S1/E1 On merit

10/25/21 • 33 min

Australians believe our country is the land of the fair go. A meritocracy where if you work hard you can be successful, no matter what circumstances you were born into. But how true is this? Is intelligence and hard work really enough to break out of a cycle of disadvantage?

This episode interrogates the idea of meritocracy and how it was established in the Australian context with Alison Pennington from the Centre for Future Work. We also hear from the author and Saturday Paper social affairs journalist Rick Morton. He questions the reality of merit and social mobility at a time of widening wealth inequality and what that says about our commitment to provide opportunities for all.

Visit lifeslottery.com.au for more.

Produced by UTS Impact Studios:
Executive Producer: Olivia Rosenman
Audio Producer: Nicole Curby
Researcher/writer: Jackie May
Theme music and Sound Design: Frank Lopez
Production music: Blue Dot Sessions
Graphic design: Celia Neilson

Visit lifeslottery.com.au for more.

Previous Episode

S1/Introducing Life’s Lottery

Birth is a throw of the dice. The consequences can last a lifetime. A child born into disadvantage today will struggle to break out in adulthood - no matter how hard they work.

Life’s Lottery is a podcast about new ways to break the cycle of disadvantage, from the Paul Ramsay Foundation in collaboration with UTS Impact Studios. In conversation with policy and research leaders, expert practitioners and people whose lives have been touched by disadvantage, we’ll look towards a brighter future. After almost two years of upheaval caused by the Covid pandemic, how can we seize the chance to build back better?

Please join us! Search for Life’s Lottery wherever you get your podcasts.

Next Episode

S1/E2 Possibility thinking

In this episode we examine systems change and possibility thinking with a leader in the field. Charlie Leadbeater is a creative systems innovator who works with organisations around the world to address long term problems, such as unacceptable rates of poverty. He says it’s time to reframe social issues to create meaningful solutions that are driven by a more inclusive set of values.

Can we imagine a place for love and creativity in policy innovation? This approach has influenced the Family by Family project run by the Australian Centre for Social Innovation. We meet participant Melissa Hughes who shares her experience of how a relationship with a mentor family helped her move through a tough time and become a more confident and resilient parent.

We’ll also explore the challenges put to the educated and the powerful, including philanthropic organisations, to foster new ways of thinking to influence better public policy and evidence-based programs on the ground.

Visit lifeslottery.com.au for more.