Building the conditions for long-term governance
Our mission is to empower and equip Australian leaders to make decisions that safeguard the wellbeing of current and future generations.
Australia is bursting with untapped potential
Yet our capability to realise it too often falls short of our ambitions. Leaders across government, the public service and different sectors require more robust support, incentives and accountability structures to champion a long-term vision for Australia.
The energy and appetite for change is urgent, and we are building the networks, skills and momentum leaders need to act.
Building the conditions for long-term governance
Australia's capacity to govern for the long-term and safeguard the wellbeing of current and future generations depends on more than individual policies or political champions. It requires leaders equipped to think and act beyond immediate pressures, institutions capable of planning for the future and a public mandate that supports long-term decision-making.
What we mean by long-term governance
Long-term governance refers to the leadership, institutions and civic processes that help societies as a whole think beyond immediate political and economic pressures. It seeks to overcome the short-term incentives that can make it difficult to invest in upstream prevention, resilience, capability and long-term prosperity.
Effective long-term governance enables governments, businesses and communities to make decisions that remain valuable across generations and election cycles.
How we create change
Foundations for Tomorrow works to strengthen the conditions for long-term governance through three interconnected areas of work.
Building the authorising environment
After six years of listening to everyday Aussies, experts and parliamentarians, we understand that we need to build the conditions for long-term governance to be possible in Australia.
FFT is operating in a rapidly shifting civic and political landscape marked by long-term risk, declining trust and short-term decision-making incentives. Our role is not to prescribe outcomes, but to build the public mandate, civic capability and institutional confidence that make durable reform possible.
Our research and consideration of the multiple potential trajectories ahead for Australia has left us with the conviction of the need to identify and invest in the conditions within which we can accelerate Australia's progress towards more robust long-term governance. Long-term governance emerges when three conditions are strengthened together:
- Leadership: leaders who can think and act beyond short-term cycles.
- Institutional capability: institutions and sectors capable of thinking, planning and delivering over the long-term.
- Public mandate: citizens and communities that understand and support long-term thinking in governance.
Our generational vision and mission
Generational Vision, 2025–2050
A resilient, inclusive Australia where leaders and communities, across generations, backgrounds and regions, make decisions that safeguard the wellbeing and prosperity of current and future generations.
Mission
Equipping Australian leaders, across sectors, communities and generations, with the tools, relationships and knowledge to embed long-term governance and intergenerational accountability into governance and decision-making.
Time is of the essence
Some consider investments in future interests to be a luxury. Yet many of the greatest challenges of today are the product of historical failures to think, plan and act for the future. The uncertainty and volatility of the 21st century require a renewed approach to policy and leadership as the costs of short-termism continue to escalate.
We have missed the wake-up calls
We have already missed several wake-up calls, yet these events have not prompted the necessary action to alter our trajectory. We must act now to preserve Australia's future by cultivating future-fit governance that considers not only citizens of today but also those in the years to come.
Potential awaits
Australia is rich in natural, cultural and intellectual resources. By bridging divides, whether generational, political, or cross-sectoral, we can create a collaborative future that draws together our strengths and untapped potential.
What this looks like in practice
Across our initiatives, this approach takes shape in the leaders we back, the research we publish and the conversations we convene. A few examples of the work underway:
Australian Parliamentary Group for Future Generations
A cross-party group of parliamentarians championing the interests of future generations within our institutions.
Read more →Beyond the Election Cycle
National research mapping Australia's long-term governance ecosystem and the pathways to activate it.
Read more →National Conversation Development Lab
Convening citizens and leaders to build shared understanding and public mandate for long-term thinking.
Read more →Who are future generations
We at Foundations for Tomorrow define future generations to include both the young people of today and the generations to come.
Young people of today
The younger generations that are currently alive on our planet, specifically those under the age of 30 years old, who are not yet adequately engaged or represented in decision-making processes.
While young people are formidable advocates for future generations, they should not be the only voice, nor should the responsibility for safeguarding the future be deferred to the next generation. We champion meaningful intergenerational solidarity and collaborations to drive sustainable change.
The generations to come
Those who will be born by the end of the century, whose interests are routinely overshadowed by the short-termism that is driven by financial quarters and electoral cycles. These future citizens will bear the brunt of every decision made today.
With more people in our future than are alive today, Australia is a future majority country. It is imperative that we plan and act for this growing future.
Three priority areas for Australia's future
We specialise in working directly with leaders, exploring the cultural, capability and institutional requirements of future generations leadership and policy. To advance this mandate, we focus on three priority policy areas.
Emerging Technology
Innovation propels society forward. As emerging technologies reshape our future, we must ensure they are harnessed responsibly, balancing progress with ethical considerations and ensuring that emerging technology supports a better future for all.
Environmental Sustainability
Climate change is a multifaceted challenge that intersects with our social, economic and political landscape, influencing every element of our shared future. A sustainable environment is non-negotiable, and Australia is uniquely equipped to embrace the potential of sustainable practices.
Societal Wellbeing
A nation's wealth extends beyond economic metrics; it encompasses public health, security, sustainability, inclusion and societal connectivity. Reevaluating our investments in these areas is crucial for fostering a future of all-encompassing prosperity.