Australians are travelling towards an unknown future without a map. We have no agreed idea about where we are headed to or what we would prefer to become as a nation by 2030, 2040 or 2050. Nor do we have a clear picture of where we are starting from in the early 2020s. However, a new consolidated National Wellbeing Index is now being built to show the current facts of our social, environmental, economic and democratic wellbeing. The National Wellbeing Index is being developed and published in “Australia Together”, our nation’s first long term plan. See the Index at:  https://543a0e22-a7ba-40a3-aea3-cc0010263a7e.filesusr.com/ugd/2b062e_ffe3f64ced9345bfbc6de4410467924e.pdf

RightHear is an accessibility solution technology that gives blind, visually impaired, and orientation-challenged individuals the independence they deserve by providing them with tools to better orient themselves in public spaces.The app works in open and closed public spaces. If the user chose to use the app in indoor mode – the application extracts the information from the sensors installed in the place. If the user chose to use the app in outdoor mode – the application extracts the information from an open-source map. The app is free to download on Android and iOS https://www.right-hear.com

A multidisciplinary team has been awarded a grant to replicate spider silk, which has high strength and potential use in new products.Lead researcher Dr Sean Blamires from University of NSW’s Evolution & Ecology Research Centre said spider silk was stronger than steel or kevlar. “Tapping into its secrets could herald a revolution in manufacturing,” he said, with several high-performance materials possible, from ultra-tough ropes to prosthetics.“In this age of massive amounts of plastics pollution, the creation of spider silk materials using cutting edge genetic and spinning technologies would be of great interest to industry."https://www.aumanufacturing.com.au/secrets-in-spider-spider-silk-could-herald-a-revolution-in-manuf

Conscious-consumers take note.  Social Enterprise Council of NSW and ACT (SECNA) took their discussion about the future of social enterprises on an immersive tour to visit the social enterprises in the wild.Perhaps the we can reinvent the humble shopping tour to support retailers to do well and also do good?https://probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2021/05/all-aboard-the-sydney-social-enterprise-bus-tour/?

Kamilla Sitwell  saw the market changing. With her insights deeply rooted in market research, Kamilla began a voyage into the unknown - to produce the world's most customisable drink. Complete with eye-catching packaging design, Kamilla and her husband Vincent launched Kolibri Drinks. Grabbing headlines, and winning awards; with its exquisitely crafted botanical extracts and distillates, Kolibri captures the emerging mass market demand for premium non-alcoholic beverages, and customer preference for personalisation, with its award winning agave liqueur de dosage from the cap.Kolibri is truly a personification of profound market insights and the will and genius to meet them. 

"Are you in a wheelchair and looking for mobility parking?Are you a tradie and looking for the nearest loading zone? Are you going to the beach, and not sure whether to drive, risk parking, grab a ride share or public transport? Imagine tapping your screen and all of the available parking spots in NSW light up, along with availability, rates and payment options. Well… This is the future of parking in NSW".Victor Dominello MP - Minister for Digital and Customer Service NSW Government.