Judith Bessant – The Conversation

The Conversation

October 27, 2025

Climate change is a crisis of intergenerational justice. It’s not too late to make it right

Philippa Collin, Western Sydney University; Judith Bessant, RMIT University, and Rob Watts, RMIT University

The changing climate doesn’t just threaten younger people in the distant future, it’s happening now at a massive scale. But we can turn it around.

Richard Wainwright/AAP

April 6, 2022

At 16, Australians can drive, work and apply for the army – so why can’t they vote?

Faith Gordon, Australian National University; Judith Bessant, RMIT University, and Susan M. Sawyer, The University of Melbourne

This upcoming 2022 federal election should be the last election to exclude 16 and 17-year-olds

Darren England/AAP

January 12, 2022

‘Disappointment and disbelief’ after Morrison government vetoes research into student climate activism’

Philippa Collin, Western Sydney University; Brendan Churchill, The University of Melbourne; Faith Gordon, Australian National University; Judith Bessant, RMIT University; Michelle Catanzaro, Western Sydney University; Rob Watts, RMIT University, and Stewart Jackson, University of Sydney

Addressing urgent and complex problems such as climate change involves research across the full spectrum of society – and that includes Australia’s young people.

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December 1, 2021

Buying silence: we can’t stop workplace sexual harassment without banning non‑disclosure agreements

Maria O'Sullivan, Monash University and Judith Bessant, RMIT University

NDAs are increasingly used against employees who make complaints about discrimination and harassment. This practice needs to end.

Can the concept of a generation cover all the diverse people of a certain age cohort in an intellectually useful way? Artens/Shutterstock

June 18, 2014

Talkin’ ‘bout a generation: understanding youth and change

Judith Bessant, RMIT University

Making sense of what is happening in our own time requires sharp thinking. Today, however, catch-phrases and clichés abound. More specifically we rely on cliches about generations. Journalists, bestselling…

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