Vern Hughes
Encyclopedia
Vern Hughes is an Anglican social commentator and writer and a leading commentator on civil society. He is the Director of the Melbourne-based Centre for Civil Society http://www.civilsociety.org.au. Since 2007 he has been Secretary of the National Federation of Parents Families and Carers http://www.civilsociety.org.au/federation.htm.
Hughes' interests cover an incredibly wide range of fields, from Christian theology to jazz and progressive rock and world music; history and the arts; the mutual aid and co-operative tradition; social capital and civil society; social innovation; disability, mental health and ageing; and the unifying cultural force of world football (soccer). He is a jazz pianist.
Hughes' historical research into civil society in Australia and his critique of Australia's 'statist' tradition run through his various writings and ventures. His argument is that Australia's development has been 'top heavy' from the beginning, with an overblown state and bureaucracy, and a poorly developed civil society. Community building and empowerment projects at the grassroots have been his consistent themes.
In 2000, Hughes was the co-founder, with Nic Francis, of the Social Entrepreneurs Network. In 2003, SEN was the subject of a takeover from three consultants (Richard Zee, Leo Bartlett and Allison Oldfield) which forced it to fold up. In 2004, Hughes formed Social Enterprise Partnerships http://www.partnerships.org.au, and continues as Executive Director.
From 1998 to 2004, Hughes was a Director of Macaulay Community Credit Co-operative, and from 1992 to 1998, a Director of the Co-operative Federation of Victoria. He sought to revive co-operative and mutual organisations in the late 1990s through Mutuality Australia.
In 2000, he was the co-founder, with Stephen Mayne
, of the People Power Party
, which was founded in December 2000 http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/20944/20010713/www.peoplepower.org.au/index.html,http://some-people-power.blogspot.com/.
Following poor results, the party's activities were suspended, but the party again found sufficient common ground to re-form and initiate their campaign for the Victorian state election in 2006, with the help of Communications Consultant, Robyn Allcock.
Hughes' part in building the party, writing policy and enrolling candidates for all (upper & lower houses) seats for the 25 November 2006 Victorian state electionhttp://www.vec.vic.gov.au/State2006resultbypartydistrict.html was a key factor in the party's success in the campaign's early stages, and most media attention was favourable, as People Power received more column-inches in mainstream media than the Democrats, & certainly more than other minor partieshttp://www.abc.net.au/stateline/vic/content/2006/s1731064.htm.
Following these early successes, the campaign's 'lead candidate', ex-Socceroo Jack Reilly (recruited by Stephen Mayne) resigned in September, and Mayne himself followed Reilly in October (alleging 'tensions within the party')http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,20607702-661,00.html. Mayne then re-joined, but Hughes accused Mayne of trivialising the paty's goals. People Power's Board eventually moved to expel Mayne from the Party.
For an authorised version of their history, see the NLA archived version of their website as it was in July 2006.http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/60991/20060725/www.peoplepower.org.au/History.html
People Power's Board was subsequently taken over by a group of candidates led by Mike Noske, who failed to maintain the support of members Hughes had recruited. It was de-registered soon after.
Hughes is a leading advocate of self-directed services and personal budgets in aged care, disability, chronic and mental illness, and education. He currently convenes a National Steering Group in this area. (http://www.partnerships.org.au/NationalSteeringGroup.htm)
He is also a champion of consumer-centred health care, and has written extensively on health reform (http://www.partnerships.org.au/HealthCampaign.htm)
Hughes' interests cover an incredibly wide range of fields, from Christian theology to jazz and progressive rock and world music; history and the arts; the mutual aid and co-operative tradition; social capital and civil society; social innovation; disability, mental health and ageing; and the unifying cultural force of world football (soccer). He is a jazz pianist.
Hughes' historical research into civil society in Australia and his critique of Australia's 'statist' tradition run through his various writings and ventures. His argument is that Australia's development has been 'top heavy' from the beginning, with an overblown state and bureaucracy, and a poorly developed civil society. Community building and empowerment projects at the grassroots have been his consistent themes.
In 2000, Hughes was the co-founder, with Nic Francis, of the Social Entrepreneurs Network. In 2003, SEN was the subject of a takeover from three consultants (Richard Zee, Leo Bartlett and Allison Oldfield) which forced it to fold up. In 2004, Hughes formed Social Enterprise Partnerships http://www.partnerships.org.au, and continues as Executive Director.
From 1998 to 2004, Hughes was a Director of Macaulay Community Credit Co-operative, and from 1992 to 1998, a Director of the Co-operative Federation of Victoria. He sought to revive co-operative and mutual organisations in the late 1990s through Mutuality Australia.
In 2000, he was the co-founder, with Stephen Mayne
Stephen Mayne
Stephen Mayne is an Australian journalist, local government councillor and self-described shareholder activist. Mayne is also considered “serial runner”, continually running for elected office and election onto company boards, more often than not in futile attempts, or just to make political...
, of the People Power Party
People Power Party
People Power is a populist political movement in Australia that was Federally registered as a political party in March 2006. The party contested its first election in the Victorian state election, 2006.- Policies :...
, which was founded in December 2000 http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/20944/20010713/www.peoplepower.org.au/index.html,http://some-people-power.blogspot.com/.
Following poor results, the party's activities were suspended, but the party again found sufficient common ground to re-form and initiate their campaign for the Victorian state election in 2006, with the help of Communications Consultant, Robyn Allcock.
Hughes' part in building the party, writing policy and enrolling candidates for all (upper & lower houses) seats for the 25 November 2006 Victorian state electionhttp://www.vec.vic.gov.au/State2006resultbypartydistrict.html was a key factor in the party's success in the campaign's early stages, and most media attention was favourable, as People Power received more column-inches in mainstream media than the Democrats, & certainly more than other minor partieshttp://www.abc.net.au/stateline/vic/content/2006/s1731064.htm.
Following these early successes, the campaign's 'lead candidate', ex-Socceroo Jack Reilly (recruited by Stephen Mayne) resigned in September, and Mayne himself followed Reilly in October (alleging 'tensions within the party')http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,20607702-661,00.html. Mayne then re-joined, but Hughes accused Mayne of trivialising the paty's goals. People Power's Board eventually moved to expel Mayne from the Party.
For an authorised version of their history, see the NLA archived version of their website as it was in July 2006.http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/60991/20060725/www.peoplepower.org.au/History.html
People Power's Board was subsequently taken over by a group of candidates led by Mike Noske, who failed to maintain the support of members Hughes had recruited. It was de-registered soon after.
Hughes is a leading advocate of self-directed services and personal budgets in aged care, disability, chronic and mental illness, and education. He currently convenes a National Steering Group in this area. (http://www.partnerships.org.au/NationalSteeringGroup.htm)
He is also a champion of consumer-centred health care, and has written extensively on health reform (http://www.partnerships.org.au/HealthCampaign.htm)