Looking out to & for the future

Anne Somerville G21 Region Alliance

VCOSS Congress 2009

Looking out 15 years from now… …how do we perceive our future?

Liveability

Sustainability

Productivity

Quality of life is improving

Quality of life is deteriorating

Already have the best of possible worlds

Building a better world

Good as it gets so continue to endure

Do your best with what is available

Change via major forces

Change via individual

Outlook affects looking out…to the multiple futures Business as usual

Not much different to now, just later…and if nothing changes, then nothing changes…same will happen

Possible Open to potential change & uncertainties and what

“could happen”

Plausible Likelihood – what “might happen”

Preferable what we want to happen – any of above

Global…transformational change

Population 95% up in developing countries: ie youth bulges Growing middle class, declining birth rate in West Gender, indigenous, cultural, and ethnicity issues

Governance & Security Western democracy not evolving as political structure of choice Rise of non state actors that impact across borders, less control via

government, post Americanism era International financial systems Redefined regions of power: India, China, Brazil, Russia

Paradigm shifts Global alliances, cultural relativism & authoritarian regimes Free flow of capital, goods, people & increased impact of networks Consequence management & central authority of international organisations Celebrity Philanthropy

Global…more transformational change

Health, Food & Water Availability, shortages &

maldistribution Energy supplies & impacts - the

problem of plenty From pandemics to personal

wellbeing metrics

Communications & Technology Diffusion of IT, communications,

nano and bio technologies Economic and digital divides Social networking - Google,

Twitter and Facebook

National…the world’s best place to live and do business…

Economy & Productivity Infrastructure, investment, IT platforms Policy response to climate change Demographic transitions: population ageing, industry

trends Healthy workplaces, skills development, collaborations

across sectors Innovation & research

National/Regional Security Globally intelligent and integrated partners with Asia

Pacific region Global respect as a regional leader and model citizen

Climate Change & Sustainability Leader in green economy & role in global response Resilient water, ecological systems, trading schemes Population policy & immigration programs

Nationalat the leading (reform) edge…

Governance Republicanism, rights & reconciliation, citizen engagement Emphasis on modernising federation Regionally based collaborative governance models – cross sector

Health & Housing Health status & health equity for all Evidence and outcomes based practice & systems ‘Smart Health’: preventative, integrated, person centric Radical reform in housing sector

Social Inclusion Inclusion infrastructure across government Education & training - skills development to find leading edge Focus on child development as success indicator Wellness footprints: socio-economic & infrastructure planning

Regional - State system reform & risk negotiators

Benchmark of ‘A Fairer Victoria’

Principles of liveability, sustainability and productivity

Differing generational and locational experiences of risk

Need for indicators beyond system monitors

Negotiating benefits through cooperative federalism

Significant demographic shifts & challenges to equity

Waves of transformation in the health, housing & education

Unknown costs & impacts of GFC – local economies in transition

G21 towards 2050

Five Key Directions

Protect and enhance our environment

Create sustainable settlements

Strengthen our communities

Refocus our economy

Make it happen

Some obvious challenges to our flexibility and focus

Strengthen our commitment to build the necessary capability & skills to create a shared, desired future

Stay in touch with, and be touched by, our communities

Recognise the tension of vested interests that may bring more system reform, but less positive social change

Adapt the resources including ourselves to build social equity for individuals, families and communities in their quality of life

Some obvious challenges to our flexibility and focus

Build new coalitions & alliances, and know when to take independent versus collective action

Build strategy that strengthens the politics of hope, innovation and creativity across boundaries and sectors

Be mindful of the legacy for the next generation in our goals for positive change

Hope… cannot be separated from how national debates are framed and from the reality of living in a globalised world….

…it is built on belief and faith, and the trust that there is a life worth living in uncertain

times.

‘New philosophies for change’Mary Zournazi, 2002