We can reshape our cities on back of coronavirus pandemic

The interconnectedness and growth of our cities has been a major source of economic and social progress, but has also helped the spread of COVID-19.

This pandemic is accelerating changes that have been bubbling just below the surface of Australian cities for years, potentially impacting much of how we live, work and play. 

This crisis has caused a seismic shift in education, with online training to feature more prominently in our post COVID-19 world.

Digital classrooms and virtual workplaces have proven their value and will no longer be seen as a poor alternative.

With the possibility of future pandemics and the long overdue recognition and pride in our health professions, education and training for jobs in health and related industries will be in hot demand. Relatively immune from economic cycles, students will be looking at these sectors as an attractive career choice.

Conversely, given our lockdown, eCommerce sales are booming and people are building habits around online shopping. Bricks and mortar retail will be impacted, with a potential downsizing of store numbers and the retail workforce at risk.

Our higher education and skills sector, business and governments must work together to ensure we excel in online course delivery. 

The right courses in health and related industries must also be available to prepare students and workers for the post COVID-19 world of work.

Social distancing has forced people to get comfortable using technology to work remotely. If proximity to jobs is no longer a significant factor in where people choose to live, households may take the opportunity to move to more affordable regional cities and towns or suburban locations.

One of Victoria’s unique points of geographical difference is its cluster of developed regional areas located adjacent to a thriving capital city.

Regional cities like Bendigo already show some of the highest scores from citizens when it comes to overall ‘liveability’. Access to work opportunities has traditionally held regional cities back — this may be about to change.

Our cities, on the other hand, may start to look very different. Businesses might consider whether they should move to smaller premises as more of their people work from home. This is compounded when our “home” no longer needs to be close to our work in the city.

COVID-19 has also been the catalyst for a new-found trust in the media, government and business after years of a growing trust gap, with Australians turning to these institutions for reliable and credible information that we are acting on.

These institutions have come together at speed to collaborate and find innovative ways to help protect and support Australians. It has left many of us asking: can we keep this going well into the future to drive sustained improvements in how we live, work and play?

Governments across the spectrum are collaborating, traditional media has reminded us of the importance of access to accurate and trusted news sources, and the role fact-based journalism plays in the battle against fake news.

Similarly, big business has sprung into action and is working to rebuild goodwill with the community by being proactive in helping our community adjust to response measures and collaborating with governments and other organisations on COVID-19 challenges.

With COVID-19 the reset button has been hit for Australian cities and many aspects of our way of life.

If our trusted institutions continue to collaborate to maintain trust and build consensus on the way forward, we have an exciting opportunity to re-imagine our cities so they actually accelerate our recovery and enhance the way we live, work and play well beyond this pandemic.

*This article by Peter Konidaris, PwC Melbourne Managing Partner, first appeared in the Herald Sun.