Writer
Jon Blackwell
Jon Blackwell is an ex-British Special Forces soldier, having successfully avoided a grisly end in three tours of duty in Belfast. He then saw the light (twice), and trained as a social worker and emigrated to Australia. He became a senior health service manager in Vic, SA, WA and on the Central Coast of NSW. He also has been CEO of Workcover NSW, and, more recently, Habitat for Humanity Australia. Now retired, Jon lives in Avoca Beach where he amuses himself by attempting to surf.
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Another pandemic will come: have we learnt any lessons from this one?
The mistakes made during the Covid pandemic have been costly but provide an opportunity to ensure the nation is better prepared next time. Continue reading »
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Royal commission will let politicians avoid blame for futile wars
The terms of reference for the defence suicide royal commission ignore the direct cause of the issues that affect veterans — war. Continue reading »
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Don’t tar all our soldiers with the same brush
War in all its forms is awful, so let’s support those who conduct it on our behalf and, when they come back, go easy on them. They were only doing our bidding. Continue reading »
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The National Disability Insurance Scheme: a consumer’s experience
Much has been made of the failings of the NDIS, but as a reluctant and apprehensive consumer, I have been more than pleasantly surprised. Continue reading »
