Policy should target stigma of young motherhood, new research says Community & Social Mothers aged 35 years and older receive less social support than those of other ages, according to a new study that argues its findings should… Read more
Premium Expert briefings Most people don’t have enough time in their lives. Here's how government can help them get some of it back Thursday July 4, 2019 By Lyndall Strazdins & Sean Innis Features The relationship between time and policy is complex. For the most part, policymakers do not consider time impacts for individuals and families. The use of… Read more
Does evidence still matter? What works now? Sunday June 23, 2019 By Maria Katsonis Research Series The idea of evidence based public policy has been fundamental to policy making since it first came to prominence over 20 years ago. Events around… Read more
Looking back to look forward: from ‘Twelve Actions’ to ‘Policy Profession 2025’ Sunday June 2, 2019 By Policy Profession Board (UK) Features Five years ago, the UK's Policy Profession Board made a commitment to improve policy making across government, signing the Twelve Actions to Professionalise Policy Making… Read more
Former secretary: 'persuasion and trust' the keys to 'complex' role of leading a department Friday May 10, 2019 By Stephen Easton Federal The most useful tools for senior public servants are “persuasion and trust” in the view of former Commonwealth secretary Gordon de Brouwer, who sits on… Read more
Mike Mrdak: public servants must ditch the business jargon, stop being scared of citizens Wednesday May 8, 2019 By Stephen Easton Communications & Technology Government agencies need to be more open, honest and direct with the public, come to terms with social media and realise that working with people… Read more
How do we ensure health policies are informed by evidence? Tuesday February 26, 2019 By Sax Institute Case studies A landmark study led by the Sax Institute has revealed a new way forward in helping health policy agencies build their capacity to use research… Read more
Flooded with criticism, MDBA finds a small island of common ground Thursday February 21, 2019 By Stephen Easton Community & Social The Murray-Darling Basin Authority says the recent South Australian royal commission produced some “useful analysis and insights” and notes a few “areas of agreement” in… Read more
Murray-Darling plan a failure of evidence-based policy and co-operative federalism Monday February 4, 2019 By Stephen Easton Editors' Picks Public servants are in the firing line of a caustic final report from the South Australian royal commission into the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, which found… Read more
Martin Parkinson: public servants should school rookie MPs and ministers Tuesday December 18, 2018 By Stephen Easton Federal The public service should provide training to new members of parliament, ministers and their staff, in the view of senior Commonwealth secretary Martin Parkinson. He… Read more
If you build it, will they come? Solving the participation problem for parenting support Monday November 26, 2018 By Naomi Hackworth Editors' Picks Parenting support programs can reduce the impact of socio-economic disadvantage on children, but only if parents participate, and often there is no funding for encouraging… Read more
Why Australian leadership would benefit from more scientists Wednesday October 17, 2018 By Robin Batterham Editors' Picks The world would be better served by our leaders acting as scientists do, coming up with the best solutions based on the evidence at hand,… Read more
Fortress gov: can scholars, bureaucrats team up to breach ministerial walls? Thursday August 16, 2018 By Stephen Easton Features Policymakers need empirical research, and a lot of researchers aspire to influence public policy. There is a sense, however, that the lines of communication between… Read more
Evidence-making: 8 approaches for hearing from people with intellectual disability Tuesday July 24, 2018 By Ariella Meltzer Case studies What is involved in ensuring that the voices of people with intellectual disability can be heard in evidence-making? Dr Ariella Meltzer demonstrates with her recent research… Read more
Evidence-based policy still requires 'the art of sweet persuasion' Friday July 13, 2018 By Stephen Easton Editors' Picks The evidence-based policy movement places facts ahead of feelings, but perhaps it also corresponds with a decline in the arts of political negotiation and marshalling… Read more
