BETTER DECISIONS FOR A BETTER WORLD.
Every day our lives are punctuated by decisions. Some will be momentous, remembered for decades, others will go unnoticed. But all these choices matter. Taken as a whole they shape our lives, contribute to the rhythms of the world, and ultimately become our history, and our future.
At The Ethics Centre, we know that better decisions can, and will, create a better world. But as an independent not-for-profit, we rely on your donations to enable us to plan an expansive future that will help more people make informed decisions for the benefit of all. Please support our work. Every gift makes a difference.
BETTER DECISIONS FOR A BETTER WORLD.
Every day our lives are punctuated by decisions. Some will be momentous, remembered forever, others will go unnoticed. But all these choices matter. Taken as a whole they shape our lives, contribute to the rhythms of the world, and ultimately become our history, and our future.
At The Ethics Centre, we know that better decisions can, and will, create a better world. But as an independent not-for-profit organisation, we need your help to continue planning an expansive future that will help more people make informed decisions for the benefit of all.
Every donation, big or small, makes a difference. Please support our work.
WHAT YOUR DONATION WILL SUPPORT
Our programs and services tackle the important ethical issues we face today, and the challenges that lie ahead. There is much more to do. Ethics needs further funding to address the important issues already encountered, those in waiting, and those still to be identified by humanity. Please consider supporting our work, and our vision for a world with ethics at the centre.
GROUND BREAKING RESEARCH
We have a proven record of developing new thinking into, and solutions for, the ethical challenges that lie ahead. We’re only held back by the lack of resources to do more.
ONLINE TOOLS
Our innovative online tools, many of which require further development funds, could help us reach critical mass, and develop critical thinking and decision making skills across society.
FREE SUPPORT
Too many people are unaware of our free counselling helpline, Ethi-call. Help us build awareness to guide people through their toughest challenges.
DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS
Our events, like the Festival of Dangerous Ideas and IQ2, facilitate community discussion about society’s biggest issues. Your support can help us extend these programs to new audiences.
GOOD DECISION MAKING
Primary Ethics now teaches over 40,000 children in NSW primary schools. Help us extend ethics and critical thinking skills to older children in secondary schools Australia-wide.
ETHICS IN CURRENT AFFAIRS
Quality independent opinion and analysis is so important in an era of fake news and echo chambers. Help us build society’s capacity to go deeper on the issues that divide us.
WHAT YOUR DONATION WILL SUPPORT
For over three decades, we have addressed issues that touch on our humanity – not as an authoritative source of guidance but as a catalyst and enabler. Our aim is to equip individuals, organisations and society at large with the skills and confidence to make sound choices.
ETHICS RESEARCH
Ongoing publications based in philosophy on personal, business, political and societal issues to help individuals make better sense of their world.
ETHICAL LITERACY
Free, online courses and podcasts that help build a foundation of knowledge to empower decision making.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Live and digital events that offer space for conversation, critical thinking and reflection on issues that matter.
ETHI-CALL HELPLINE
A free, national counselling service open to anyone who needs to navigate a challenging decision in their life.
ETHICS FRAMEWORK
AMP Capital invited The Ethics Centre to help them design a robust ethical investment framework and define clear no-go investment boundaries. Despite a global investment climate where returns generally trump social responsibility, the organisation divested $600m from tobacco and manufacturers of munitions, landmines, chemical and biological weapons.
INDIGENOUS INEQUALITY
In 2015, The Ethics Centre provided a
platform for several great thinkers to debate
racism in Australia at our IQ2 debate,
Racism is Destroying the Australian Dream.
Amidst widespread indifference to Indigenous inequality, journalist Stan Grant’s impassioned plea for change on the night went viral and has been lauded as “Australia’s greatest anti-racism speech”. The Centre was subsequently a finalist in the United Nations Media Peace Awards for this powerful appeal.
BESPOKE TRAINING
Following the suicide of a London nurse
after the ‘Royal prank call’ by an Australian
radio station, The Ethics Centre was called in to provide bespoke ethics training. More than 240 staff at Southern Cross Austereo were trained to recognise ethical issues, develop skills to better navigate difficult situations and work against a culture of laughs at any price.
COUNSELLING
In 1991, The Ethics Centre Established
Ethi-call, a free and independent national helpline for those stuck and struggling to know what to do when facing an ethical dilemma. Thousands have been guided through their toughest challenges in their work, family or social lives by highly trained counsellors. Post-call feedback shows the service relieves distress and helps callers find a path forward.
BRINGING ETHICS TO THE CENTRE OF EVERYDAY LIFE
PROVEN TRACK RECORD
We’ve helped people and organisations tackle ethical challenges or set the foundations to confront them when they come, for almost 30 years. We work with companies of all sizes, governments and the military, schools and universities, community groups and nonprofits, to spark positive social change, advance the position of ethics and guide people at all levels of society to act ethically.
INDEPENDENT
As a self-funded non-profit, we’ll never compromise our independence. We don’t receive significant funding from any government or corporation, so we’re not dancing to anyone else’s tune. We won’t shy away from hard truths or uncomfortable topics. And we’ll never trade doing what’s right, for what’s easy – or profitable – even if it pits us against public opinion.
CONVENING POWER
Our independence affords us valuable convening power – the ability to bring diverse or opposing groups together to discuss sensitive issues, resolve shared challenges or commit to higher standards of integrity. Major social impact initiatives like Primary Ethics and The Banking and Finance Oath, have been built on the back of this collaboration.
LOCAL & GLOBAL
As a small, agile nonprofit with an appetite for innovation and a passion for a better world, we offer our support where it’s most needed. From counselling clients globally through our helpline, recharging important conversations through events both in Australia and overseas, to advising leaders in some of the world’s largest companies, our work continues to mobilise to where the greatest need lies.
WORKING ACROSS SOCIETY
Complex ethical problems don’t discriminate between everyday people and our leaders or public figures. They can be individual and private, or widespread and systemic, involving groups, organisations or whole communities. We help people from all walks of life – from senior leaders to school kids – make their way through the ethical challenges we face today.
FUTURE FOCUSED
Rapid advances in technology are creating entirely new ethical frontiers to be concerned about. In this age of disruption, we have an even greater need for courage, leadership, agility and critical thinking. That’s why a key part of what we do involves exploring, understanding and challenging what the future holds.
BECOME A MEMBER
In the early days of The Ethics Centre, a circle of chairs were set up in Sydney’s Martin Place which invited people to join a conversation about the things that matter. Everyone was welcome. Over the years, that circle of chairs became events, debates, articles, helplines, podcasts, teaching resources and leadership programs – all to spark discussion and examine the world around us.
Our members and donors are a community united by their desire to bring ethics to the centre of their lives and those around them.
We’d love you to join us. Let’s make things better, together.
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING A BETTER WORLD
There are a number of ways you can support our work, and deepen your impact. Donate to make a secure gift now. The Ethics Centre is registered with the Australian Taxation Office as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR). All donations over $2 are tax-deductible. Thank you for supporting our work.
“I’ve grown as an individual through The Ethics Centre’s programs and my support ensures others can continue to benefit through their work as well.”
“The Ethics Centre is that independent voice, the impartial challenger, a critical friend, a commentator engaging people in debates asking “What is the society that we want to live in?”
“If you dig deeply you see their work has a huge multiplier effect – influencing the behaviour of individuals, and then collectively, of corporations and of government.”
