EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report presents the results of a multi-phase project initially commissioned by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) titled ‘Working for Our Future: Modernising Workplace Relations in Australia’ with funding from the federal Department of Employment.
These results have been expanded to draw in, where ever possible, data on New Zealand (NZ), as well. As this NZ component of the report was beyond the scope of the original project, it draws heavily on secondary data sources. We hope to look at funding options in the near future to formally replicate the research fully in NZ and therefore provide more in-depth comparisons between both countries.
The first stage of this report presents a review of the international literature relating to the future of work overall and within this, the future of small business. The literature reviewed covers over 130 academic research papers and selected “grey” literature from government and industry over the time 1984 to 2017.
The second stage of the report provides an analysis of current relevant data sources available from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the Australian Fair Work Commission and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (NZ).
Stage three introduces a qualitative dimension with data from focus groups and interviews with small business owners to allow exploration as to views of real business owners.
Stage four provides for a large-scale view which draws on a survey of employers and employees (at this a stage limited to Australian states and territories), and covering all industries and firms of all sizes.
Stage five rounds out the report with a series of case study vignettes of small business owners to enhance the richness and depth through the addition of detailed individual perspectives.

Tui McKeown, Tim Mazzarol and Sujana Adapa launch the SEAANZ Report: Inspiring Future Workplaces at the 2018 ANZAM conference.
This report presents the results of a multi-phase project initially commissioned by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) titled ‘Working for Our Future: Modernising Workplace Relations in Australia’ with funding from the federal Department of Employment.