“Resilience and Transformation: preparing Australia for uncertain futures”. Panel on “Individual, Societal and Systems Resilience” Bob Douglas

Chapter 11: Why are some people more resilient to health problems than others? Does peoples’ “sense of control” modulate the operation of other risk factors and treatment effects? Contrast sense of control with “learned helplessness” A health care system that promotes resilience is one in which people sense control and feel a sense of ownership about their health and the factors that bear on it.

Chapter 19 Pandemic preparedness and resilience Are we, prepared for the kind of disruption from the emergence of unanticipated pathogenic agents spreading rapidly through a non-immune population? Need to build subsidiarity into our responses. Unwieldy nature of our federated system of governance. Actions that could enhance short and long term resilience

Escalating global disruption Stretching global resources beyond capacity to cope with growing human population. A constellation of “wicked problems. Climate change, extinction of ecosystems, inappropriateness and instability of economic systems human inequity and starvation. Being largely ignored by Australia’s political and economic systems. Most Australians remain unaware of these perils.

Transform Australia Opinion Leaders Roundtable in Sydney recently. Transformative change in the Australian mindset and in the human systems that drive our society are urgently required. Shift in the national mindset needs to be cognitive ethical and spiritual in its dimensions as well as practical in its operations. The group commented on a draft vision and manifesto for the kind of transformation that will be needed.

Changing our dreams and narratives We live our stories and our dreams. Our mindsets depend upon them. If we are to change the human mindset we must change the narratives and dreams that dominate our culture.

Old Dream New Dream I am the king of the castle and you’re the dirty rascal We share the world with all humans and other living things

Old Dream New Dream Competing and winning is what makes for a great world (for some) Caring for people and the environment is what makes for a better world (for all)

Old Dream New Dream Owning things makes us feel really good Sharing things makes us feel even better

Old Dream New Dream Bigger and more are better. Small and manageable are better still

Old Dream New Dream Money can buy nearly anything Love, Joy, Peace and Security can’t be bought with money; they come through caring relationships

Old Dream New Dream Humans can do anything if they set their mind to it We are now setting our minds to live well within constraints of the planet

Old Dream New Dream Growing the economy is what makes the world go round. The economy is our servant not our master. Growth at the expense of the environment is unacceptable

Old Dream New Dream The whole world is here for humans to conquer and exploit. Humans depend on nature to nourish and sustain us.

Conclusion We need somehow to introduce new dreams and narratives of this kind into the national psyche Only then will we generate the impetus for the kind of system change that will make us more resilient. And enhance our societal well being. We need to confront the marketers of the old dreams and trump them with positive dreams that are more compatible with long term survival of our species.