspired and mentored many.   Drawing on a memoir Race began, but did not finish, and interviews, articles, speeches, books and her own diaries, Iola Mathews, journalist, author and Race’s partner for over fifty years, provides personal insight into the life and work...

Housing affordability is one of the defining issues of the Australian political landscape today. Our housing market and housing policy are failing a significant proportion of the Australian people. This crisis has been long in the making; the result of decades of deliberate choices.   Clare O’Neil MP, Minister for Housing and Minister for Homelessness, delivers the John Cain Oration for 2024 at th...