Kaya,
Welcome to issue 18 of Urban Scrawl. This newsletter is designed to inspire you about ways to plan and develop cities for its citizens, with the future in mind. How can we look at cities through the lens of tomorrow?
In our International Inspiration section we look at the Start with Children Summit held in Slovakia this month, and the ideas it presented, highlighting the idea that when cities work for children, they work better for everyone. In Research Bites, Deloitte’s 2025 Gen Z and Millennial Survey give insights into what Gen Zs and Millennials really want – in short; money, meaning, and wellbeing. In Quick Bites, read about South Korea’s government matchmaking programs to boost its struggling birth rate – a global issue with a Korean solution.
Hear from Brooke O'Donnell, in our On the Ground Intel section, who shares her knowledge on the City of Kalamunda (where she made history as the first Aboriginal Deputy Mayor), learning from Māori women, and how Perth can embrace innovation and prioritise equity and inclusion in 2050. This month’s hero image 'Memory of the Land' is the work of Ukrainian artist AEC Interesni Kazki, at North Metropolitan TAFE, who are celebrating 125 years of nurturing creatives at its Perth campus this year.
If you’ve come across any research, books, podcasts, videos or ideas, please don’t be shy about emailing me. We enjoy exploring interesting ideas with our members, who are just as curious and passionate about ways to improve our region as the team at Committee for Perth is. Happy reading, Francien Boom Committee for Perth |
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INTERNATIONAL INSPIRATION |
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Image credit: The Institute for Quality of Life |
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Global think tank, The Institute for Quality of Life, based in London, published a comprehensive study on development, presented through its Happy City Index. The index is based on 82 indicators across six major categories including citizens, governance, environment, economy, health and mobility. Whilst the report notes there is no one size fits all approach to happiness, through open data and interviews with residents, the institution combined qualitative and quantitative information to rank cities on a point system.
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Copenhagen in Denmark was named as the top happy city, followed by Zurich in Switzerland. Singapore was ranked in third place, followed by Aarhus in Denmark and Antwerp in Belgium.
Perth came in at #165 out of 200 with 604 points, ouch. Whilst we feel happy calling Perth home, by the Happy City Index metrics, we still have a way to go.
Leading the way in Australia, Adelaide came in at #29, scoring exceptionally well in the environment, citizens and governance categories. A city blending tradition (it’s dubbed the city of churches after all) and innovation (check out the work of Lot Fourteen), the Index lists its commitment to sustainability among the best in the world. Demonstrating their commitment to planning for success, the South Australian Government recently released the Greater Adelaide Regional Plan, which identifies where 315,000 new homes will be built over the next 30 years. The Plan is Australia’s first fully digital regional plan, meaning it’s a live document which can be easily updated to respond to changing data.
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Did you walk to school as a child? How do your children get there now? The shift in how each generation moves through a city reflects our increasingly urbanised world.
Earlier this month, the Start With Children summit in Bratislava, Slovakia, brought attention to a powerful idea: child-focused design leads to better cities for everyone. The summit explored how we can reclaim cities for childhood, better housing for families, support for caregivers, youth participation in planning, risky play, and the effect of technology in a child’s early development.
If you were less than 100cm tall, how would the world look and what might you change?
As the Child in the City Foundation explains, when seen from a child’s perspective, roads may be too dangerous to cross, destinations are impossibly remote, walls block views and exhaust pipes rise up to your face.
In contrast, many Japanese cities – though not all – urban policies support low-traffic neighbourhoods with people-centred streets. The popular show Old Enough! (catch it on Netflix) shows toddlers run errands, deliver packages and buying groceries, accompanied only by camera crew. It reflects a broader independent mobility, with 93% of Japanese school children walking to school. Meanwhile the rate of active travel to school in Perth is as low as 20%.
As University of Sydney’s Postdoctoral Research Fellow Rebecca Clements notes, “perhaps the remarkably child-friendly outcomes we’re seeing in Japan can inspire us to rethink what kinds of neighbourhoods are possible – and what kinds of lives our children can have.” |
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Auckland, home to 1.7 million people, has a blueprint for its future, called Auckland Plan 2050. Three key challenges are identified: population growth (with a projected 2.4 million by 2050), shared prosperity and environmental degradation. From there, the plan recognises six important areas in order to make significant progress, including:
- Belonging and participation
- Māori identity and wellbeing
- Homes and places
- Transport and access
- Environmental and cultural heritage
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Opportunity and prosperity
Its Future Development Strategy provides a pathway for Auckland’s land use and infrastructure projects. Thinking about possible futures the Plan also considers five scenarios: Living with nature, Safe haven, The people's network, Whose food bowl?, and Two speed Auckland. Learn more here.
Committee for Perth believes the Perth region needs a plan and we are advocating for one. We will continue to share cities with a plan with our members to spark ideas for our collective future. |
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Sometimes the best research comes from the people who are living and breathing a city. Brooke O’Donnell is a proud Palyku woman from Nullagine who has lived on Boorloo Wadjuk Noongar land for over 40 years. In 2021, she became the first Aboriginal Deputy Mayor of the City of Kalamunda and has served as a Local Councillor for a decade. A qualified social worker with an MBA in Law and Environment, Brooke works extensively in Cultural Heritage, supporting Yamatji Traditional Owners to collaborate with businesses and preserve heritage for future generations.
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Earlier this month, Brooke spent the day with Committee for Perth as part of her AIM WA Beediyar program, where she had the opportunity to shadow CEO Paula Rogers. |
What’s your favourite hidden gem in the City of Kalamunda for a weekend outing?
One of my favourite hidden gems is the hills food and wine trail, particularly La Fattoria in Pickering Brook — it’s one of the best places for wine and gourmet food, particularly their Nonna’s table, Chisciol and Granny Sparkling Apple wine. I love walking through on the Country there where the forest is barren and the bushland whispers like the voices of our ancestors. It’s in those quiet moments that I feel most connected to both nature and culture.
It’s peaceful, grounding, and always reminds me why preserving our natural and cultural heritage is so important.
Is there a city or community that you have visited that you think Perth could learn from, especially in terms of sustainability or community engagement?
In 2024 I had the chance to visit Aotearoa for the Indigenous Women in Industry Business event, and it was inspiring to see how Māori women and communities are leading the way in sustainability and community projects. They really bring culture into everything they do, from grassroots initiatives to big networks and future export plans. It showed me how powerful strong relationships and community-led work can be when culture is at the centre. I think with the future Cultural Centre in Boorloo on Wadjuk Noongar Boodjar, we have a great opportunity to build and lead similar connections here and support First Nations people and women leading change.
It’s the weekend, what’s on your reading list?
This weekend, I’m reading The Professional by Tony Frost. It looks at what it means to lead with integrity, purpose, and resilience. I’m a bit of an airport book buyer—especially when it comes to professional development titles—but like many of us, finding the time to sit down and commit to reading is always the challenge.
Tony was one of my professors during my MBA at UNSW, and I really value learning from people who bring not just experience, but wisdom and authenticity. For me, it’s important to seek out role models who walk the talk and offer insights that help shape how we lead, serve, and stay grounded in the bigger picture. As an emerging leader, what kind of city do you hope Perth becomes by 2050?
By 2050, I envision Perth as a highly connected, smart city that not only embraces innovation but also prioritises equity and inclusion. It’s essential that growth and technological advances translate into real opportunities for those who have historically been disadvantaged, so no one is left behind. My hope is for a city where access to opportunity flows equitably, fostering a safe, welcoming, and connected community for all residents. Perth should lead by example—showing how economic and social progress can go hand in hand with cultural respect and community wellbeing.
What makes you feel most connected to your community, and how could Perth foster more of that?
I feel most connected when I’m out on Country with mob—whether it’s at community events, doing Cultural Heritage surveys, or just hanging out, yarning, and having a laugh while learning and making friendships. That connection comes from being honest, sharing responsibility, and really being seen and heard. Perth could do even more by investing in cultural spaces and supporting Aboriginal-led projects that bring people together across generations. There’s also huge potential in building strong relationships not just with our Traditional Owners but with other First Nations peoples nearby in Asia and beyond, opening up new opportunities for cultural exchange and economic partnerships that benefit everyone.
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MONEY, MEANING AND WELL-BEING |
How can organisations become more appealing to the Millennial and Gen Z workforce?
According to Deloitte’s 2025 Gen Z and Millennial Survey, which gathered insights from 23,842 respondents across 44 countries, several key trends have emerged from these generations. -
70% of respondents said a company’s environmental credentials or policies are important when evaluating a potential employer
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90% of both groups report that having a sense of purpose is important to their job satisfaction and well-being. Deloitte notes that Gen Zs and Millennials are seeking purpose-driven work, or the resources to drive change outside of work. They are aiming to balance a “trifecta” of money, meaning, and wellbeing in their careers.
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31% of Gen Zs and 17% of Millennials plan to switch employers within the next two years. Reasons include seeking greater stability, improved work/life balance, a stronger sense of purpose and opportunity to learn and acquire new skills.
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With Gen Zs and Millennials anticipated to make up 74% of the global workforce by 2030, this is not one to sleep on. Read the full report here. |
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South Korea’s birth rate is 0.75 (with 2.1 the replacement birth rate target and Australia's birth rate at 1.7) representing a country with a struggling demographic crisis due to a combination of social, cultural and economic factors. To address this, Seongnam Mayor Shin Sang-jin introduced his city's signature matchmaking program, Solomon’s Choice (a play on the words Solo Man).
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Under the guidance of a dating coach, the program gathered more than 400 young singles across five rounds of events in 2023. The national government is also pouring over 380 trillion won ($424 billion) into baby-boosting incentives, including subsidies for prenatal care and monthly cash payments for families. |
This newsletter is a complimentary benefit to Committee for Perth member organisations and all their employees. Please feel free to share it with your colleagues, and to ensure it arrives in your inbox, subscribe here. |
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Committee for Perth conducts its work on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar. We recognise their peoples' ongoing connection to land, culture and community and in doing so, pay our respects to Elders past and present. |
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