12.Imagining a care centred economy and culture to support improved citizen democracy by 2040

GUEST:Dr Millie Rooney, Executive Director of Australia reMADE

My wonderful guest today on Imagining 2040 is Dr Millie Rooney, Executive Director of Australia reMADE -  an organisation described as being an independent, non-profit, visionary alliance of leaders, thinkers, and practitioners dedicated to promoting a vision for a "best version of Australia". Australia reMADE acts as a community of practice that seeks to shift from simply fighting against existing, outdated systems to actively building new, fairer ones.

 Dr Rooney has a social science research background in community and social capital building and a keen interest in championing citizen inclusion to help create better forms of participatory democracy and politics. She has been present throughout the evolution of Australia reMADE as it has developed one of the most imaginative, values‑rich visions for this country’s future.

The organisation’s nine‑pillar framework — ranging from a First Peoples’ heart to a thriving democracy, from flourishing communities to a protected natural world —invites all citizens to pause, reflect, and picture the Australia we could become if we truly listened to what matters most for everyday people - and acted upon their concerns - assertively.

 The work of Australia reMADE offers us a compelling reminder that better, flourishing futures will not just happen by default. They must first be imagined and built together.

INTERVIEW TALKING POINT SEGMENTS FOR EACH GUEST  – with approximate time elapsed in minutes.

GENERIC INTRODUCTION – 0.00

GUEST FORESHADOWING COMMENTS – 0.35

EPISODE INTRODUCTION – 3.00

GUEST SELF INTRO AND WORK IN 2025 –5.44

IMAG EXERCISE 1 - TIME TRAVEL TO 2040 - 12.15

IMAG EXERCISE 2 - SIGNALS OF THE FUTURE IN 2025 –20.21

IMAG EXERCISE 3 - ASSERTIVE ACTION PLAN FOR 2025 – 34.55

GUEST WRAP UP COMMENTS – 39.35

HOST REFLECTION AND AUDIENCE INVITATION –46.04

END OF EPISODE – 52.25

SELECTED RESOURCES LINKED TO INTERVIEW COMMENTS

 INITIATIVES AND ORGANISATIONS

In Australia 

Australia reMADE the portal site of Dr Millie Rooney’s organisation. A rich portal site holding a range of information and links to community initiatives including their Reading Group

BOOKS OR ARTCLES MENTIONED

Pirate Care(2025)- also the associated website

Solidarity book review (2025)

Radical Abundance (2025) 

 CONCEPTS

Future theft- or stealing from the future – an imaginative way of framing the idea that over exploitation of present-day resources or restriction of democratic rights will limit the opportunities of future generations. Various books, articles and TV from 1998, 2006 and 2020.

 The Public Good –see the explanation of this concept provided by the Australia reMADE organisation

 Story theft – A form of propaganda, malinformation or disinformation which can result in the hijacking of community-led, progressive, or grassroots stories of development by powerful vested interests—such as corporations, state actors, or international organizations—who then r