Swinburne University has spent the past year polling 1,000 Australians on their perceptions and expectations of institutions across the government, public, private and NFP sectors.
The index compares the number of people with positive views of an institution’s leadership with those holding negative opinions.
The public sector – including hospitals and schools – had a net positive rating of +8, but the other three sectors rated negatively.
The private sector scored -18, the government sector scored -15, while the NFP sector rated -8.
Charities were actually the highest rated individual institution, but the sector’s public perception as a whole was hurt by religious organisations and trade unions.
Researcher Dr Timothy Bednall told Pro Bono News the royal commission into institutional child sex abuse and the George Pell court case were likely the major reasons for public mistrust in religious organisations.
He said the reputation of trade unions was probably hurt by John Setka’s court case and a lack of understanding about what unions do.
To view the ProBono article in full, click here.