JOY Drive

20 Mar 2025

Associate Professor Lauren Rosewarne: Are Shopping Malls Dying?

Business, Consumer Affairs, Popular Culture, Shopping, Society & Culture

It was buzzing if you stepped into an Australian shopping centre in the 1990s. Families were renting movies at Video Ezy, grabbing groceries at Franklins, or browsing gadgets at Australian Geographic.

Fast forward to 2025, and things look very different. Some department stores are ghost towns, cafes are struggling, and empty shopfronts are everywhere.

Ally Fashion, Rivers, and Michel’s Patisserie are just a few of the iconic Australian brands that have collapsed in the past year. And with rising costs and shifting shopping habits, many more could follow.

So, what’s behind the retail downturn? And can anything save the Aussie shopping mall?

Guest: Lauren Rosewarne, Associate Professor in Public Policy, Social and Political Sciences at the University of Melbourne

Presenter: Warren Andrew

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 11:13 — 15.4MB)

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26 Jan 2026

Associate Professor Lauren Rosewarne: Why We’re Pushing Back Against Perfect Faces

Fashion & Beauty, Popular Culture, Society & Culture

After years of smooth, interchangeable faces on screens, something is shifting. Associate Professor Lauren Rosewarne unpacks why expressive, readable faces ...

26 Jan 2026

Dr Dee Tomic: Work Participation, Inequality and Feeling Safe at Work

Careers, Psychology, Society & Culture

Work participation isn’t just about skills or effort; it’s shaped by whether workplaces feel safe, welcoming and secure. Dr Dee ...

26 Jan 2026

Nicole Rich: What Renters and Donors Need to Know After a Disaster

Consumer Affairs, Finance, Law, Personal Safety, Society & Culture

After bushfires and other disasters, everyday rules around renting, repairs and donations can quickly become unclear. Nicole Rich outlines renter ...