Australian universities now find themselves in a precarious position. The government’s recent proposal to impose caps on the number of international students has sent shockwaves through the sector and has led to significant reductions in faculty budgets. This highlights the extent to which universities have become reliant on international students as a source of income and the way in which they view their students.

But beyond the question of funding and student cohort lie deeper questions about the future of the University in Australia. In this, the next of Big Ideas in the Pub series, we’ll explore a range of critical questions: What are the most pressing challenges for the future of universities in Australia? How vital is the university, not only for vocational training but for the broader future of society? And, perhaps most importantly, what is the true purpose of the university?

A one-day workshop to assist secondary school teachers to make conversation integral to the teaching and learning experience.

The tragedy unfolding in the War in Gaza is an issue of deep concern to many Australians. Thousands of people have taken to the streets to call for an end to the devastation and suffering, and it remains a source of tension on university campuses and in the workplace.

While the Australian government is very much under the spotlight, so too are many other institutions. There have been serious concerns raised about the media’s reporting of events, as well as the recent decisions of the Victorian State Library and Australian writers’ festivals for silencing pro-Palestinian voices. At the same time, many in the Jewish community are pointing to an alarming rise of antisemitism.

In this, the next of our Big Ideas in the Pub series, we look at how Australia - its government, as well as its public institutions and organizations - have been handling or mishandling the situation.

A panel discussion on Artificial Intelligence, considering:

• AI’s current impact on the workplace

• Thoughts about the ethical implications of AI’s current and potential impact on the workplace

• Lessons learned from history about large scale technology shifts

• Actions to take right now (regulation, governance, personal level)

• The most promising potential benefits of AI and what to do collectively to make this a reality

We usually associate conversation with the spoken word. In conversation we speak and hear others speak, face to face in the home, the office, the retail store, a coffee shop, the pub, the classroom, a workshop or a conference, or remotely via radio, television, podcast or digital media.

It’s so easy to say, but not so easy to do. To do any of this, let alone to do it well, requires the right frame of mind, a capacity for empathy, and a great many skills.

This is what we’re going to be working at in this initial workshop. We’ll do it in a convivial atmosphere, with drinks and finger food, brief presentations from melaying out the challenges and joys of conversation, time for QA, short videoclips, and especially time with several people primed to share with us theirstories and experiences.

A stimulating exhibition on nature, the cosmos, and deepening our connections, at at the Australian Centre for Moving Image.

After the exhibition, join us for a discussion upstairs to continue the dialogue on connections and the meaning of Marshmallow Laser Feast's exhibition.

Amidst the doom and gloom, there is still much to be hopeful about. In the next of our ‘Big Ideas in the Pub’ series, we will be joined by prolific Australian poet, playwright, essayist and reviewer, and human rights adviser, Angela Costi, who will share her insights on how collaborating and connecting with inspiring people and communities has given her the strength to continue along her own journey.

🎬 Anatomy of a Fall Screening Event! 🍿

Join us for a showing of the critically acclaimed film, "Anatomy of a Fall" (Original title: "Anatomie d'une chute"), directed by Justine Triet.

In a world where the impacts of climate change are clear, many still are looking for ways to address climate change with action on a personal, professional, and even global scale.

Join us for a discussion on how you can personally make changes to reduce CO2 emissions, and influence friends, governments and organisations.

We'll talk about the steps that can be taken to respond to climate change, both to mitigate and adapt

Coinciding with the Annual General Meeting, Conversation at the Crossroads will be hosting its first Annual Lecture, to be delivered by Joseph Camilleri OAM, Professor Emeritus, La Trobe University.

This promises to be a remarkable event that promises intellectual stimulation, lively discussions, and the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals. Conversation at the Crossroads is delighted to announce its Inaugural Annual Lecture, coinciding with our Annual General Meeting (AGM), on Sunday, October 22, 2023, from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm.Event Details:

Engage in thought-provoking discussions and foster awareness about the ethical challenges and potentials of artificial intelligence (AI). Discuss its potential for medicine, education, and industry and explore its ability to transform repetitive and dangerous tasks. Debate the risks of developing AI without ethical standards, the impact of unconscious bias on algorithms and the pitfalls of surveillance technology.

The peace of the region and the world beyond hangs in the balance. Joins us for an important discussion on the Palestinian catastrophe. Featuring a keynote address by The Hon Bob Carr and responses from Sophie McNeill and Rawan Arraf.

Today’s world is awash with misinformation and much of what passes for news is now viewed with suspicion, as having been subject to the manipulations of mass media elites or interest groups. Join us at the Clyde hotel in Carlton as we tackle the big questions on this issue with lively and enjoyable conversation.

Most mental health disorders begin between the early teens and the mid-20s. One in five young people will have experienced a depressive episode by the time they turn 18. To quote Professor McGorry: ‘Young people are the miner’s canaries of society. Their mental health had been deteriorating steadily for a decade before the pandemic, and now 39 per cent of 15-24-year-olds need some form of care for mental ill-health.

The upcoming referendum on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament will mark a pivotal moment in Australia’s history. But opinion is still divided on what the Voice will and should do.

What will happen if the Voice is voted in? And what will happen if it’s not?

Is justice for the First Nations of this land getting any closer? What exactly can the Voice to Parliament achieve? What can we expect between now and the referendum? And after the referendum? Voice First vs Treaty First – is the conflict real or artificial? How can we ensure a lively and constructive national conversation?

In 2013, the political theorist, John Keane, declared that democracy was at a “tipping point”. Since then, there have been worrying signs that democratic institutions are failing, and in some parts of the world, we are witnessing a resurgence of populism and despotism. So, how is democracy faring in Australia, and what does the future of democracy look like for us? Most significantly, what can we do to ensure that we maintain a vibrant and healthy democracy?

First published in 1964, Donald Horne’s The Lucky Country caused a sensation. The book was a wake-up call to an unimaginative nation, an indictment of a country mired in mediocre leadership and manacled to the past. Where do we stand 58 years later?

This project, by Conversation at the Crossroads, aims to build communities of people who are passionate about working towards a more positive future by coming together every few weeks in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

Will the Glasgow Summit usher in a just, free carbon economy? If not, what next? Will governments deliver on their promises? What if they don’t?

Richard Falk and Stuart Rees in conversation with Joseph Camilleri, discussing their new books, with guests Hilary Charlesworth, Punam Yadav, Hanan Ashrawi, Amin Saikal and Chandra Muzaffar.

The film documents the creation of Kelly’s monumental artwork “Peace or War/The Big Picture”. It is a tapestry of history and art, drawn from major artworks and photos from the defining conflicts of their times. This immense visual collage allows the audience to navigate through time and place, meeting survivors of these horrific moments in history and the artists who have created work commenting on these periods, some of which have become iconic.

Through Kelly’s drawings, the audience is transported to the concentration camps of the Third Reich, the bombing of Hiroshima, “the troubles” in Ireland, the race riots in the US and Pol Pot’s Year Zero. Interwoven with archival footage of these cataclysmic events, the audience is invited to visit anti-war and anti-gun demonstrations today, events that call for similar injustices to be stopped. The film is a parallel work to Kelly’s masterpiece, unfolding to create the ‘Big Picture’ in documentary form.

The current fight involving Facebook in Australia has led some to ask “Is the government more afraid of News Corp or Facebook?” These and other ugly manoeuvres beg the question: How do we see our digital future?

Big tech and governments are twin sources of authority over our digital lives, sometimes working in conflict, sometimes in cooperation. How do we reclaim power over the development of technology? What will it take to build a digital tomorrow that is humane and democratic?

Whatever the outcome of the US presidential election, one thing is clear—the US is a nation in crisis. Escalating tensions with China, a global pandemic and fracturing race relations suggest we are witnessing a turning point in American history.

But what does all this mean for Australia and the rest of the world? What will the world’s biggest superpower look like after the election and what are the implications for Australia?

The International Day of Peace is observed annually around the world on the 21st of September. The United Nations General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace.