Recent Hawke Centre events
Peak Oil
In the wake of major community concern in Australia over the price of petrol and its implications for social and economic stability, the Hawke Centre presented an August public forum on Peak Oil or Oil Shock? Energy security and pathways to a sustainable future, addressed by international speakers David Holmgren and Richard Heinberg.
Both gave a thorough briefing on the world situation, and addressed these critical questions. Why do we have sustained high petrol prices? Is this a brief blip on our economic horizon or have we hit Peak Oil, the halfway point in the availability of oil? What are the alternatives to fossil fuel and how can we adapt our cities and the way we live to cope?
Both also highlighted how Peak Oil could provide an important opportunity
to implement a wide range of positive,
environmentally-benign, economic and social alternatives that will help us
bridge the energy gap, including rebuilding personal and household
self-reliance, re-localising communities and economies, and regaining
greater control over our future.
Quality and equity in education – Australia’s scorecard
When
Australians engage in debate about educational quality or equity, they often
seem to accept that a country cannot achieve both at the same time. Prof
Barry McGaw AO, Director of the Melbourne Education Research Institute,
recently presented compelling international evidence that there are
countries which do, although Australia is not among them.
Prof McGaw’s lecture was hosted by the Hawke Centre at UniSA in association with the Committee for Economic Development of Australia and Delfin Lend lease, to 180 attendees, including distinguished leaders and educators from a number of institutions and agencies. His lecture explored ways in which education systems can provide choice, as Australia’s does, while also increasing social capital and helping to increase social cohesion. A response from Dr Tom Karmel, MD of the National Centre for Vocational Education Research reinforced the view that a quality outcome is an elusive goal for a range of students based on current statistical evidence. In her vote of thanks, the VC Prof Denise Bradley reflected on the critical need to be vigilant about quality, particularly in the context of the current SACE review, and the significance of Prof McGaw’s insightful findings for all Australians.
Prof McGaw’s paper is available at www.hawkecentre.unisa.edu