About the New FIPA
Nurturing Change through Education, Innovation and Social Growth
Welcome to the Farquharson Institute of Public Affairs (FIPA), established in 1917.
FIPA is a non-partisan organization dedicated to being a catalyst for wellbeing and positive change. We define 'Public Affairs' differently. Though criticism of institutions has its place, we avoid these criticisms and instead create some of the changes that we would like to see through advancing and practising critical thinking. For example, our concern about the challenges of family leadership have led us to create easy to read and culturally appropriate materials on family leadership for parents, principals, teachers and guidance counsellors.
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FIVE PATHWAYS TO A BETTER FUTURE
ABOUT THE NEW FIPA: FIVE PATHWAYS TO A BETTER FUTURE At FIPA, our five divisions work together to strengthen families, inspire creativity, support mental wellness, promote ethical enterprise, and protect the environment. The Idea Hub – A Centre for Creativity and Innovation Rationale: The Idea Hub is FIPA’s nucleus of imagination and forward thinking. It exists to encourage creativity and problem-solving across all disciplines—education, mental health, trade, and the environment. It is where ideas are tested, refined, and shared, creating a bridge between innovation and implementation. The Hub supports thinkers, artists, entrepreneurs, and researchers who want to design practical solutions that improve communities and industries. Integration: The Idea Hub acts as a generator for all the other divisions. For example, it may develop family-strengthening ideas for The Safe Space, environmental campaigns for EcoSpace, or new models for mental wellness at The Mental Health Centre. It ensures that FIPA remains dynamic and future-oriented. 2. The Safe Space – A Haven for Families, Wisdom, and Calm Rationale: The Safe Space offers resources for personal growth and family development, emphasizing empathy, wisdom, and peace. It is a nonjudgmental environment where individuals and families can access guidance on relationships, parenting, communication, and emotional well-being. Divided into Strong People, Strong Families, Wisdom, and Peace & Calm, it embodies FIPA’s commitment to compassion and practical learning for everyday life. Integration: The Safe Space serves as FIPA’s human touchpoint—where theories and ideas from the Idea Hub or research from the Mental Health Centre reach real people. It often collaborates with EcoSpace for environmental family education and with TradeWorks to promote economic resilience in households. 3. TradeWorks – Advancing Industry and Agriculture Rationale: TradeWorks continues FIPA’s historic mission to support the industry and agriculture sectors. It promotes ethical trade, sustainable enterprise, and innovative business practices. Its focus includes training, market research, and showcasing models of integrity and excellence in commerce. TradeWorks honours the legacy of FIPA’s founders, who believed that national development begins with strong, fair, and creative participation in the economy. Integration: TradeWorks connects with The Idea Hub to incubate business innovations, with The Safe Space to support family-owned enterprises, and with EcoSpace to promote green business models and sustainable agricultural practices. It is the bridge between ideas and real economic action. 4. The Mental Health Centre – Promoting Healing and Resilience Rationale: The Mental Health Centre was established to help people understand, manage, and overcome psychological challenges. Its purpose is to promote mental wellness as an essential part of productivity and human dignity. It brings together counsellors, coaches, and psychologists to provide guidance and education that reduces stigma and encourages holistic well-being. Integration: This centre collaborates with The Safe Space in developing family-centered mental health materials, supports TradeWorks by addressing workplace mental health, and works with The Idea Hub to design innovative, accessible awareness campaigns. Its insights also inform how EcoSpace considers the psychological benefits of connecting with nature. 5. EcoSpace – Sustaining Our Planet and Our Humanity Rationale: EcoSpace is dedicated to practical environmental stewardship. It recognizes that protecting the planet is not an abstract goal but a daily responsibility. EcoSpace celebrates and supports individuals and groups working to preserve natural resources, reduce pollution, and promote green living. It also honours those whose work with the earth—through farming, science, or art—reflects a deep respect for nature. Integration: EcoSpace links with TradeWorks on sustainable agriculture, with The Idea Hub on environmental innovation, and with The Safe Space on education that encourages families to live more sustainably. It symbolizes FIPA’s commitment to balancing progress with preservation. How the Divisions Work Together All five divisions are interconnected by a shared belief: that societal progress requires balance between creativity, mental health, family strength, economic integrity, and environmental care. •The Idea Hub sparks innovation. •The Safe Space grounds those ideas in compassion and everyday human experience. •TradeWorks brings economic structure and opportunity. •The Mental Health Centre safeguards emotional stability and productivity. •EcoSpace ensures that all progress respects the natural world that sustains us. Together, they form a wholistic ecosystem of renewal, true to FIPA’s vision of advancing thought, building people, and strengthening society.
Our Mission
FIPA promotes wellbeing and social progress through education, research, and interdisciplinary collaboration in five key areas: creativity and innovation, family and community life, trade and industry, mental health, and environmental sustainability. We are committed to cultivating responsible leadership and developing practical solutions that strengthen individuals, institutions, and the natural world.
Our Vision
We envision a world where creativity, enterprise, and environmental care work together to advance human wellbeing and responsible leadership.
Through collaboration across ideas, mental health, family life, trade, and sustainability, we seek to build more innovative communities —guided by understanding and balance.
Areas of Focus
Education
Education is at the heart of FIPA’s work. We believe that learning—formal and informal, personal and collective—is the foundation of all progress. Through our research, publications, workshops, and online resources, we promote critical thinking, ethical awareness, and the kind of lifelong learning that leads to responsible leadership. Education, for FIPA, is not only about knowledge—it is about the transformation of mind and character for the good of society.
Innovation
FIPA champions creativity as a driving force for social and economic renewal. We encourage new ways of thinking and problem-solving that bridge disciplines and inspire collaboration. From the development of sustainable trade models to environmental initiatives and mental health education, innovation allows us to transform insight into practical solutions. It ensures that our work remains dynamic, relevant, and capable of addressing the evolving challenges of our world.
Social Growth
True progress is measured not only by advancement but by connection and resilience. FIPA’s commitment to social growth focuses on building stronger families, healthier workplaces, and more inclusive communities. By supporting wellbeing, ethical enterprise, and environmental care, we help create the conditions in which people can thrive—emotionally, economically, and socially. Social growth is the measure of how well we live together and the legacy we leave for future generations.