Why We Should Scrap Capitalism: In Conversation with Ted Trainer

Most of us feel it: a subtle, persistent sense that something in our lives is off-track. We feel stretched, insecure, rushed, disconnected, or exhausted — yet we rarely trace these pressures back to their source.

We’re taught to think of the economy as something “out there”, an abstract system run by experts, markets, and governments. But in reality, the economy shapes every corner of our daily lives — our safety, our security, our relationships, our time, our sense of purpose, and our ability to thrive.

This webinar explores a simple but transformative idea:

Many of the absences we experience — the lack of community, time, safety, meaning, belonging, and genuine wellbeing — are not personal failures.

They are the predictable outcomes of our economic system.

And if that system is disempowering us, we have the power to build new ones.

Why This Conversation Matters

Our current capitalist system promises prosperity — but it delivers chronic insecurity, social fragmentation, environmental breakdown, and a constant pressure to compete, consume, and achieve. It quietly removes the conditions that humans need in order to flourish.

But capitalism is not the only economic system possible.

Across Australia and the world, communities are already experimenting with cooperative economies, localised economies, wellbeing economies, commons-based economies, degrowth approaches, community wealth-building, mutual aid networks, democratic ownership models, and many more.

This webinar invites you to explore the alternatives — not as abstract theories, but as practical pathways to rebuilding what’s missing from our lives.

Join Ted Trainer for a Grounded and Empowering Discussion

Ted Trainer is one of Australia’s most respected thinkers on post-capitalist futures. A long-time academic and author, Ted has spent decades studying how capitalism restricts collective wellbeing — and how people everywhere are building economic systems that restore autonomy, connection, security, and ecological balance.

He combines deep theoretical insight with practical lived experience: at Pigface Point, an educational site near Sydney, he demonstrates hands-on examples of simpler, more resilient economic practices.

This session will be welcoming, accessible, and designed especially for people who feel there must be a better way to organise society — even if they're new to these ideas.

What You’ll Learn

🌱 Why the economy is personal — and how it shapes your everyday experience
🔍 The invisible absences created by capitalism (safety, belonging, time, stability, connection)
🚫 Why capitalist systems cannot “fix” themselves
💡 An introduction to multiple alternative economic pathways — not just socialism
🏘️ How localised, democratic, cooperative systems restore human flourishing
🤝 Practical steps individuals and communities can take to build empowering alternatives now

Free Book for All Registered Participants

You’ll receive a complimentary digital copy of Ted Trainer’s Capitalism: Why We Should Scrap It, offering a clear and accessible overview of why capitalism fails to meet human and ecological needs — and what we can create instead.

Who Is This For?

This conversation is designed for anyone who has ever felt that life shouldn’t be this hard—and has wondered why.
If you’ve sensed that our economic system isn’t supporting your wellbeing, security, or hopes for the future, this event is for you.

Join us if you:

• Feel overwhelmed by the rising cost of living, insecure work, or lack of community connection
• Wonder why basic needs like housing, stability, and dignity feel out of reach for so many
• Are curious about alternatives to capitalism but don’t know where to begin
• Care about creating a society where people and the planet can truly flourish
• Want practical, hopeful ideas about how everyday people can build better systems together

No background in economics is needed—just an open mind and a desire for a more humane way of living.

About the Speaker

Ted (F.E.) Trainer (b. 1941) is an Australian academic, writer, and long-time advocate for degrowth, eco-anarchism, and simpler ways of living. He taught for many years in the School of Social Work at the University of New South Wales and has written numerous books and articles on sustainability, economic systems, and pathways to a more equitable and ecologically sound society. He is currently developing Pigface Point, an educational site demonstrating practical approaches to low-impact living.

About your Hosts

Susan Wanmer is a strategist and organisational advisor with more than 30 years’ experience helping teams, boards, and community organisations strengthen their governance, align their purpose, and operate with clarity and integrity. Her work focuses on building resilient systems, improving organisational culture, and supporting leaders to navigate complex economic and social challenges. Susan brings deep commitment to economic and ecological justice and has played a significant role within NENA, contributing to cooperative governance and founding NENA’s Financial and Economic Literacy Hub.

Tiyana Jovanovic is an empowerment researcher and community educator whose work focuses on how people and communities create meaningful change. With a background in systems thinking, women’s empowerment, and participatory research, she studies how individuals work together to build fairer and more sustainable social and economic systems. Tiyana is the founder of the Humanitarian Changemakers Network—an education and media initiative that supports grassroots changemakers—and brings extensive experience in community-led learning, movement-building, and cooperative governance to her role within NENA.