In this episode, we talk to Mr Jason Falinski, MP, Federal Member for Mackellar, about engaging the Australian voters in the political discourse.
Topics covered include:
- The power of words throughout history
- The housing crisis
- What is economics and why is it important
- The decline in understanding of economics among young people
- Citizens’ concerns about climate change
- Why people are engaging less in politics
- How the centre is getting drowned out by people on the fringes of the political spectrum
- The experience of being part of Young Liberals
- How to explore your own political views
- The power of reading
- The state of mental health in Australia
- The benefits of political life
- What are the real world outcomes of committee work
- How to level the playing field between the ATO and small business and individuals
- Why the level of political reporting and therefore understanding is lower in Australia than our other western counterparts
- Why our tertiary education system is struggling to compete with elite institutions overseas
- How to maintain well-being as a federal politician
- The positives and drawbacks of social media
About Mr Falinski:
Born and raised on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Jason grew up in Belrose and attended Our Lady of Good Counsel Primary School at Forestville, before completing his secondary education at St Ignatius’ College, Riverview.
Having lived in Mackellar for more than 25 years, Jason and his wife Nichola are proud to be raising their young daughter in Collaroy.
Since 1996, Jason has been a director of the Australia Asia Young Leaders Program that organises incoming and outgoing delegations of young people involved in politics throughout Asia.
In 2008, Jason was elected as a Councillor on Warringah Council.
Locally, Jason is a member of the Warringah Chamber of Commerce, Manly Sea Eagles, Dee Why RSL Club and Long Reef Surf Club.
In 2004, Jason was exposed to the aged care system in a personal way when some members of his family moved into their last home. While impressed with the care and compassion of the staff and operators, Jason was struck by the institutional feel of these facilities. After researching the issue, Jason found that the limited options available to providers in Australia meant they had not kept pace with developments across the world.
In 2005, Jason founded CareWell Health to provide a better way to deliver age care. CareWell is a designer, manufacturer and supplier of health care equipment and furniture.
CareWell grew to become one of the largest providers to Australian and New Zealand nursing homes.
Jason was employed to help with the IAG demutualization and $4 billion public offering. After its public listing, Jason worked for NRMA Insurance in its Strategy and Mergers & Acquisitions area. In this role,
Later, Jason was involved in IAG's strategic investments in a number of south-east Asian insurers.
Jason was a Senior Adviser in the Corporate Affairs Division at Credit Union Services Group between 1996 and 2000.
Jason joined the Liberal Party in 1990 and held many positions:
* Vice President of the Sydney University Liberal Club
* President of the Young Liberal Movement of NSW
* President of the Young Liberal Movement of Australia
* Member of the Federal Executive
* President of the Mona Vale Branch from 2007 to 2009
* President of the Pittwater State Electoral Conference
In the early 1990s Jason worked as a media and policy adviser to Dr John Hewson, Barry O’Farrell MP and Joanna Gash MP. In 2007 Jason was the strategy director for Rob Stokes’ record win in the seat of Pittwater.
