Category Archives: General

Primary Pulse - NSW Budget 2023-24

NSW Budget 2023-24

Chris Minns’ first budget as Premier, was very much framed with the goal of paying back debt, putting money back into essential public services like health and education and investing heavily in housing and energy.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey in pre-budget interviews spoke of his desire to make ‘tough decisions’ to get the budget back under control following recent spending on emergencies including black summer bushfires, floods and COVID-19 which ended a long run of budget surpluses.

As with most budgets, there were lots of pre-budget announcements, hinting of harsh cuts on the previous Government’s projects. Treasurer Mookhey has unashamedly redirected spending toward Labor priorities including higher wages for the public service following a decade of Coalition wage cap policy.

The government also sees the increasing impact the housing crisis is having on the community, business and the wider economy and has made spending on housing the centrepiece of this budget. More than $2.2 billion will be spent to ensure that social, affordable, and private housing stock can grow to meet the population and economic demands of NSW.

The government is determined that housing supply does not hamper economic growth and wants NSW to continue to maintain the position it has as Australia’s largest state economy. Premier Minns has made public comments that local councils cannot stand in the way of more housing so NSW can reach the commitment made in the National Housing Accord of 75,000 homes a year for five years.

Debt in NSW is now projected to reach $173.4 billion in June 2026 down from a projected $188 billion when Labor took office.

Rising global interest rates have only added to budgetary pressures with interest payments expected to climb from $2.5 billion in 2020-21 to $7 billion by 2025-26.

The government expects that the budget will return to a surplus of $844 million by 2024-2025 assuming the “no worse off guarantee” payments form the GST floor will remain in place.

 

Economic Overview

The economic landscape in New South Wales is a mixed bag, showing signs of recovery post-COVID-19 but also revealing stark disparities and challenges.

While economic activity has broadly rebounded, the benefits are not evenly distributed across the population.

Income per person is stagnating, barely keeping pace with inflation, which puts significant pressure on family budgets.

The average household’s spending is on a decline, affecting lower-income families and vulnerable populations the most.

Inflation, although eased to 6.6% in the June quarter, remains high, with the cost of essential goods like food and non-alcoholic beverages rising by 7.8% and household energy costs skyrocketing by 24.3%.

Housing remains a critical issue, with dwelling construction lagging behind federal and state housing targets and rents and home prices escalating at alarming rates. The Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision to raise interest rates 12 times since May 2022 has further exacerbated the cost-of-living crisis.

Public service salary caps have led to low wage growth, contributing to essential service shortages. Despite these challenges, the Government’s comprehensive expenditure review has redirected $13 billion of spend, aiming for a modest surplus by 2024-25 and the largest set of gross debt reduction measures in the State’s history.

The focus is now on increasing housing supply and improving infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, and public transport, without resorting to privatisation.

Key Budget Highlights

Public Sector:

  • $3.6 billion for the establishment of an Essential Services Fund to address critical staff vacancies across the public sector including a 4.5% pay increase for more than 400,000 public sector employees.

Health:

  • $2.5 billion to recruit and retain healthcare workers. Including $419.1 million for an additional 1,200 nurses and $572.3 million to make 1,112 nurse and midwife positions permanent.
  • $13.8 billion for new and upgraded health facilities including:
    • 600 new beds in Western Sydney Hospitals.
    • $120 million for expansion of Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospital to increase bed capacity.
    • $190 million for upgrades to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
    • $350 million to expand Canterbury Hospital and upgrade existing infrastructure.
    • $550 million for expansion of Fairfield Hospital to deliver more beds, increase capacity of the emergency and critical care services, and expand other hospital and community health services.
    • An additional $400 million to build the new $700 million Rouse Hill Hospital with additional services.
    • $1.3 billion to rebuild Bankstown Hospital on a new site to meet growing needs of the community.
  • $3.8 billion will be allocated for new and upgraded health facilities in regional areas including:
  • $7.5 million for the Milton Ulladulla Hospital and upgrades to the Community Cancer Service Centre.
  • $200 million for the Bathurst Hospital redevelopment.
  • $538 million for Albury Wodonga Regional Hospital.
  • $100 million for increasing women’s access to essential healthcare services including:
    $34.3 million to support 20 women’s healthcare centres.
  • $52.7 million will fund 48 new Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners and forensic staff.
  • $18.6 million to fund 29 new and 8 existing breast care nurses.
  • $7.3 million to support pharmacists to treat uncomplicated urinary tract infections and prescribe the contraceptive pill.

Education:

  • $3.5 billion for 24 new and 51 upgraded schools in Western Sydney
  • $1.4 billion for 19 new and 35 upgraded schools in regional areas
  • $278.4 million is allocated for permanent literacy and numeracy tutoring programs in schools.
  • $1.6 billion for preschool fee relief and an expanded affordable preschool program.
  • $849 million invested in early childhood education and care (ECEC) services including new preschools on public school sites, new and upgraded non-government preschools and support for not-for profit ECEC services in high demand areas.

Housing and Planning:

  • The government has allocated $2.2 billion for their Housing and Infrastructure Plan. The funding breakdown of this plan includes:
  • $1.5 billion to be spent on housing related infrastructure from revised developer contributions.
  • $400 million reserved within Restart NSW for the Housing Infrastructure Fund which will enable the delivery of high priority infrastructure projects and unlock housing across the state. $100 million specifically focused on regional areas.
  • $300 million for state-owned developer ‘Landcom’ to deliver 1,409 affordable homes and 3,288 market homes by 2039-40, with 30 per cent for affordable housing.
  • $70.0 million interest-free debt financing for NSW Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC) to accelerate the delivery of social, affordable and private homes primarily in regional New South Wales.
  • An additional $9.1 million has also been allocated to assess housing supply opportunities across government-owned sites, with 30 per cent of surplus government land to be set aside for social, affordable and universal housing.
  • Creation of a new government agency, Homes NSW, to improve outcomes for public and social housing tenants and reduce homelessness. This agency brings together the Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC), the Aboriginal Housing Office (AHO) and the Department of Communities Justice (DCJ) housing and homelessness functions to put services under one roof with people at the centre.
  • $24 million for the establishment of the NSW Building Commission to regulate against buildings which do not meet housing standards and overall support of higher quality housing.
  • The formation of a NSW Rental Commissioner which will be responsible for the implementation of a Portable Rental Bonds Scheme and legislating reasonable grounds for ending a lease, offering greater protection for renters.
  • An increase of 1500 social housing dwellings over the next four years through the $610.1 million Commonwealth Social Housing Accelerator Program.
  • $224 million for social housing agencies and homelessness services to accelerate the delivery of social, affordable, and private homes in both metropolitan and regional areas, and to provide housing services for First Nations households.
  • $60 million for Build-to-Rent trials in the South Coast and Northern Rivers regions.

Energy:

  • $263 million to increase electric vehicle uptake in NSW, with a new NSW EV Strategy prioritising charging infrastructure in regional and metropolitan areas.
  • $1 billion to establish an Energy Security Corporation, which will invest in storage and firming projects like pumped hydro and address gaps in the market.
  • $804 million for Transmission Acceleration Facility, to connect Renewable Energy Zones to the grid sooner.
  • Along with the Commonwealth Government, $1.3 billion to provide energy rebates and targeted energy bill relief to up to 1.6 million eligible households and around 300,000 eligible small businesses.
  • $480 million to increase NSW’s manufacturing capacity and capability for delivering critical components of the state’s emerging renewable energy sector.

Transport & Infrastructure:

  • $7.9 billion over four years to deliver the Sydney Metro to Western Sydney Airport, with six new stations to service the future Western Sydney International Airport.
  • $302.7 million reserved for a Western Sydney Rapid Bus network to connect the communities of Penrith, Liverpool, Campbelltown to the future Western Sydney International Airport.
  • $300 million to upgrade train station car parks and make stations more accessible through the installation of new lifts, ramps and footbridges.
  • $200 million reserved to expedite the planning for the procurement, construction and delivery of Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 for Western Sydney.
  • $71.1 million to return Freshwater Class ferries to the Circular Quay-Manly route.
  • $43 million for seven new Australian-made Parramatta River Class ferries.
  • $15.8 million for Transport for NSW to invest in the Public Transport Information and Priority System to improve real time bus tracking for passengers.
  • $60 million in additional investment for active transport infrastructure.
  • Introducing a $60 weekly toll cap for private motorists and a 33% reduction in the truck toll multiplier on specific routes.
Sir Angus Houston

When the Generals talk

When the Generals talk

You might have been confused last week when breakfast radio reported Australia’s top soldier, General Angus Houston, was warning that the greatest existential threat facing the country is “truth decay”.

It was early morning and images of dentists abandoning their BMWs and Mercs and racing to the battlements rushed through my own brain fog as I walked the dog through Sydney’s smoke haze.

Then the takeaway coffee hit and I realised it’s only just spring and most dentists are still on holiday in Europe.

While my aversion to drills remains firmly intact, General Houston was talking about Artificial Intelligence and how it’s bringing a new level of fakery to the imagery and messages that we consume through digital channels.

The key quote for those not glued to the radio news was: “This tech future may accelerate truth decay, greatly challenging the quality of what we call public ‘common sense’, seriously damaging public confidence in elected officials and undermining the trust that binds us.”

Without getting too post-modernist, one person’s truth has always been someone else’s virtual reality. Bending the truth didn’t start with AI. The technology has been with us for a few years. It is getting better.

The General was describing a new, more sophisticated way of spreading misinformation that’s driven by nation states and is more potent because it has the ability to reach large numbers of people in a very short space of time.

Closer to home, dealing with an online booking agency for a change to a ticket for a pending overseas trip had me asking if I was talking with a human or a bot. (The answer was a robotic version of the former but it was hard to tell.)

Our regulators have a lot of catching up to do regarding what rules and regulations they put in place to moderate the use of AI. The Ethics Principles for AI that the New South Wales Government has put in place by its departments is a great start.

Image Credit: RAAF

It was a super Saturday but the NSW by-election results will count for little

It was a super Saturday but the NSW by-election results will count for little

A summary of the results from the February 12 by-elections following distribution of preferences:

Bega: The ALP’s Dr Michael Holland has won the seat vacated by Andrew Constance from Liberal Fiona Kotvjos following a 12% swing
Monaro: The Nationals’ Nicole Overall has retained the seat vacated by John Barilaro but Labor candidate Bryce Wilson picked up a 6.4% swing
Strathfield: Labor’s Jason Yat-Sen Li has held Jodi McKay’s seat, fighting off Liberal challenger Bridget Sakr but suffering a slight 0.6% swing
Willoughby: Liberal Tim James has retained Glady Berejiklian’s former seat for his party against Labor’s Larissa Penn, resisting a 17.7% swing away.

While the loss of Bega to Labor has pushed Dominic Perrottet’s Coalition further into minority government, the result wasn’t entirely unexpected.

Since coming to office, the NSW Coalition has suffered massive swings in by-elections and these can be interpreted as corrections to big margins achieved at the 2011 and 2015 elections. Its one positive result was in the Upper Hunter by-election in May 2021.

The so-called Super Saturday of polls were held against a background of a new Premier having made the mistake of rolling back COVID restrictions too hard and too fast pre-Christmas before the impact of the Omicron variant had subsided and having to walk back his decision.

There was also a sense that despite new faces at the top, this is a government that is tiring in contrast to an Opposition that is becoming competitive.

The net result of the Government losing one seat is that It will be a little keener to negotiate with the cross bench to manage the passage of legislation.

Most mid-term by-elections are a lot like pre-season football trial matches The win by Liberal Tim James in Willoughby comes after postal votes brought him back from the brink, but it will be a vague memory by the time the Coalition faces its grand final at the March 2023 poll.

And on the Opposition benches, Labor’s inability to get good traction in Strathfield was a letdown.

These by-elections were all prompted by resignations. Departing local members usually take away a degree of support for the incumbent party due to their personal following.

That was certainly the case with the departure of Premier Gladys Berejiklian following her difficulties at ICAC. Willoughby was held on a 21.0% margin.

The by-election in Bega (LIB 6.9%) was brought about by the departure of former Transport Minister Andrew Constance to contest Eden Monaro in the forthcoming Federal election.

Former Deputy Premier and Nationals leader John Barilaro triggered the vote in Monaro (National Party 11.6%) by retiring, and former Labor leader Jodi McKay’s decision to quit after being deposed from Labor’s top job put Strathfield (ALP 5.0%) into play.

The notable aspect in all four seats was the strong reliance on local candidates and local issues. Perrottet was nowhere to be seen on Coalition election material.

In Willoughby, Tim James was seen as a blow-in by some electors – despite growing up in the area. Whether James being a white male following a woman with an Armenian surname had a big impact on his result is highly debatable. In the end, Willoughby voters gave the Government a clip around the ears without hitting it too hard.

In Bega, voters chose a high-profile Labor candidate over a less-known Liberal who was seeking to replace a high-profile local member.

Health was a hot local issue. Labor’s successful candidate, Dr Michael Holland, was an obstetrician with the Southern NSW Local Health District. He created his own headlines in November last year when he resigned his position after telling a Parliamentary inquiry that the Moruya maternity unit was “unsafe”.

In Monaro, Nichole Overall is the first woman to be elected to represent the seat and has a good local profile, partly because she is married to a former mayor of Queanbeyan.

In Strathfield, previously unsuccessful Labor candidate Jason Yat-sen Li won the seat despite claims he had been the subject of a racist undercurrent stemming from the Federal Government’s anti-Chinese Communist Party stance.

A former candidate for the nearby Federal seat of Bennelong, he faced a strong opponent in Liberal Bridget Sakr and his primary vote was eroded by The Greens and independent Elisabeth Farrelly, a former newspaper columnist.

It is hard to read much from any of the results into the looming Federal election. Strathfield, for example, overlaps the Federal seat of Reid but includes many of its strongest ALP polling booths.

The overall results are consistent with the most recent Federal Essential poll that gave Labor a slender one-point lead after preferences, which is much closer than the last Newspoll at the end of February giving Labor a 55-45 2PP lead.

What is notable is that 42% of voters across the four seats choose to lodge a pre-poll or postal vote which was in line with the 2019 Federal election. Every elector was sent a pre-poll form as an anti- COVID measure, and the highest rate of early voting was in Bega (50.7%).

74% of CISOs Would Pay a Premium to Work With Thought Leaders

74% of CISOs Would Pay a Premium to Work With Thought Leaders

Research uncovers the importance of thought leadership influencing cybersecurity buying decisions

Security PR network, Code Red, released its global research report into the value of thought leadership – showing 74 per cent of Chief Information Security Officer’s (CISO) would pay a premium to work with cybersecurity vendors they regard as thought leaders.

Findings reveal that thought leadership plays a fundamental role in a CISO’s procurement choices with 97 per cent using thought leadership content at different stages of the buying decision process and 43 per cent when making a final decision on appointing a cybersecurity company.

Thought leadership is paramount even after a deal has been struck, with 35 per cent of CISOs increasing their business with an existing supplier because of strong thought leadership.

Trust is central to the way CISOs access thought leadership and make decisions. Three key means of obtaining trusted content that was clear was including independent research using keywords, reviewing content by networks of trust (friends, family, and colleagues), and reading trusted trade media publications.

Assumed methods for sourcing content such as paid advertising and direct EDMs ranked lower, while the way CISOs consume thought leadership content is shifting due to COVID-19, with 71 per cent preferring videos and webinars.

As the industry continues to shift and machine learning and data analytics continue to rise, it comes as no surprise that 28 per cent of Australian and New Zealand IT professionals ranked Artificial Intelligence (AI) as the most popular topic for decision makers.

Elaine Banoub, Technology Director at Primary Communication, Code Red’s Australian Partner said the speed at which cyberthreats continues to evolve has made it clear that cybersecurity is no longer an IT issue, but a business one.

“With the constantly changing threat landscape, it is critical that businesses have access to strategic cyber threat intelligence to be able to properly manage a risk. Technology disruption, regulations and cyber-threats are rapidly evolving in the cybersecurity sector, and CISOs are looking at experts in the field to provide valuable insights, opinion, and interpretation.”

Companies investing in long-term visionary thinking and discussion will gain an important competitive advantage, while building value for stakeholders in their own business. This new research provides invaluable insight into the minds of CISOs, that if used correctly can lead to an increase in engagement and sales for cybersecurity and technology companies.

PR professionals and cyber marketers need to improve the quality of their industry commentary and technology forecasting and deliver the content on the right platform for the audience,” added Ms Banoub. 

Other key findings from the 2021 Code Red Global Research Report include:

  • The top three places cyber professionals source thought leadership content are IT and cyber security trade media publications (54 per cent), direct keyword search online (46 per cent) and content shared by friends and networks on social media (31 per cent). The assumed marketing avenues of social media ads, online ads and EDM are bottom three sources.
  • 55 per cent of cybersecurity professionals spend 1-3 hours a week consuming thought leadership content.
  • Video (43 per cent) and webinars (38 per cent) as preferred formats for thought leadership content are on the rise, but trade media articles remain on top.
  • Network security (23 percent) was the most popular cybersecurity thought leadership topic, 21 per cent, opted for cloud security and cyber security software and services, while 18 per cent were more interested in AI and machine learning.

Code Red commissioned the report of 819 IT security decision makers from companies across 10 countries, including Australia. See the full report here.

 

Light Bulb

Beyond buzz words. What do creativity and innovation mean in practice?

The past year definitely put a spanner in the works for how we create. Catching up in person became impossible and most businesses went through sudden change (including a shift to digital), as well as internal restructures. Many employers and employees stepped into the unfamiliar, and navigating uncertainty became a daily occurrence. Despite this, adversity led to rapid problem solving and innovation across the globe – from newly set up online community help seeking platforms, to virtual town halls.

At Primary, we faced all these challenges internally, while supporting clients to strategise, design and deliver key creative projects. How did we do this?

We had a chat to some of our account directors about what creativity and innovation mean across the areas of support Primary provide to clients. Here’s what they had to say.

Community Engagement

Chris Downy
Executive Director, Primary Engage

Conversation is the birthplace of creativity.

Our program design always starts at the objective each client is seeking to achieve. We then map out the issues landscape and identify strategic options to achieve the desired outcome – essentially developing a community engagement strategy is problem solving at its finest.

The key ingredient to successful engagement is understanding your audience (their pleasures and pain points) and connecting with them in creative and meaningful ways. Talking and listening to the people most affected by the client’s project (grassroots engagement) provides invaluable insights into improving existing products or developing new products. In the past year technology became an important tool in communicating with audiences and led to innovative engagement – the use of virtual town halls being one example.

Public Relations

Elaine Banoub
Senior Account Director, Primary Communication

Creativity is the secret sauce for any successful PR campaign. A creative approach & strategy can help cut through the noise, add new perspectives, and can really bring home your message to the right audience.  A creative and relevant campaign will keep your audience captivated and provide the outcome you are looking for if executed correctly. Take for instance, the Black Lives Matter campaign that went viral globally. In addition to people supporting the cause in public spaces and conversations, the movement dominated social media to shine the spotlight on the matter.

We were all challenged last year with the restrictions imposed by the pandemic. Events were cancelled, and individuals were forced to work remotely in lieu of social distancing. While this has been an extremely challenging period for many, it’s provided businesses and individuals with a chance to step back and reconsider their programs and their go-to-market strategy.

At Primary, we approach every brief received with a brainstorm session that involves the entire team. No idea is a bad idea, and some of our best campaigns last year, despite the challenges, resulted from our initial virtual brainstorm session, which included a healthy mix of creative input and strategic approaches.

Design

Lincoln Graham
Creative Director, Primary Create

I’m a firm believer that the key to creative success is simplicity and that’s why it’s often so difficult. In fact, the difficulties we faced over 2020 in many ways paved a way for a more simplified and streamlined approach, delivering new efficiencies and greater effectiveness. We were able to work with clients in a more collaborative manner from the outset, in setting strategy, building briefs and executing creative. Our clients became part of the creative process in more ways than one, offering their own services, using their own channels and often featuring in their own campaign assets.

Internal

Chris Hall
CEO, Primary

Pre 2020 we wouldn’t have conceived of a future of work away from the office. In 2020 we all worked from home which presented some challenges, but it didn’t stop us committing our energy and imagination to solving challenges for our clients. In March last year we began daily hacks dedicated to finding client solutions in a viral world without face-to-face connection. This grew into virtual workshops for clients spanning home offices, living rooms and bedrooms with some of Australia’s biggest companies and departments facing unprecedented challenges. Through thorough preparation we unleashed a wave of creativity collaborating with clients talking into webcams harnessing ideas and delivering real outcomes.

Do you have an idea that you want to bring to life? Get in touch with our team.

Real stories create real impact: A case study

Real stories create real impact: A case study

15,000 women experience homelessness each year in NSW alone. But many wouldn’t know this, because women’s homelessness is invisible.

On International Women’s Day 2021, Blur Projects and Women’s Electoral Lobby Australia launched UNSEEN – a collaborative arts project situated in Sydney’s CBD sharing the hidden experiences of some of those thousands of women who live without a home.

Primary provided pro bono media relations support to represent the truth of women’s diverse experiences, increase public understanding of the issue and drive change. This included the development of key messages, media release, talent coaching, briefings, pitching of exclusive content and interview arrangement.

The result? A feature placement on 9news.com.au, which was the second most read article of the day with a potential reach of more than 8 million people. Real stories make real impact.

To find out more about UNSEEN or get involved, visit: www.unseen.house 

The Wonderful Women in Our Lives

The Wonderful Women in Our Lives

Women lead on a global, national and personal level.

At Primary, we are lucky to be surrounded by incredible women in our workplace and personal lives. So, we’re celebrating by sharing a bit about the women who make a difference in our lives.  

Bernadette: “My incredible mother is my inspiration and life coach. Juggling motherhood and a career whilst making time for herself, family and friends; she taught me a woman can do anything she sets her mind to.”

Mia: “My colleague Mary-Anne is one of my greatest mentors and I wouldn’t be where I am today without her kindness, support and great advice. She pushes me to succeed and motivates me to not only work hard but to always believe in myself. Her intelligence and work ethic inspires me every day.”

Elaine: “Both my mother and mother-in-law inspire me every day. They are both carers in their roles and despite various challenges, they are always positive. They teach me every day to be strong, especially in tough times and to stand up for what I believe in.”

Liz: “Thank god for sisters! I have two older sisters who shower me with love, support and empowerment every single day, always without judgement! For 3 women from the same family, we couldn’t be more different…yet the same. Striving to be the best version of ourselves every single day & learning from each other as we go.”

Frank: “My mamma. A book of adjectives does not do her justice but let’s go with the most intelligent, kind, giving, gentle and yet strong woman whose insights have helped make me a better version of myself and whom, no matter what the time of day, will whip up a pasta dish for you (including lasagne like you have never tasted).

Renee: “Mary Jackson, NASA’s first female black engineer. As one of few women to enter Aeronautical Engineering in the 1950s, Mary had to not only contend with rampant sexism, but also racism in a then-segregated society. Mary demonstrated that it was both possible to break through the glass ceiling, and help remove the ceiling as well for future generations. In her 27-year tenure at NASA, she worked tirelessly to change the organisation’s culture to encourage and inspire the next generation of female engineers.”

Mary-Anne: “I am inspired by the women at Primary. Each and every one has enriched my days in one way or another; whether it’s professional or personal advice, mentoring, or collaboration/support on a project. I feel that the level of care and support that each one shows daily is inspirational and contributes to the whole team.”

Chris: “My wife is amazing. As the mother of three young children, she is the centrepiece of our family and somehow finds time to hold down a big job. She inspires us all to be better.”

Cora: “My sister Therese. She taught me that life is for exploring, living, challenging yourself and to always try new things. Don’t limit yourself. The world is your oyster. Be brave enough to go after what you want.”

Danielle: “My mum is my rock. The past year has been a tough one, so much uncertainty and forever changing plans, but having my Mum as a sounding board created a sense of calm in the chaos. I like to think her resilience is rubbing off on me, and her humour.”

Annabelle: “A moment in time from Sheila Swaine, chairman of my uni (Mitchell CAE) in the 1980s which I often quote. “Chairman is a position described in law. I doubt anyone will confuse me for a man or a piece of furniture.  I am the Chairman of Mitchell CAE.””

Primary gets behind Barcelona Principles 3.0

Primary gets behind Barcelona Principles 3.0

 Our team is committed to educating clients and staff on the Barcelona Principles, an industry-wide framework for PR professionals established by the International Association of Measurement and Evaluation in Communications (AMEC) in 2010. 

The latest 3.0 iteration of the Barcelona Principles released in 2020, reflects some important updates that address the evolving nature of the communication industry. 

Primary is pledging its support as an official supporter of the Public Relations Institute of Australia’s Barcelona Principles 3.0 program, which we believe is an important reminder for the industry to continue striving for excellence in measurement and evaluation. 

Every month, we will take a deep dive on different aspects of the Barcelona Principles 3.0. 

An important step is to become familiar with the 7 Principles:

  1. Setting goals is an absolute prerequisite to communications planning, measurement and evaluation
  2. Measurement and evaluation should identify outputs, outcomes and potential impact
  3. Outcomes and impact should be identified for stakeholders, society and the organisation
  4. Communication measurement and evaluation should include both qualitative and quantitative analysis
  5. AVEs are not the value of communication
  6. Holistic communication measurement and evaluation includes all relevant online and offline channels
  7. Communication measurement and evaluation are rooted in integrity and transparency to drive learning and insights

Check out the PRIA’s Measurement and Evaluation Library for everything you need to know about the Barcelona Principles 3.0 here

Kickstarting 2021 by Making Time for our Mental Health and Wellbeing

Kickstarting 2021 by Making Time for our Mental Health and Wellbeing

2020 was undeniably one of the most challenging years for everyone. Home, work and learning life, as we knew it, was flipped on its head. Pivoting, connection and digital were words frequently in the spotlight as the world tried to understand and navigate sudden change. Underpinning this came a new sense of awareness and increased conversation about how our mental health is interconnected and integral to our overall wellbeing.

Nearly 78% of Australians said their mental health had worsened since COVID-19 and nearly 60% said mental health concerns had impacted their productivity in the past year.

What was life like at Primary in 2020?

At Primary we completely shifted the way we worked; from regular face-to-face meetings with clients and the team (including our beloved brainstorm sessions), to going completely remote (where Zoom fatigue became a real thing). 

With this change came initial fear, doubt, confusion, and stress. The reality of the quick shift looked different for everyone – some were managing little ones at home, others were sharing workspace with roommates, and the occasional lucky person appeared to be attending a meeting from Hawaii (thanks to Zoom backgrounds).

It also brought something special, a keenness to stay connected and an alertness to each other’s mental wellbeing. One of the greatest things we implemented were morning catch ups where we got to see one another’s faces, hear about everyone’s projects, and have a laugh.

And now?
We have returned to work in 2021 feeling refreshed and energised, but also conscious of the still present and lingering uncertainty around what the future holds for home, work and learning environments. 

Towards the end of last year, we were lucky enough to work alongside the National Mental Health Commission and people living with mental illness, to develop an online community-led initiative encouraging all Australians to prioritise their mental health during summer by #MakingTime for things that matter to them. 

During the development of this initiative, the Commission had conversations with people experiencing mental illness and those who care for them about their challenges over the past year and what has helped them through. What did we find? Everyone’s experience has been different, and so too is what helps them get through, but what they make time for matters and can positively impact their mental wellbeing.

Working alongside leading organisations on pivotal initiatives provides the opportunity for our team to look within. Based on our learnings from last year and our desire to thrive personally and professionally, here is what the Primary team is #MakingTime for to support our mental wellbeing in 2021:

  • Conversation: the morning team catch ups continue, but teams are also heading into the office once a week so we can chat over lunch together.
  • Creativity: encouraging one another to try new things and pursue passions. If 2020 taught us anything it is that trying something new can result in hidden gems and talents.
  • Celebration: sometimes we can move quickly onto the next thing without recognising the time, effort and success of our work. We are making a conscious effort to recognise the amazing work our team does, even if it results in blushing!

What are you, your workplace and your family making time for this summer?

The Commission is encouraging people to share what they are making time for with the rest of Australia, so together we can inspire and support one another in difficult moments. You can get involved and find out more by visiting www.nmhcmakingtime.com.au

 

By Danielle Cuthbert, Primary Communication

The Australian Hydrogen Conference

Hydrogen – the silver bullet in Australia’s future energy mix

It has been a big week for hydrogen in Australia. 

Starting off with the launch of Australia’s first hydrogen conference with more than 60 speakers from across the globe including the Hon. Angus Taylor MP and Australia’s Chief Scientist, Dr. Alan Finkel; and boosted mid-week with Prime Minister, Scott Morrison highlighting Australia’s hydrogen export potential in a meeting with new Japanese Prime Minister, Yoshihide Suga.  

With the Australian Hydrogen Council wrapping up its conference today, the message is being heard loud and clear. Hydrogen will be an essential part of Australia’s future energy mix and has a unique combination of advantages to influence and drive the global hydrogen economy. 

The conference heard from an array of international hydrogen experts from Germany, France, Korea, New Zealand and the United States. 

With many of Australia’s international trading partners moving to net zero emissions, hydrogen presents an opportunity for Australia to capitalise on its wind and solar capacity, its existing trading relationships and technical expertise. 

The aim of the conference was for the industry to collaborate, share information and develop relationships at this crucial stage in the green hydrogen industry. 

How do we understand policies, educate communities and crack the nut of this pre commercial phase?

Bringing down cost for large scale deployment has been a theme running through the conference and the Australian Hydrogen Council has called for a 2030 target date for Australia to reach its H2 under $2 target.

Congratulations to the Australian Hydrogen Council and everyone involved in making it a success. We are delighted to have been a part of it.