Yesterday I won my 11 month battle with the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme). It was only a small win, but highlights the lack of empathy and bloody-mindedness of those charged with administering the scheme. This was an incredible waste of government time and money, when one considers that the cost that NDIS was trying … Continue reading I won my 11 month fight with the NDIS
Category: Social Issues
Teaching Aboriginal street kids in Rockhampton
Another learning experience I had was in 2001, teaching Aboriginal street kids in Rockhampton. I came to learn the problems these kids faced, and their genuine desire to overcome these problems. This was shortly after I had left Woorabinda Aboriginal Community, where I was running the TAFE at the local high school, and at the … Continue reading Teaching Aboriginal street kids in Rockhampton
There’s no town like Alice – or is there?
There can be no doubt that the problems in Alice Springs are extreme, to say the least, but similar problems exist on Indigenous, remote and rural communities right throughout Australia. Nor is the problem confined to Indigenous people. It is happening right across the community. Alice Springs has come to the forefront in recent times … Continue reading There’s no town like Alice – or is there?
Poverty in Australia
Poverty in Australia is a growing concern as it affects more and more people every year. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, over 3.2 million Australians, or approximately 13.5%, are living in poverty, meaning that they live on less than 50% of the median income. This means that more than one in eight Australians … Continue reading Poverty in Australia
Universal Basic Income in Australia
Over the years, Australia just like other developed countries have been thinking of introducing a universal basic income (UBI). But what is it, and what are the arguments for and against? A UBI is a form of income that is offered by the government to its citizens with disregard to their employment status. This form … Continue reading Universal Basic Income in Australia
The problems with the NDIS
Now in its fourth year of implementation, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is an Australian Government initiative providing funding for disability support and services. This insurance-based scheme is designed to provide people with a significant and permanent disability with the necessary and reasonable support they require to enjoy an ordinary lifestyle. While the NDIS … Continue reading The problems with the NDIS
My first story in Big Issue Magazine (2006)
This was my very first story published in Big Issue Magazine as part of a regular fortnightly series back in 2006. Big Issue employed me with money they received from Sarina Russo and The Vodafone Foundation. Dear Mum, Sorry I haven’t written for a while. Okay, so it’s been three years. This is just a … Continue reading My first story in Big Issue Magazine (2006)
Australia Day or Invasion Day?
A nation's national day of celebration is meant to unite a country, but in recent years that has not been the case in Australia. So is it time to change the date we celebrate our national day? The date of 26 January has always been controversial as our national day of celebration, even though it … Continue reading Australia Day or Invasion Day?
My jump from prison officer to social justice campaigner
One thing I learnt in my time as a prison officer is that there is no such thing as the justice system, and we should stop referring to it as such. It is the judicial system, run by judges and with little concern for victims or offenders. My jump to social justice campaigner started with … Continue reading My jump from prison officer to social justice campaigner
Centrelink needs to be broken up
Centrelink is a totally dysfunctional organisation, due in large part to the fact that it has become too big to be able to function efficiently or effectively. They administer all forms of benefit payments, and the call centre staff rarely know the answers to an enquiry when they are called. That is, if one can … Continue reading Centrelink needs to be broken up
Life as a white man on an Aboriginal community
Back in the year 2000, I was honoured to be invited to live and work on the Aboriginal community of Woorabinda, 170 km south west of Rockhampton in Central Queensland. Woorabinda had a population of about 3000 then, and there were only 21 non-Indigenous people living on the community. I was employed by the local … Continue reading Life as a white man on an Aboriginal community
Bring back the CES (Commonwealth Employment Service)
Job Services Australia, or Workforce Australia as it is now called, has failed to live up to the promises the Howard government made when they introduced it in 1998. Originally known as the Job Network, it has devolved into a giant money making venture by about 30 multinational organisations, and offers few tangible services to … Continue reading Bring back the CES (Commonwealth Employment Service)
Churches are businesses and should pay tax
It is difficult to know how much revenue churches make in Australia each year, but some estimates put it at $40 billion dollars, all tax free. This means Australia is missing out on about $10 billion dollars a year in taxes. Not just corporate tax, but also income tax, GST, payroll tax, council rates, land … Continue reading Churches are businesses and should pay tax
My first venture into social justice: Australians for Reconciliation
My first venture into social justice was an eye opener, and I spent six weeks in gaol for my efforts. After having worked in Goulburn Prison for three years, as a prison officer, I became concerned at the disproportionate number of Indigenous people in gaol compared to the mainstream population. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander … Continue reading My first venture into social justice: Australians for Reconciliation
Centrelink’s war on people with disabilities
One thing people with disabilities dread hearing is when Centrelink tells them they are not disabled enough., but it is something they hear all too frequently. Disability can take many forms: it can be intellectual, mental illness, physical or sensory. One can be born with it or acquire it later in life. It doesn't discriminate … Continue reading Centrelink’s war on people with disabilities
My first interview on 7 News about Centrelink
Protest The Protect IP Act
Below is a message from WordPress, about the Internet Censorship Bill: Many websites are blacked out today to protest proposed U.S. legislation that threatens internet freedom: the Stop Internet Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect IP Act (PIPA). From personal blogs to giants like WordPress and Wikipedia, sites all over the web — including this … Continue reading Protest The Protect IP Act
New Format For YouTube
In December 2011 after spending a $100 million in redesign, YouTube launched it's new Google centred design. The new avatar is not about ‘you and me’ on the popular user generated video site anymore, but is an amalgamation of poor and limited content from 100 odd ‘Google You Tube partners’ from Disney to Jay Z’s … Continue reading New Format For YouTube
Community Art Improves Society
Community-based art is creative expression that emerges from communities of people working together to improve their individual and collective circumstances. Community-based art involves a wide range of social contexts and definitions, and includes an understanding of "communities" that includes not only geographical places, but also groups of people identified with historical or ethnic traditions, or … Continue reading Community Art Improves Society
Three Million Dollars Funding For Homeless Older Australians
The Acting Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot have announced a $3 million grant to Wintringham, a Melbourne-based organisation that provides affordable housing and support services to frail, elderly homeless people. The $3 million grant will expand the service by assisting with the construction of a 60-place residential aged care facility … Continue reading Three Million Dollars Funding For Homeless Older Australians
Australian Socceroos Stars Support Homeless World Cup
Australia’s ‘Socceroos’ have thrown their support behind the sixth annual Homeless World Cup, which started on Monday in Melbourne. They urge everyone to show support for the unsung heroes of this life-changing event. The Homeless World Cup is a world-class international football tournament that has triggered and supports grass roots football programmes in over 60 … Continue reading Australian Socceroos Stars Support Homeless World Cup
Australia Internet Censorship and Sedition Laws
Australia is set to introduce compulsory internet censorship, supposedly to control access to anorexia and bulimia sites. It would appear only a matter of time before it is expanded to incorporate the new sedition laws, introduced in 2005. Governments around the world and throughout history have always used a softening approach to introduce controversial, unconstitutional … Continue reading Australia Internet Censorship and Sedition Laws
Barack Obama May Not Be The Antichrist
There's a lot on the internet recently about Barack Obama supposedly being the Antichrist, including a post that claims nobody knows anything about his origins. While there may be real concerns about his past, much of what is being written seems to be deliberately misleading. Now I'm not American, but I did live in Hawaii … Continue reading Barack Obama May Not Be The Antichrist
Macedonia Ulica Magazine
In Macedonia, the Ulica magazine is a social venture for tackling poverty, with unemployed and homeless people selling the magazine on the streets. Ulica magazine primarily represents ideas of an open society at a relatively wide scope, and addresses issues of human rights, social issues, health and culture. It is a social magazine that combines … Continue reading Macedonia Ulica Magazine
Denmark: EU Declaration Against Homelessness
A majority of EU parliamentarians has signed a declaration stating that homelessness should be eradicated in Europe before 2015. But it seems that there is a long way from the promising words of a declaration to real action. Within seven years, homelessness in EU member states must be a thing of the past. That is … Continue reading Denmark: EU Declaration Against Homelessness
Craig Hill 