Panel Discussions

Business - the promising leaders of social change

Social responsibility is a perpetual hot topic of conversation. Australia is historically a nation who gets behind a good cause — we back the underdog, rally for equality and call for action on important issues, most recently, the rising cost of living. But whose responsibility is it to provide answers for the social issues we face here in Australia and around the world?

Social enterprise - a catalyst for public good

In this Helping Hands panel discussion, Jess Moore, CEO of Social Enterprise Australia; Adam McCurdie, founder of Humanitix; and Prof. Kristy Muir, CEO of the Paul Ramsay Foundation; discuss social enterprise, and explain why this business model has the potential for positive impact both in our local communities and in the lives of the less fortunate.

“Social enterprise is a business for good,” explains Jess. “They trade like any other business but exist specifically to make the world a better place. Two things about them are essential; they put people and planet first and they trade to do this.”

Business and social change

Change is a constant of the world we live in, and wherever possible, Australians love to embrace change for the better. Within Australian business, this drive for positive impact is creating a tangible shift from valuing only the financial bottom-line to finding purpose in the form of social change, namely, developing a social conscience.

The joy of being selfish for good

“There is a deep, deep value in being good for nothing,” quips Jon Owen, CEO of Wayside Chapel, when talking about volunteers.

Speaking on Helping Hands, Jon says volunteers gift an estimated $1.5 million worth of waged time to Wayside Chapel, and without them, the Chapel would not able to break even. The volunteer workforce at Wayside Chapel cover 250 shifts each week, and ensure their doors stay open.

Finding a Joy-Filled Christmas

Do you have a favourite Christmas memory? Perhaps a time when the world appeared to glow a little brighter? Or your footsteps became a little lighter, and the spirit of the season filled the air? What is it that sparked your experience of joy?

In this Helping Hands panel discussion, social commentator, Mark McCrindle; podcaster, speaker and minister Rev. Dr. Megan Powell du Toit, and former CEO of Parramatta Mission, Davyn De Bruyn, join Laura Bennett to help us recapture the joy of Christmas.

Craving community at Christmas

“When we ask, ‘What’s your most hoped-for Christmas present?’ time with family is number one,” says social researcher, Mark McCrindle, also noting that community celebration and Christmas cheer are the two things Australians love most about the festive season.

In this Helping Hands panel discussion, Mark is joined by former CEO of Parramatta Mission, Davyn de Bruyn; and podcaster, speaker and minister, Rev. Dr. Megan Powell du Toit, to explore how and why community is so integral to a meaningful Christmas.

Do Australians understand what it means to live with a disability?

Laura Cowell, the Australian CEO of TLC Disability Services, says there is room for improvement.

Laura is joined by disability advocate, Dr. Louise Gosbell; and Paralympic silver medalist, Jamieson Leeson in this episode of Helping Hands to discuss how we can better understand the disability sector, and play our part in making the world a better place for people who are living with disability.

The even playing field of healthy friendships

“Healthy friendships are all about mutuality,” says psychologist, Collett Smart. “It’s about being on that even field where one isn’t more important than the other.”

In this episode of Helping Hands, Collett is joined by Nathan Brewer, a youth worker; and Ian Barnett, the founder of the National Grandparent Movement, to discuss healthy friendships.

A New Era of Education

Students in rural and regional areas have an educational disadvantage, according to Helping Hands panellists Chris North, Mia Patoulios and Thomas McDonnell.

In this Helping Hands feature panel discussion, Chris North, CEO of Learning for Good; Mia Patoulios, CEO of Sydney Youth Orchestras; and Thomas McDonnell, an English teacher, discuss how innovation in education is driving positive social change.

The Power of Positive Mentoring

“My mentors changed the course of my life,” says 21 year-old Ellah Johnston. “Knowing that I have them – whenever I fell back down, they were who I contacted to get back on track." Ellah is speaking about her mentorship through Veteran Mentors - a youth development program designed for troubled teens.

In this Helping Hands panel discussion, Ellah is joined by Veteran Mentors co-founder and director, Matthew French, and psychologist, Collett Smart, to discuss how mentorship is changing the lives of thousands of families across Australia.

Nurturing Young People Through Music in Education

“Everyone has music inside them as an inherent way of communicating and connecting,” says Bernie Heard from the Australian Youth Orchestra and Manager of Music in Me, its national mentoring program. “Our role as parents, as teachers, is to try and nurture music in every young person.”

In this episode of Helping Hands, Bernie is joined by Mia Patoulios, CEO of Sydney Youth Orchestras; and Rachel Holmes, a teacher at Wilcannia Public School in far-western NSW, to discuss the benefits of music in education.

Boosting the economy by backing Veteran Business

Veteran-run businesses are more than enterprises; they play a vital role in the social and economic fabric of our communities across Australia. In addition to providing employment opportunities for ex-service and civilian men and women, they are essential points of connection for people transitioning from military into civilian life.

On this week's episode of Helping Hands, we delve into the economic benefits of veteran-run businesses in a feature panel discussion with Chris North, co-founder of Frontline Labs, Adrian Sweatman, a retired nurse and founder of sweatFXmoulage, and Narelle Mason, co-founder of Frontline Mental Health.

Innovation and Education - it's music to our ears.

Playing music in an orchestra is the ultimate team activity, says James Pensini. "Everybody has to contribute.  There's nobody on the bench".

James is a conductor with Sydney Youth Orchestras (SYO) and has been sharing his passion for music for over 22 years. He is now reaching more people with music by using new and innovative ways to connect with people across NSW.

Frontline Labs - empowering veterans for business success

Successful veteran businesses deliver many social benefits to ex-servicemen and women, their families and in many communities across Australia, according to Tim Lewis, a retired Royal Australian Air Force member and a veteran entrepreneur.

In this week's episode of Helping Hands, Tim is joined by Mark Leatham, retired member of the Royal Australian Air Force and co-founder of Frontline Labs, and James Milliss, a former army medic and new owner of a veteran business, to discuss the social benefits of veteran businesses. 

Feeling blessed - getting out of the comparison vortex

“Happiness really is about contentedness,” says social researcher, Mark McCrindle, from McCrindle Research. “And if we’re forever chasing the next thing, that happiness never arrives.”

Happiness, joy, contentment – all factors that the panellists in this Helping Hands discussion recognise as major contributors to defining what it means to be blessed. To discuss this thought-provoking topic, Mark is joined by CEO of Parramatta Mission, Davyn de Bruyn, and Rev. Dr. Megan Powell du Toit.