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The Society was established to enable like-minded people to champion the concepts of progress and wellbeing as being integral to the thinking and decision making of individuals, communities, businesses and governments in Australia. It aims to create a movement where broad based progress and wellbeing considerations will be just as significant and tangible as financial considerations in decision making.
Given this, the Society – philosophically speaking – is, and must be, owned by its members.
Given this, the Society – philosophically speaking – is, and must be, owned by its members.
Objectives
The objectives of the Society are:
- Ensure wellbeing receives prominence in determining the progress of Australia and Australians at an individual, family, community, business and government level.
- Shift social progress and wellbeing considerations from government departments, supra-national organisations and academia into ‘mainstream’ consciousness and decision making.
- Build a bridge of influence between the designers of progress and wellbeing frameworks and users of those frameworks, especially major decision makers in government, public policy, corporations and significant not-for-profit organisations.
Background & Origins
The origins of the Society can be traced back to an inspiring presentation by Professor Bob Cummins of Deakin University at the National Economic Review Summit at NSW Parliament House in September 2010, in which he highlighted the importance of measuring the quality of life beyond traditional economics.
In early 2011, public policy think tank Global Access Partners (GAP) brought together a taskforce of senior executives from government, business and academia to consider fresh and inclusive definitions of economic and social progress and discuss their integration into national policy making.
The GAP Taskforce on Progress in Society found a high level of support amongst policy makers for use of measures of social progress and wellbeing which go beyond monetary measures. In national economic policy, the Australian Treasury’s wellbeing framework provides an illustration of the importance of such considerations.
One of the Taskforce’s key recommendations was to move the wealth of research work out of academia into the mainstream of Australian social, commercial and political life. The Taskforce advocated the creation of a permanent, membership based organisation – the Australian Society for Progress & Wellbeing - to drive consolidation of measurement frameworks, facilitate collaboration between interested parties and channel appreciation of these measures to decision makers.
Such a body was needed to drive the whole sector. It would offer a forum to encourage cross-stakeholder debate and media interest, and create a bridge or connection to improve the design of the measurement instruments, as well as their adoption. International organisations in Canada, France and Britain have indicated their support for a single body offering a community of interest in Australia.
In early 2011, public policy think tank Global Access Partners (GAP) brought together a taskforce of senior executives from government, business and academia to consider fresh and inclusive definitions of economic and social progress and discuss their integration into national policy making.
The GAP Taskforce on Progress in Society found a high level of support amongst policy makers for use of measures of social progress and wellbeing which go beyond monetary measures. In national economic policy, the Australian Treasury’s wellbeing framework provides an illustration of the importance of such considerations.
One of the Taskforce’s key recommendations was to move the wealth of research work out of academia into the mainstream of Australian social, commercial and political life. The Taskforce advocated the creation of a permanent, membership based organisation – the Australian Society for Progress & Wellbeing - to drive consolidation of measurement frameworks, facilitate collaboration between interested parties and channel appreciation of these measures to decision makers.
Such a body was needed to drive the whole sector. It would offer a forum to encourage cross-stakeholder debate and media interest, and create a bridge or connection to improve the design of the measurement instruments, as well as their adoption. International organisations in Canada, France and Britain have indicated their support for a single body offering a community of interest in Australia.