Ethos: public ethics and the future of Australia

Ethos is a new series of major events focussed on the big public ethics issues of the day and what they mean for the future of Australia. We bring together leading thinkers and figures shaping public discussion to tackle current and emerging challenges for our life in common.

Ethos speakers and participants are drawn from Australia and around the world, ranging across academia, politics, government, business, media, culture, and the arts. Each event connects thought-leaders and practitioners from a wide range of fields with ACU scholars and experts to discuss the issues shaping the national conversation and some of the questions they raise for public ethics.

Download the Ethos 2022 brochure

What do workers want?

Melbourne
Tuesday 25 October 2022

The Covid pandemic has changed work, and people's expectations of work have changed with it.

It is more flexible for some and more insecure for others, and developments in technology and changes in the economy continue to open new possibilities of what work can be - though not all of them for everyone.

Amid the changing nature of work, is the balance with life now better or worse? And how does work need to change to meet the shifts in people's values and aspirations?

Walkley Award winning journalist Helen Dalley facilitated a panel discussion on these and other questions with:

• Dr Nicholas Eberstadt, Henry Wendt Chair in Political Economy at the American Enterprise Institute
• Dr Catherine de Fontenay, Commissioner with the Australian Productivity Commission
• Professor John Haldane, Professor of Philosophy of Education

An introduction to the discussion can be watched in the following short video:

Highlights of the panellists' remarks can be watched in the following short video:

The full event including the Q&A session can be watched in the following video:

Harnessing social media for the common good

Presented in collaboration with Loreto Kirribilli

Sydney
Tuesday 15 March 2022

Walkley Award-winning journalist Helen Dalley led a conversation between The Australian's editor-at-large Paul Kelly, Loreto Kirribilli principal Anna Dickinson, year-twelve student Gemma Chittendon and ACU's Dianoia Institute for Philosophy director Stephen Finlay about social media and social accountability, and the ethical issues that social media raises for Australia's future.

An introduction to the discussion can be watched in the following short video:

ETHOS 2022 - Social Media and Social Accountability (vimeo.com)

Hear Gemma Chittendon discussing the impact of social media on young people

Hear Paul Kelly discussing the democratic challenges of social media

Hear Stephen Finlay discussing the ethical and philosophical issues raised by social media

Read a news story about the event

See our teachers' resources about social media and social accountability

Ethos launch: Chris Uhlmann in conversation about 'Identity Crisis'

Canberra
Thursday 9 December 2021

Ethos was launched at an event in Canberra with Nine News Political Editor Chris Uhlmann and Rachael Falk, Chief Executive Officer of the Cyber Security Cooperative Research Centre, discussing the need to strengthen a shared identity to meet the challenge posed by the rise of authoritarian regimes led by China.

Read Chris Uhlman on 'Identity Crisis'

Download PDF (1.8MB)

Watch in full as the Nine Network's political editor joins Cyber Security Cooperative Research Centre CEO Rachael Falk and ACU Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Zlatko Skrbis to discuss the looming implications of Australia's identity crisis.

Highlights of the panellists' remarks can be watched in the following short video:

The full event including the Q&A session can be watched in the following video:

Chris Uhlmann on Identity Crisis

The launch of Ethos: Public Ethics and the Future of Australia
Canberra, 9 December 2021

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