Mandala Partners

The Issues Tree

Business EN ↓ 4 episodes

Policy that works doesn’t happen by accident. The Issues Tree cuts through the noise to show you how Australia’s biggest policy challenges could be solved, straight from the people doing the work. Hosted by Mandala Partners' Adam Triggs, each episode unpacks the evidence, innovation and insider knowledge that policymakers, change makers and thought leaders need. Smart conversation, zero jargon, more impact. Our current series, Innovating Social Policy, is a four-part exploration that challenges stereotypes and what you think you know. This podcast is recorded and edited on the lands of the...

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Mandala Partners

Episodes

Early returns: Caroline Croser-Barlow, Jade Grieve and Faith Rose on quality education 17.02.2026 38:08

"Profit motives drive better quality in education."  Do they?  This episode unpacks the relationship between funding models and outcomes in early childhood education and care, and evolving innovations in education pathways into careers. Caroline Croser-Barlow reveals surprising evidence on quality across different provider types. Jade Grieve brings international best practice from New Yo...

An Ounce of Prevention: Dr Rachel David, PHA and Angelique Wan from Consent Labs on the future of Australia's health system 03.02.2026 32:26

Australia's health system is under pressure – hospitals are overwhelmed, aged care is struggling, and regional communities are underserved. Dr Rachel David, CEO of Private Healthcare Australia, reveals the pressures across our health system and why public and private need to work together.  In the second half of the program, Mandala’s Minh An Tran interviews Angelique Wan from Consent Labs on...

The Social Investment: Jenny Macklin, Donna de Zwart and Ben McAlpine on why poverty policy pays dividends 19.01.2026 36:35

In Australia, one in seven adults and one in six children are living in poverty, even though we are the world's 15th largest economy. So why is poverty such an enduring challenge in Australia? And what are the opportunities to improve this?  Former Minister Jenny Macklin unpacks why JobSeeker is the gaping hole in Australia's safety net and how an increase to JobSeeker could lift individuals...

The Future of Care: Mark Woodland and Liz Cameron Smith on Innovation in Social Services 12.12.2025 36:48

“The care sector is stuck in old ways of doing things."  But is it? We dismantle the myth that innovation doesn’t happen in social services and show what’s possible when we think beyond traditional service delivery. Mark Woodland built an AI platform that reduced disability service wait times from 12 months to weeks. Liz Cameron-Smith shares how Youth Foyers are mobilising capital to end...