A united Australia seemed to emerge this year as the Matildas drew unprecedented support in the FIFA World Cup. Record crowds showed up and a collective buzz for women’s sport was felt throughout the country.
Matilda-mania is how the Scanlon Foundation Research Institute has referred to the nation’s excitement in their 2023 Australian Cohesion Index– a report bringing together multiple-sourced data to provide the nation’s most comprehensive understanding of the social landscape.
Independent writer and researcher Peter Mares explains in the report that “Matilda-mania shows how much our nation has changed and can change again; it shows that we are connected as citizens, and it is not a huge leap from there to common ground and common purpose beyond sport.”
“We dared to dream big for the Matildas and we should dare to dream big for our nation’s future too.”
Covering a period of 2008 to 2022, the report is structured around four interconnected themes: trust in society, belonging and engagement, economic material wellbeing and health and wellbeing.
The data highlights positive strides in overall health and levels of education attainment, while showing declines in trust for the federal government and sense of national pride and belonging over the past decade.
This decline in national pride and belonging is particularly evident among young adults and financially challenged individuals.
And amid the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, trust in the Federal Government initially increased but has declined since 2021. Trust in fellow citizens, however, has remained high throughout 2022.
Further data shows Australians are experiencing good health and longer life expectancies, with positive trends in wellbeing.
“Although mental health challenges and inequities still exist, overall we’ve observed positive trends in life expectancy and health with the majority of Australians rating their health as good if not very good or excellent, with less inclination to smoke or drink alcohol at dangerous levels than in past years,” said Anthea Hancocks, CEO of the Scanlon Foundation Research Institute.
Disproportionately affecting marginalised communities, mental health challenges were exacerbated by the pandemic as well. However, recognition and support for multiculturalism and diversity is growing.
“Similarly, despite the cost-of-living pressures and associated financial stress, the economy has continued to grow and we’ve seen high levels of educational attainment with an increase of 47 per cent since 2008 of adults with a university degree,” says Hancocks. “These are all positive indicators for our economic future.”
Despite financial pressures, the strong labour market has helped mitigate economic challenges, with data showing that economic growth is evident.
Within the report, expert commentary and qualitative interviews are provided to explain these findings and what it means for Australia’s social cohesion.
Hancocks said the insights serve as a guiding compass towards a more connected nation.
“The extensive analysis is designed to bridge our understanding of the link between social cohesion and overall collective wellbeing,” she said. “The results present an opportunity for leaders to be better informed when planning for the future to protect and foster Australia’s societal wellbeing.”