The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has welcomed the release of the Australian Government’s new Wellbeing Framework.
The ‘Measuring What Matters’ framework is a set of over 50 indicators that will be used to measure progress on a range of issues affecting people’s everyday lives, including health, education, employment, and social inclusion.
It recognises the need for metrics beyond economic factors, and aims to reflects the issues that matter most to Australians.
The ACTU has indicated the framework would be a valuable tool to assess progress on the wellbeing of the Australian population.
“Improving the total quality of life of all Australians should be every government’s foundational purpose,” said ACTU Assistant Secretary Joseph Mitchell.
“The framework will be a tool which helps this and future governments achieve that purpose.”
Mitchell said the ACTU was particularly pleased the framework highlighted equity, inclusion, and fairness as fundamental to all of the indicators.
“The union movement strongly believes secure work, living wages, and time for leisure and recreation away from work, are fundamental for a prosperous society,” he said.
“We are pleased to see the wellbeing framework reflect these priorities in the choice of indicators.”
The framework is still in its early stages, but it has the potential to be a powerful tool for driving change. By focusing on areas such as equity, inclusion, and fairness, the framework can help to create a more just and prosperous society for all Australians.