About the author Journalist David Donaldson is a journalist at The Mandarin based in Melbourne. Follow David Donaldson
Premium Insights and analysis Australia should learn from NZ on gender equality, Gillard says Wednesday February 24, 2021 By David Donaldson New Zealand 'The more women who come through, the easier it gets, the better it is, the more women have the ability to be themselves, to feel…
Premium Case studies Flemington Works: the project bringing jobs and confidence to women in public housing Monday February 22, 2021 By David Donaldson Case studies Moonee Valley council's 'Mamma's Kitchen' is giving women from Somalia, Eritrea and Sudan the chance to use their cooking skills in paid work, and it's…
The pandemic has boosted Australians’ trust in government — and made us scared to quit Friday February 19, 2021 By David Donaldson Community & Social Australians trust government — and say they prioritise improving healthcare and addressing poverty — more than before the pandemic. Yet they are still worried, with…
Premium Insights and analysis A Manhattan project for climate change? How governments can use missions to tackle wicked problems Thursday February 18, 2021 By David Donaldson Research From the grandiose to the incremental, missions offer a powerful policy tool for getting things done. What makes them work?…
Premium Case studies You can improve organisational reputation – it all starts with a plan Monday February 15, 2021 By David Donaldson Case studies Reputation can't be left to the comms team, argues Michelle Bryne, head of strategic communications at the Victorian Essential Services Commission. Remember that every interaction…
Premium Case studies ‘Homelessness is solvable’: The pandemic shows a way forward on housing, but only some governments are taking it Wednesday February 10, 2021 By David Donaldson Case studies Homeless hotel programs have given many the security to make positive changes in their lives. Victoria hopes to make these changes permanent.
Premium Insights and analysis No outbreaks: How Victoria bucked international trends and stopped COVID spreading in prisons Monday February 8, 2021 By David Donaldson Case studies Some of the changes forced onto Victoria's prison system by the pandemic have led to better services that will endure into the future, says Corrections…
Premium Insights and analysis Is your boss a bully or just demanding? Friday February 5, 2021 By David Donaldson Career Matters Managers need to be able to manage, and some workplaces are under-resourced or have high pressure cultures, so where do you draw the line? Is…
Premium Expert briefings All in this together: why it’s important to avoid blaming the public for outbreaks Wednesday February 3, 2021 By David Donaldson Health You wouldn't roll out a vaccine without testing it first, and behavioural interventions should be no different. Professors Steve Reicher and David Halpern recently reflected…
Premium Insights and analysis ‘Chaotic’ decision-making behind the UK’s mismanaged response to the pandemic Monday February 1, 2021 By David Donaldson Case studies The UK government has done a terrible job of managing the pandemic. Clearer strategic direction and improved relationships between advisors and ministers could have helped.
Premium Insights and analysis Skunks at the Trump picnic: how Deborah Birx and Anthony Fauci worked around the president’s roadblocks Thursday January 28, 2021 By David Donaldson Health Donald Trump's top public health advisers had to be assertive and creative to overcome the barriers created by the president in the fight against the…
Premium Trends and research Citizens’ juries can give reformers legitimacy — or end in tears. Here’s how they can be done well Thursday September 3, 2020 By David Donaldson Features Deliberative democracy can boost tough reforms and increase public trust if handled carefully. New research distills the ingredients for success.
Premium Insights and analysis Take it from the experts: how consultants overcome impostor syndrome Thursday August 27, 2020 By David Donaldson Career Advice Suffering from impostor syndrome in your new job? Consultants' efforts to navigate their permanent outsider status offer some lessons.
Premium Expert briefings Admit failure already occurs: how public servants can overcome their fears and become better innovators Monday August 24, 2020 By David Donaldson Features The fear of failure holds back too many governments trying new approaches. A new study looks at how to shift workplace cultures to do better.
Premium Insights and analysis Why Victoria’s chief data officer hates dashboards Thursday August 20, 2020 By David Donaldson Features Decision-making with too much information can be an experience akin to drinking from a firehose. Provide decision makers with the right data at the right…
