Who is Common Endeavour?

Who is it? Up to now, Common Endeavour has mostly been the work of Remo Ostini. Remo is a former farmer, orchardist, taxi driver, and is currently a recovering academic. With academic training in behavioural science and psychological measurement, he forged (cobbled together?) a career in health research, variously investigating the psychology of morality, influences on doctor’s prescribing behaviour, health literacy, population health, and rural health workforce development.

Common Endeavour is part of Remo’s response to deep, deep frustration with the choices we’ve been getting at election time. It’s a response to both his own frustration and the frustration of voters across the country — judging by the inability of any governing party to get much more than 30% of the primary vote. It’s also his way of trying to do something meaningful, beyond signing petitions.

In the end Common Endeavour is Remo’s way of testing the idea that the electorate badly wants new and better choices at the ballot box, that such a party can be built from the ground up by people who are not politicians, and that a care democracy is the political philosophy that we need to govern our communities and ourselves well. It's a big idea! We live in uncertain times and we need each other more than ever to get through.

Drawing on his experience on the land, in academia, and as a parent, Common Endeavour is Remo’s way of doing what he can about the challenge to democracy that poor political parties pose. This project is how Remo is working to be a good ancestor, to do his bit to leave a better future for the next generation.

Common Endeavour is a joyous labour of love. If you think Common Endeavour is on to something, Remo would be delighted to share the love and the joy with you. Together, we really could do something incredible — and have a great time doing it!