Arrr, Australia be launchin' a 'national wellbeing' dashboard to gauge progress on the health and learnin' o' its landlubbers!
2023-07-21
Avast ye! Australia be havin' a grand new contraption called a 'national wellbeing' dashboard. It be showin' the likes o' how the education, health, and the environment be farin' in our fair land. A fine way to keep track o' our ventures, methinks!
Australia has launched a "national wellbeing" dashboard to measure progress on issues such as health, education, and the environment. The dashboard will track indicators across five categories - healthy, secure, sustainable, cohesive, and prosperous - and will be updated annually. This new approach aims to provide a better balance between economic and social objectives, complementing traditional economic indicators like GDP, inflation, and employment. Treasurer Jim Chalmers expressed frustration that social and economic objectives are often seen as conflicting and emphasized that they can work together.In a report accompanying the dashboard, the Australian government highlighted both positive and negative aspects of wellbeing in the country. Progress has been made in areas such as life expectancy, resource use reduction, diversity, incomes, and employment. However, measures of chronic health conditions, national security, biodiversity, and fiscal sustainability have declined. The report also revealed that almost half of the population has one or more chronic health conditions, and 13% reported mental health problems. Access to healthcare and wait times for treatment have worsened, as have household financial stress and access to housing. Overall, 20 indicators have improved, seven are stable, and 12 have deteriorated.
This initiative follows the trend of other countries, such as Bhutan, in diversifying policymaking beyond purely economic measures. Bhutan's "gross national happiness" index is considered more important than GDP. By incorporating social indicators into policymaking, Australia aims to create a more comprehensive understanding of wellbeing and ensure a more balanced approach to national development.