The Voices of Australia podcast explores all things interesting about Australian society.
Join Anthea Hancocks, CEO of the Scanlon Foundation Research Institute, as she engages in thought-provoking conversations with experts in the field and influential community voices, shedding light on the intricacies of social cohesion in Australia.
Tune in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts as we uncover the stories that make Australia’s cohesion unique.
Scanlon Institute acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
Season 4 | Episode 8 - Social cohesion and the role of our neighbourhoods
In the final episode of Voices of Australia, host Anthea Hancocks speaks with Dr James O'Donnell, researcher at the Australian National University's School of Demography and lead investigator on the Scanlon Foundation Research Institute's Mapping Social Cohesion study.
Drawing on Australia's leading longitudinal research on social cohesion, Dr O'Donnell explores how neighbourhoods influence our sense of belonging, trust and connection. He discusses why local communities matter, how neighbourhood experiences differ across Australia, and what these insights reveal about the future of social cohesion.
In this episode:
• The role of neighbourhoods in social cohesion• Belonging, trust and community connection• Insights from the Mapping Social Cohesion study• Why local communities matter• Social cohesion across Australia• Building stronger and more connected neighbourhoods
Whether you're interested in social cohesion, community development, public policy, urban planning or Australian society, this episode offers valuable insights into how stronger neighbourhoods contribute to a stronger Australia.
13 Jul 2026
Season 4 | Episode 7 - Our place in the world Professor Alan Gamlen
How does migration shape Australia's place in the world? What role do citizenship, diaspora communities and international engagement play in Australia's national identity and social cohesion?
In this episode of Voices of Australia, host Anthea Hancocks speaks with Professor Alan Gamlen, Founding Director of the ANU Migration Hub at the Australian National University and one of Australia's leading experts on migration and global mobility.
Together they explore Australia's migration story within a changing international landscape, examining migration policy, citizenship, global connections and Australia's role in an increasingly interconnected world. The conversation also considers what these global shifts mean for belonging, identity and social cohesion in Australia.
Whether you're interested in migration, public policy, Australian politics or the future of multicultural Australia, this episode offers valuable insights into Australia's place in the world.
Guest: Professor Alan GamlenFounding Director, ANU Migration HubProfessor, School of Regulation and Global Governance (RegNet), Australian National University
6 Jul 2026
Season 4 | Episode 6 - The size and urbanisation of our demographics with Peter McDonald AO
Today’s guest is Professor Peter McDonald AO
One of the world’s most influential demographers and a leading expert on population policy, fertility, and migration.
He currently serves as an Honorary Professor of Demography at the University of Melbourne and Emeritus Professor at the Australian National University, while also acting as a Chief Investigator for the ARC Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research (CEPAR).
His work has shaped national and international thinking on population policy, fertility, and urbanisation, and he has advised governments and global institutions over several decades.
In this episode, we explore how population size and urbanisation are reshaping Australia, what these trends mean for everyday life, and how demographic change intersects with social cohesion and long-term planning.
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