Apps of 2020, recommended by the Australia Institute team
Here’s a list of apps that Australia Institute staff and our friends have been using and recommend.
Radio Paradise
Radio Paradise is a non-commercial listener-supported Internet radio station that helped to redefine the radio station for the internet era. It is known for high-quality audio streams and curated playlists.
Radio Paradise broadcasts commercial-free music mixes that blend many styles and genres of music, carefully selected and mixed by two real human beings, and presented in ultra high fidelity sound.
Buycott
Buycott reads the Universal Product Codes barcode on a product, and suggests whether a consumer should buy or avoid that product based on how well it aligns with the consumer’s values and principles
Shop Ethical!
The Shop Ethical! app gives you the low-down on the environmental and social record of companies behind common brands you buy in Australian supermarkets and beyond. Designed to provide consumers with the easiest way to make informed purchasing decisions.
Waking Up — Sam Harris meditations
There are hundreds of meditation apps on the market, and several do a fine job of teaching the basic principles of mindfulness. But most present the practice as though it were an ancient version of an executive stress ball — the purpose of meditation isn’t merely to reduce stress or to make you feel better in the moment — it’s to make fundamental discoveries in the laboratory of your own mind. Waking Up is structured around its two core principles: You can PRACTICE meditation, and you can learn the THEORY behind the practice.
GoodFish
Here to empower you to act on growing public concern about the impact of fishing on our ocean ecosystems and their wildlife. A simple choice can support an abundance of fresh and local seafood for generations to come.
One Small Step
One Small Step is a profit-for-purpose environmental enterprise that uses behavioural science and technology to help Australians adopt green habits and reduce their carbon footprints.
The app offers a number of pathways — each showing the net impact, the number of stages, and the level of difficulty. This “gamification” breaks up knowledge blocks, with tasks, and actions. The idea is to progress at your own pace through the positive steps you can take, while learning why these steps are important.
Be my eyes
Be My Eyes is a free app that connects blind and low-vision people with sighted volunteers and company representatives for visual assistance through a live video call.
Good on You
Good On You is your trusted source of sustainability ratings for fashion. Join more than a million people worldwide using Good On You to shop better and create a sustainable future.
The Good On You app gives you the power to easily check the impact of your favourite fashion brands on the issues you care about. Use the app to discover better alternatives, learn more about ethical fashion shopping, and get exclusive offers from the best brands.
Calm
Calm is a guided meditation app to help reduce stress and enhance wellbeing. The 7-step program teaches you how to meditate, with adjustable nature scenes and relaxing music tracks. Sessions range from 2 to 30 minutes on the topics of focus, creativity, energy, confidence, sleep, and more.
