Jul
22
2026
Investors and analysts remain wary of ASX-listed insurers, concerned earnings are at a cyclical peak after years of strong returns. “The market tends to reward earnings recovery where it looks repeatable,” said Janice How, professor of finance at the Queensland University of Technology. “In insurance, that means disciplined pricing and careful risk management, not just …read more
Jul
22
2026
Subsidised property insurance an important way to address the increasingly urgent problem of ballooning property insurance costs in high-risk regions, according to experts in the field. A scheme of that nature would keep home-owners in the insurance net but it would affect the price signal, said Paula Jarzabkowski, professor of Strategic Management at the University …read more
Jul
22
2026
The rigid tiering of gold, silver and bronze basic levels of health insurance has made building a sustainable model for affordable top hospital cover “very difficult”, with warnings it could threaten the existence of the health insurance sector. “The trouble is that gold contains the cover for mental health and for maternity care, and if …read more
Jul
22
2026
Workers’ compensation scheme reforms in NSW and Victoria have yet to have an impact on the soaring cost of business insurance, said Australian Industry Group CEO Innes Willox. Driven by a spike in mental health claims, particularly in the fields of healthcare and the public sector, workers’ compensation costs continue to outrun the reforms, he …read more
Jun
22
2026
Ben Nguyen launched the now popular Hai Au Lang Nuong Vietnamese restaurant in Sydney’s western suburb of Canley Vale more than 20 years ago, when nearby Cabramatta was widely seen as the centre of authentic Vietnamese dining. Cabramatta is still known as Little Saigon, but Canley Vale is growing as a restaurant destination and Nguyen …read more
Jun
22
2026
Residents of Western Sydney now routinely dread the baking days of summer, when temperatures can soar into the 40s in some districts – heat of 44 degrees has been recorded at Badgerys Creek, 43.9 at Penrith Lakes, 43.8 at Richmond Airbase. Days when it’s too hot to let the kids play outside, too hot to …read more
May
27
2026
AI-powered workplaces have a huge and often unmet need for the soft skills of communication, emotional intelligence, trust building and social awareness, say experts in the field. A broad social disconnect and a fear of AI-driven job loss have driven the need for managers who can build trust, as well as communicate and support employees …read more
May
6
2026
After an international career in banking, Rosemary de Lambert has the experience and understanding to manage her family’s financial holdings, but she understands why many women find handling significant wealth a significant burden. A long-term Macquarie Bank executive, rising to the position of Chief Operating Officer of Macquarie Private Bank, de Lambert is now retired, …read more
Apr
2
2026
Giving employees the ability to shape their careers is core to a morale-boosting drive by the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation, says the charity’s chief people and culture officer Mariam Hares. SCHF has a range of employee benefits including personalised coaching, flexible work schedules, comprehensive mentoring, a shared online learning hub and generous funds and time …read more
Apr
2
2026
Health services start-up Five Good Friends offers a wide range of technology-enabled in-home services for elderly and less-well Australians, while providing a range of flexible and part-time employment for carers. Founded in 2016 and catering for an increasingly ageing and unwell Australian population, the start-up’s digital platforms provide instant information on in-home care visits and …read more