The Future Report

Once every five years in Australia, we have the night that stops the nation, the census night. The Australian Bureau of Statistics then works busily away and analyses and compiles the data for almost a year and then releases it to the nation. For us, self-professed data nerds at McCrindle, the release day feels like our Christmas’ have all come at once, with a brand new data snapshot of the nation. This data tells the stories of our friends, families, communities, and our nation.  In this episode, we will be unpacking the census insights that you need to know about. Our host, Sophie Renton sits down with social researchers, Mark McCrindle and Geoff Brailey. 

The education sector is at the centre of many different trends. From changing generations of students and teachers to adapting the curriculum to suit the future of work to respond to changes brought about by the pandemic, to focusing on teacher and student wellbeing and collecting data and knowing what to do with it. Clearly, there is a lot on the plate for those working in the sector! Therefore, it’s no wonder that when we speak to educators, they are feeling fatigued and a bit overwhelmed. Yet, there is hope! If leaders in the sector understand the trends at play and how to utilise the data at their disposal, they can make informed and strategic decisions going forward. Joining Ashley Fell on the podcast to discuss the role of data science in the future of education is McCrindle's Data Scientist, Mike Abecina.

Have you ever thought about whether you are an ‘anywhere’ or ‘somewhere’ type of person? If you are an ‘anywhere’ type of person, it is likely that you can find home, community, or work, anywhere. On the other hand, if you are a ‘somewhere’ person, it is likely that you have strong connections to a particular place. As people continue to move and relocate, the idea of how we define our identity, and the concept of home is an interesting topic to explore. Joining Ashley Fell on the podcast is social researcher, Grant Dusting.

At McCrindle, we love to talk about the generations. Today’s high school students and those in their early twenties belong to Generation Z, who were born between the years 1995 and 2009. If you parent, lead or engage with this generation in any context, you will know that they are quite different from those who have gone before. The questions on many people’s mind is, how do we best care for this generation who have grown up on screen-based devices and in a more technologically supplied world than we have ever experienced? We're delighted to have psychologist and author, Collett Smart, joining the podcast to share her wisdom and insight with us about teenagers. 

If you are old enough to remember dial-up, when you had to wait for the internet to connect and when the world wasn’t in our pockets, it’s a pretty stark contrast to the world shaping children today. In the last two decades, technology has advanced at lightning speed, and it can be challenging to keep up for all of us – no matter what generation we are a part of. Especially since something we were once a little unsure of, perhaps skeptical of, is now an everyday experience at home, at work, at school and throughout society. When we speak to parents and educators on the issue of generational differences, technology almost always comes up as the consistent answer as to how Generation Alpha are different from generations past. Screens also come up as a source of tension. On the one hand, parents and educators want to ensure children are equipped with the necessary digital skills to thrive in an increasingly technological world. On the other hand, they also want them to develop resilience, interpersonal and life skills that come from activities and interactions away from screens. In a recent survey we conducted, more than four in five Australians (83%) agree that for children aged eleven and under, the use of screens causes more harm than good. So, what do we need to be aware of and how can we help raise Generation Alpha in the great screen age? Joining Ashley Fell is the person who gave the name Generation Alpha to those born 2010-2024, Mark McCrindle.

Analysing baby names paints a fascinating picture of the era that we live in. The Builders generation (born before 1945) chose traditional names such as Peter, Paul, John, Karen, Jennifer, or Sharon for their children. In the 1980s, the Baby Boomers began drawing on baby name books for inspiration and trends. Meanwhile, today’s parents, Generation Y (also known as the Millennials), are not only choosing new and different names, but they are also parenting a new and unique generation – Generation Alpha. At McCrindle, we have the privilege of gathering the top baby names and compiling the top 100 list. We have just released our 2022 baby names report, and there are some interesting naming trends that Gen Y parents are drawing on for their Generation Alpha children. And in big news, we also have a new top baby girls name for the first time in a few years.

Thankyou™ is an organisation founded in Australia that seeks to serve people living in extreme poverty by redistributing wealth, from consumer spending. Thankyou provides consumers with alternate product choices for body care and baby care. When people purchase these products, it allows shoppers to purchase products that have a positive impact for those living in poverty. If you live in Australia, then it's very likely that you've seen Thankyou's products on the shelves of your Coles and Woolies for a number of years now. We are delighted to have Co-Founder and Managing Director at Thankyou, Daniel Flynn to share insights into this incredible social enterprise, their workplace culture, phenomenal growth, and dedication to their mission. 

While most people have an interest in the future, educators have a direct role in shaping it, as they educate and equip the emerging generations. Importantly, this impact is recognised and appreciated by students. Our research shows that 70% of students can think of at least one teacher who has made a massive, positive difference in their life. Yet, amidst this positive student feedback, the waves of change impacting the sector are perhaps unequaled. Educational communities bridge the widest generational gaps in our society, connecting grandparents to those aged four and five who are on the innovative edge of coding, robotics, IT, and all things cyber. They also have the pretty big task of preparing the next generation for the future and their working life. From demographic trends to technological transformations catalysed by the pandemic, the education sector continues to have a lot to respond to, and so this is where future analysis is most needed. That is why we have conducted research to provide insights into the current context of Australian education with a forecast of what to expect as today’s students emerge into the workforce over the decade ahead. So, joining our host, Ashley Fell, is McCrindle’s Managing Director and author of our latest Education Future Report, Sophie Renton.

If you know anyone born between the years of 1995 and 2009, then you know a Gen Z. Gen Zs are digital integrators who have been shaped in an era of social media and digital technology. While this generation are our high school students of today, the oldest of them are approaching their late twenties. Many of them may be in leadership roles in their workplaces and some even parents! In this episode, not only are we going to discuss some of our research about Gen Z, but our host, Ashley Fell sits down with a wonderful Gen Z member of our team who can speak about the research, and also her own experience and interpretation of it. 

Workplace culture is so important, yet it can be hard to define and measure. It can be an intangible thing, but something that impacts almost all aspects of an organisation, from productivity to employee satisfaction and retention. It is intrinsically linked to an organisation’s ability to succeed. In this episode, our host, Ashley Fell will be speaking to another thought leader in this space about his new book on culture, Shane Hatton. Shane is an author, trainer, coach, and speaker on the topics of leadership and culture.