Per Capita Australia

18/08/2026

"For many workplaces, enterprise bargaining provides the best immediate avenue to move beyond rhetoric about DEI and to ensure tangible, lasting gains."

Per Capita Research Fellow Osmond Chiu shares his thoughts on improving cultural and racial diversity in Australian workplaces and the upcoming round of Australian Public Service (APS) service-wide bargaining

Improving cultural and racial diversity in Australian workplaces is often framed as a question of leadership, cultural reform, and organisational commitment. These things matter, but experience shows they are not enough. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives that rely solely on employer

07/08/2026

Join us for lunch and discussion with Race Discrimination Commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman.

https://events.humanitix.com/john-cain-lunch-august-building-an-inclusive-australia-in-a-divided-world

Australia’s cultural diversity is our greatest strength and has enriched our communities and contribute to our economy.

As Australia considers important national conversations about racism and discrimination, how can we build a stronger sense of belonging for everyone? Australia is currently holding both an Inquiry into Racism, Hate and Violence Directed at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, and a Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion. What does the evidence tell us about the experiences of different communities, and what practical steps can help foster trust, inclusion, and mutual respect?

Join Race Discrimination Commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman for a discussion on respect, dignity and equality in Australia, the barriers that can undermine it, and the opportunities for governments, community organisations, and individuals to foster inclusion, trust and shared purpose.

31/07/2026

Migration is once again at the centre of Australian political and public debate, but claims about migrant numbers, composition and impact are not always borne out by the data.

As net overseas migration, housing pressures and questions of social cohesion continue to dominate headlines, how well does political and public discourse reflect the underlying facts? And how are Chinese-Australian communities, often a focal point in these debates, represented within it?

The Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS:ACRI), in partnership with the Chinese Australian Forum (CAF) will host an interactive forum exploring these questions. Tuesday 18 August at UTS Ultimo

The forum will feature Professor Wanning Sun, Deputy Director of UTS:ACRI; Dr Abul Rizvi, former Deputy Secretary of the Department of Immigration; and Osmond Chiu, Research Fellow at Per Capita. It will be chaired by Associate Professor Vanessa Chan, President of CAF.

Migration is once again at the centre of Australian political and public debate, but claims about migrant numbers, composition and impact are not always borne...

30/07/2026

Per Capita is excited to announce the ASEAN Emerging Thought Leaders Fellowship, a six month program for emerging leaders of ASEAN background. This national capacity-building program will provide training in thought leadership, policy analysis, media literacy, advocacy skills and more, while building professional networks and equipping a new generation of Australian ASEAN diaspora members to strengthen connections between Australian and ASEAN member countries.

Applications opening soon - Follow Per Capita for updates.

Per Capita is a grateful recipient of an ASEAN-Australia Centre grant which makes this program possible.

29/07/2026

We're hiring! Per Capita is looking for a Senior Research Associate, ideally based in Melbourne. This is a great opportunity for a purpose-driven, experienced policy researcher to join Per Capita, focused on developing policy to address inequality in Australia.

More info here:
https://www.ethicaljobs.com.au/members/percapita/senior-research-associate

28/07/2026

Technological innovation doesn't automatically benefit everyone. History shows that whether the benefits of new technologies are shared by everyone or only those at the top depends on who determines how the technology is used. Workers must have a say in how AI is used in workplaces to ensure the benefits are shared by all, and not hoarded by the wealthy few.

Last weekend at the Labor Engaged fringe program, alongside the ALP National Conference, we helped launch "Fair AI," a new group inside Labor working to put workers and community at the centre of technology.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-22/labor-to-launch-fair-ai-taskforce-to-give-workers-a-say/106946558

Labor will respond to growing anxiety about the rise of artificial intelligence with a new taskforce to give Australian workers a greater say in how the technology shapes the nation.

22/07/2026

Interested in a podcast that looks at politics from both sides while staying friends? Check out What's Your Poison, from Peter Lewis and Damian Damjanovski. Friendly, open-minded discussion over a drink. Politics as it should be.

https://www.youtube.com/

21/07/2026

Across cultures and workplaces, there are gendered expectations around caregiving roles.

On this episode of Homes Not Houses, Dr Kate Raynor is joined by Chifley Research Institute’s Emma Dawson to explore how housing is affected by gendered expectations of caregiving roles and work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZMoon52Fac

This season of Homes Not Houses proudly sponsored by the YWCA and Australians Investing in Women, whose support helped produce the show and our research.

20/07/2026

"Civic green shoots are emerging as the community becomes more engaged with the challenges. Across the environment movement, trade unions and civil society there is a growing focus on the urgency of setting guardrails. At next week’s ALP national conference an internal group of rank-and-file members, Fair AI, will be launching to organise from within. Even the pope has called on all people of goodwill to step up on behalf of humanity."

Peter Lewis on AI Guardrails and last week's AI announcements.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jul/15/australia-ai-challenge-anthony-albanese

Coherent decision-making and internal accountability are critical to meeting this manic moment