Therese Raft

1. Some of the stories personnel and their families are submitting will genuinely horrify you. 2. Despite claims all Defence Housing meets the “Healthy Homes” standards, I have solid proof they in fact, do not. 3. The Government and NZDF can spin all it wants how it has recently invested $35 million into housing - realistically that’s doesn’t even touch the sides when the whole Defence Estate is $400 million behind in maintenance alone. 4. Also, they cannot rely on the “Homes For Families” programme as a defence for the shocking state of houses. It’s unfunded, relying on cash injections for each budget. And most of it is aimed at “modernising” up to 900 homes that have already been described as; “at the end of their useful life” and “not fit for purpose”. Most importantly, families are not surviving on NZDF wages. As the economy has slowed, so has attrition. Once the economy speeds up again, you can expect those attrition rates to soar again unless there is significant change.

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My good friend Rowena Morais is launching her new program, "Safe Conversations, Safe Workplaces," with Kate Diggle. Starting on 22 August 2024, it's runnoing in Canberra, ACT. It's a comprehensive program that addresses crucial workplace issues such as workload stress, resistance to change, retaliation, lack of trust, and diversity challenges. In today’s dynamic work environment, fostering psychological safety is essential for collaboration, innovation, and effective communication. This program is designed to help you and your teams build trust, improve collaboration, and enhance performance through interactive activities, real-world scenarios, and reflective practice sessions. 🔑 Key Outcomes • Understand why psychological safety is the foundation for good performance and learn how to create it in your team • Learn how to use self-reflection as a powerful learning tool • Develop a personalised action plan • Gain more awareness of your legal rights and responsibilities as a leader and the importance of managing problems early • Take a strengths-based approach to managing neurodiversity, generational and cultural differences, communication styles and conflict styles • Become more comfortable transitioning between the different modes and styles needed for various work environments and different people • Gain a better understanding of the motivation of your teams and yourself This practical, action-oriented program is ideal for management and supervisory teams, including senior managers, team leaders, and supervisors. Change begins today and it begins with you. This is a great opportunity to make a positive impact on your workplace. I can highly recommend it. For more information and to book visit: https://lnkd.in/gt2eN76D #PsychologicalSafety #WorkplaceWellbeing #TeamCollaboration #LeadershipDevelopment #RowenaMorais

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Thoughts on Ghost Jobs In an article written by Anna Kelsey-Sugg and Nat Tencic for Life Matters (Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)) (original article below), they explore the phenomenon of ghost jobs and their severe impacts on job seekers. They explain, “’Ghost jobs’ are advertised positions that an employer has no intention of filling — or that have already been filled — They are not only wasting people's time, they risk damaging mental health and skewing job market figures…” They reference Dr Ben Hamer, a host of the Thinker Tank podcast, who explains how to identify a ghost job and elaborates on the strange purposes of ghost jobs: “One of the biggest indicators that a job is a ghost job is if its ad has run for more than 30 days..." “Advertising fake jobs also helps to give the impression that an organisation is thriving…” "If you're recruiting, then it looks like you're growing or increasing…Another benefit is to keep a "warm pool of candidates … so that if and when a role becomes vacant, the [employers] have got all their CVs sitting there that they can tap into." In addition, Ben Hamer explains that “listing ghost jobs can also be a tactic ‘to placate overworked staff…” He elaborates, “It's their bosses saying, 'Hey, don't worry. Look, we're advertising, we're trying to get you support." Mr. Hamer also states, “And we are seeing a steady increase in the rate of burnout with Australian workers and workers across western countries as well…because they're not hearing back." One solution proposed by Dr. Sugumar Mariappanadar, the head of discipline in HR and Management at Australian Catholic University, is to pass laws to reduce the number of ghost jobs. "We need some sort of regulation from the government to say, OK, 30 days is [the limit to leave a job ad up], beyond which the jobs are to be removed if it is not filled, or it has to be stated that yes, we are openly looking for varied competencies," he says. Personal Thoughts: I was baffled by the idea that some companies post ghost jobs to make it look like they’re “thriving.” Job advertisements are expensive, and it wouldn’t make sense to have an advertisement open if it continues to be an expense. It's very deceptive that some companies would do this to de-stress their workers regarding the need for additional labor. Workers aren’t stupid. They know management is lying, especially if nobody is hired within the next 30+ days. I support Dr. Mariappanadar’s suggestion about passing laws. NYC passed a Salary Transparency Law, so it’s possible to enact legislation regarding the information listed in job postings. The problem is how much this law would be enforced and whether companies manage to find loopholes. Although NYC has a Salary Transparency Law, some companies still use wide ranges (e.g., $50K-$150K) to deceive job seekers. What are your thoughts on ghost jobs? #ghostjobs #jobseekers #careerdevelopment

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Love your work Chris Coombes and DSC for all NDIS policy nerds: " The ‘Getting the NDIS back on Track Bill’ is tracking through the parliament. And if it passes, it will give Rule-making powers to the Minister that some have described as “God-like”. For example, the transitional Rules that define an NDIS support will arrive soon after (if) the Bill passes. These Rules will name what is “in” and what is “out” of the NDIS. They will be transitional Rules, because they will only be in place until the states and territories can agree with the federal government on permanent rules. The Minister could decide complex matters like the wording “day-to-day living costs” within as few as 28 days after the Bill has passed parliament, which is the earliest point some of the new powers can be used. The Senate Inquiry recommended the government release a public draft of transitional Rules as soon as possible. The debates over what is a “day-to-day living expense” at the AAT — one of many fuzzy phrases in the Rules — show that choosing the right words won’t be easy. Each decision has a financial, human rights, and policy consequence. Negotiations of this importance are difficult at the best of times. And it mightn’t get easier. Currently, almost all state and territory governments are held by the Labor party, like the federal government. But governments change and it could get harder to get all the parties to agree on wording. This increases the need to get these “transitional” Rules right early, as they could be in place for a long time. And while the amended Bill lists co-design as a key principle, there is no actual requirement for government to co-design the Rules. The Bill creates a reality where the government could be up late doing that group assignment, on its own, the night before it’s due. But unlike group assignments, everyone actually wants to be involved. The two hundred thoughtfully-crafted submissions to the NDIS Senate Inquiry reveal just how much skin is in this game. Rules of such significance demand the collective wisdom of disabled people and their families, as well as the wisdom of the federal court and AAT, and all of us who want to help clear up things like “day-to-day living costs”." https://lnkd.in/gDrEtMPA

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There’s no mystery here. An inadequate bulk power system causes misery. You can diffuse and temper that misery through lost productivity in the industrial sector, or we can be upfront about the causes, effects and cures of an intentionally inadequate and uneconomic system, and then let voters experience the pain more directly, then participate in future prioritization of issues at the ballot box. The former is cowardly. The latter is noble. I ask again: is the bulk power system created to serve society’s productivity and convenience, or should society serve an intentionally designed to be uncooperative bulk power system? “Save the planet = foresake human progress”

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Communications lessons to be learnt from Peter Costello’s bump with the journalist at Canberra Airport.   1. Beware of hypocrisy As chair of an organisation that aggressively questions others, he should be prepared to take what Nine gives. And presumably, he hasn’t forgotten his years of political experience on how to handle ‘pesky’ journos :)    Even if he doesn’t believe what the video appears to show, that he ‘bumped’ the journalist, why didn’t he help him up? Quite something to watch...   2. Media training should have taught him... He could have stopped and parried the questions with a polite comment about not wanting to pre-empt the independent investigation. There are multiple ways to do that and not sound dismissive, or evasive. My bet? Other journos are going to stake him out and try for a repeat!   3. The scope of the independent investigation into behaviour at 9Now’s newsroom It will have a broad enough scope, hopefully, to examine the Board’s role, and Costello’s, in the apparent dysfunction. Staff expect that depth typically, and I suspect journalists have higher expectations than most professions.   Intersection, the independent investigating company, with former sex discrimination commissioner Kate Jenkins, conducted the independent review into Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces, and then published ‘Set the Standard’. That publication now guides best practices on managing bullying and cultural change in large organisations. So, if the terms of reference allow, Nine's report should be a substantial read.       4. Get ahead of the commentary From a communications POV, we recommend that organisations anticipate the outcomes of an investigation and make whatever changes are likely to be recommended before publication. That proactivity raises trust.   The alternative is to wait for the recommendations and then appear untrustworthy because they've had to react to why the changes, which generally appear obvious once in print, haven’t already been made.

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New Zealand Media (and marketing) Industry appears to be in free-fall. This latest announcement from NZME, cutting regional reporters roles is another hole in an already sinking ship. This comes on top of TV3, TVNZ and Stuff having made major structural changes in recent times. Having spent many years inside the media and marketing industry its hard to watch this collapse, but you would hardly say its a surprise. Similar changes are happening world wide. I'm not going to jump on the "if you go woke - you go broke" bandwagon" but going to suggest that this is a business model problem. For the last 100 years (give or take) the media industry has relied on the sale of advertising to fund journalism (essentially subsiding this part of the business). Advertising relies on reader / viewership, and in the past two decades (give or take) traditional "channels" have seen a massive shift in how, when and where people consume media. I have a copy of Broadcast (a weekly newspaper for the TV and Radio Industry, published in the UK), dated 13 August 2004 (its cover price was 2.80 pounds). The headline reads: Subs overtake ads as TV's main earner. 20 years ago, Subscription TV (in the UK) took 50%+ of all revenue. At the time I was working for TVNZ and was on attending an industry conference in Europe. I saved this "relic" because I could see 20 years ago that the market had already changed. Today, this is the fall out for business not adapting. Make no mistake, the "media" industry isn't over, but it has changed. In the same way as Netflix replaced the Video Store. Adapt or Die.

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Anglicare Australia published its fifteenth Rental Affordability Snapshot on 23 April. The report’s headline findings will not surprise anyone. Of the 45,115 listings recorded on March 2024, fewer than 300 were affordable to a person on the minimum wage and close to zero were affordable for anyone on the aged pension, a disability pension or Job Seeker. And of course, just because a dwelling is theoretically affordable to someone a low income, it does not mean it’s going to be let to them. And of course, just because a dwelling is theoretically affordable to someone a low income, it does not mean it’s going to be let to them. Recently published research from AHURI, Affordable Private Rental Supply and Demand clearly demonstrates that much housing affordable to low income groups is, in fact, occupied by higher income earners. For example, while there was an estimated shortfall of 255,000 private rental homes affordable to households in Income Quintile 1, the shortfall rose to 348,000, once the availability of those affordable homes was considered. In other words, there is a ‘crowding out’ problem. Rental unaffordability for lower income groups is hardly new, but it has got worse. The Anglicare report also looks back to track how much worse the problem has become. For example, in 2012 a family on the minimum wage, ‘would have been able to afford just over 30 percent of all properties we surveyed. In the past decade, this has more than halved’. This decline in rental affordability for lower income groups has come at a time when governments have also not been investing sufficiently in social and affordable housing, with on average only around 3,000 homes being completed annually (with many of these replacing demolished units). With the creation of some state housing programs and the establishment of Federal housing initiatives, notably the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) the net gain should increase. However, as the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council’s State of the Housing System report notes that despite the planned investments ‘levels of non market housing are – and are forecast to remain - very low compared to history and compared to other advanced economies’. But these programs need to be bigger, and in place for the long term, so able to run annual funding rounds. A welcome first step would be for the Federal Government to cement its leadership role and back our call as part of the National Housing Alliance to double the HAFF in the forthcoming budget. Community Housing Industry Association’s member survey indicates there is plenty of capacity to respond. In addition to over 26,000 dwellings bid for in the first round, community housing organisations are already working up projects that would deliver more than 34,000 new homes.

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Committee for Melbourne | Ipsos Most Melbournian’s are more supportive of accommodating new housing in outer areas of the city (67% support or strongly support) compared to increasing density in established, inner-city Melbourne suburbs (46% support or strongly support). https://lnkd.in/gA9VJsAG Opposition to increased density of inner-city suburbs is higher (28%) than opposition to new construction in outer areas (11%). Despite this apparent aversion to increased density, Melburnians are more supportive of density in principle if there are liveability benefits delivered as a result (namely affordability of housing, more access to green spaces and better access to public transport). Melburnians value public transport, despite the reliance on cars…car ownership costs between $11,000 and $16,000 annually, a hefty price tag compared to public transport. Barriers to using public transport are driving the reliance on cars, more than three quarters (77%) experience challenges in accessing public transport in Melbourne, although the most common reason for not using public transport was a preference for driving (or an alternative private vehicle; (29%). Overcrowding on public transport was the most common specific issue (24%), followed by expense (22%), public transport not going where needed (20%) and safety (19%). 64% of Melburnians regard reliable public transport as important to them when choosing somewhere to live and 62% think it’s important to be able access places they need to go by walking and cycling. #SDGs #HybridWorkplace #WFH #WFA #WalkableUrbanism #20MinuteNeighbourhoods #TimelessUrbanism #IMBY #EBikes

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Some old adages stand simply because they're true. When I think about public risk, vulnerability, and crisis all day, it's hard to reconcile that even after the PR crisis failures across the past six months, we're not all remembering that "a stitch in time saves nine." Real talk? The general public is stretched and strained in the current environment, and their appetite for poor performance is low. What you could get away with in the public sphere, even 12 months ago, is vastly different to now. In matters of reputation, public risk, and crisis communications, the key is preparation. *Crisis media training is different to any other media training *Murder Boards/Worst Case Scenario planning is hard but good work - there is nothing better than this work to feel and be really prepared for the hard scenarios. * Have a trusted advisor who tells the truth and isn't a "Yes" person. Better to face the hard questions from a friendly first. Thanks so much to Adam Lang, Neil Griffiths and Lauren McNamara for having me on Mumbrellacast yesterday to discuss two of my great loves: politics and crisis communications. https://lnkd.in/eNZHc9SF

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Big news! The latest edition of the Disabiltiy Reporting Handbook is now online. But don’t be fooled by it’s title - the handbook is not just for journalists. It’s for anyone who ever interacts with anyone else. That’s because around 1 in 5 Australians have disability, meaning among your relatives, friends, colleagues or clients there’s someone who needs you to read this book. Download it. Share it. Bookmark it. It’s packed with bite-sized, practical tips to get disability inclusion right. https://lnkd.in/eebU6htV

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If the 230+ page ASIC report that dropped from Senate this week was too long to read, you can find out a summary (and my opinion on it) in this week's What's Making Headlines podcast wrap up from The Adviser Magazine Join me as I chat to Keith Ford – the deputy editor of The Adviser sister brand ifa (Independent Financial Adviser)– as we discuss the major new report suggesting ‘ASIC has failed’, the recommendations to reform it, and whether open banking should be scrapped or not. #podcast #ASIC #broadcast #financialservices #regulation #WhatsMakingHeadlines

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here are my thoughts on how the various industry and lobby groups reacted to the Federal Budget...I emphasise the importance of strategic public messaging, highlighting its role in shaping future policy dialogue and fostering effective advocacy. https://lnkd.in/ehTK_7zF

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Truth is that as a working mother, even with a supportive partner, some days are hard. Our daughter is my number one priority, we are blessed to have her, but I like to work so I feel guilty. That means compromise.   When things don’t work to plan, it can trigger insecurities. Not going to plan includes everything from illness to forgetting curriculum day or a breakfast meeting / after-hours catch-up (that I know I should go to).   It means sometimes the floor doesn’t always get vacuumed and I must breathe deeply when somebody says something insensitive.   Anecdotes about the time someone said, “Is she your granddaughter” (we’re older parents) or exclaimed “I don’t know how you work full-time” are now my go-to party jokes. But we’re good, we're in a privileged position where we can choose our lifestyle. Others can’t.   That’s why I am sharing this video today. I am so grateful to the Gidget Foundation Australia (no affiliation) for the work that they do.   The more we can do to highlight the need for and importance of non-judgment, the better we’ll all be.   Anyone can struggle, get stressed or burned out. It doesn’t matter your lifestyle - you can be a parent or a caregiver; single or married - and it’s not just because you are unlucky. It’s not because you love less.   Negative judgement is not new. Even my parents had to overcome “helpful” commentary because they were young. We can all do better in support first, questions second. We can call in and be there for someone in need. So please put Wednesday 19 June into your diary. This #GidgetGivingDay, if you can, please donate to support expectant and new parents in need.

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New Local Land Services board chairs and members announced and LLS review released https://bit.ly/3xWsSTp (NSW Government Media Release) The NSW Government has announced new appointments and reappointments to the 11 Local Land Services (LLS) regional boards, as well as the release of a review into LLS boards and committees. After a substantial statewide recruitment drive that drew 157 applicants, the new board members, comprising a mix of ministerial appointees and elected individuals, are set to continue LLS's work in providing community-tailored agricultural and environmental services. The review commissioned by Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty has confirmed LLS's effectiveness and suggested several governance refinements aimed at enhancing efficiency and reducing costs without overhauling the existing structure. For Landcare NSW, this announcement is particularly welcome because it reaffirms the government's commitment to maintaining strong, regionally focused governance in land management. The decision to refine rather than overhaul LLS governance ensures continuity and stability in service delivery, which is crucial for effective natural resource management and agricultural productivity.

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New Local Land Services board chairs and members announced and LLS review released https://bit.ly/3xWsSTp (NSW Government Media Release) The NSW Government has announced new appointments and reappointments to the 11 Local Land Services (LLS) regional boards, as well as the release of a review into LLS boards and committees. After a substantial statewide recruitment drive that drew 157 applicants, the new board members, comprising a mix of ministerial appointees and elected individuals, are set to continue LLS's work in providing community-tailored agricultural and environmental services. The review commissioned by Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty has confirmed LLS's effectiveness and suggested several governance refinements aimed at enhancing efficiency and reducing costs without overhauling the existing structure. For Landcare NSW, this announcement is particularly welcome because it reaffirms the government's commitment to maintaining strong, regionally focused governance in land management. The decision to refine rather than overhaul LLS governance ensures continuity and stability in service delivery, which is crucial for effective natural resource management and agricultural productivity.

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