A new era of collaboration for Australian public policy
The Institute is a unique joint-venture between government and a coalition of universities dedicated to public benefit research. The Institute provides timely, pragmatic and useful advice to policymakers by leveraging existing public investment in research and expertise. Through its founding partnership with the NSW Government, and now an initial partnership with the Australian Public Service Commission, APPI is building a highly scalable model. As an independent, non-partisan charity, we are driven by a commitment to bolstering the democratic fabric of Australia.
Our unique value-add to 2030
APPI is a groundbreaking partnership forged with the common purpose of tackling the most pressing public policy challenges in Australia. As these challenges become more complex, APPI is strategically positioned to leverage a wide range of experts across policy areas, disciplines and geographies. APPI fills a critical need as a cost-effective resource for government support and capability-building, harnessing investment in research and better utilising the immense expertise in our public universities.
Institutional objectives
The Institute's objectives were determined by our government and university partners and are enshrined in APPI’s Constitution. They will continue to guide our work through to 2030.
Provide governments with an independent source of evidence-based policy advice on critical public policy issues to assist it meeting its priorities.
Build the university sector's research engagement with governments as an expert advisor.
Deliver a high quality, rigorous public policy program, including research and dissemination and discussion of research and analysis.
Translate research and evidence to improve public policy outcomes, including advancing social and public welfare.
Routinely liaise with governments in collaboration with other stakeholders to set and manage a public policy program and associated research agenda.
A partnership for the public good
APPI was conceived as a partnership model, bringing deep problem-solving capacity to government through our university partners. Central to our approach is a strong focus on policy impact, ensuring that we remain agile and highly responsive to the evolving needs of government.
Fostering greater government-university collaboration for the public good
- Collaborative partnership model.
- Clear shared mission.
- Genuine joint-venture with partners on an equal basis.
A model that delivers timely, pragmatic and useful policy advice to governments
- Delivers highly responsive, government-commissioned projects.
- Serves the government of the day, providing 'frank and fearless' advice.
- Helps government to solve their most pressing policy challenges.
- Harnesses world-leading research, evidence and expertise.
- Proven model for capturing research and expertise, while preserving academic independence.
APPI to 2030: Expanding reach
- Deepen partnership with the NSW Government and strengthen relationship with the Commonwealth Government.
- Strengthen collaboration with existing NSW partner universities, and expand scale offering to all NSW and ACT universities.
- Enhance cross-jurisdictional projects and knowledge exchange including opportunities that emerge in other states.
- Consider international partnerships through networks of evidence institutes and international policy fellows.
Government-initiated Policy Projects: 2030 Approach
Our Policy Projects are tailored to meet the needs of policymakers through expert-informed, project-based offerings. APPI leverages world-class expertise from Australian universities across a wide range of policy priorities for government. These projects can be commissioned by government as either in-depth (3-6 months) or rapid responses (2-6 weeks).
2030 Vision
- Make APPI a ‘go-to’ government partner, by enhancing knowledge of APPI’s capabilities, outputs and track record.
- Alongside the NSW Government, support the Commonwealth Government to deliver cross-governmental projects and support knowledge exchange.
- Develop our strength in economic, social and environmental policy portfolios.
- Harness wider expertise in industry, community, and lived experience.
Engagement & Partnerships: Continuous growth through 2030
To realise APPI’s 2030 approach, it will be critical to build greater inroads into the Australian and international public policy landscape, expand our coalition and strengthen the Institute’s reputation for contributing to public discourse. Core activity and objectives include publications, events, digital and brand, partner engagement and network-building, and thought leadership.
Additional activity through 2030
- Deliver the next chapter of the Institute's brand development to further empower the organisation to reach its strategic objectives.
- Bolster existing partnerships, expanding our reach and brand awareness, while delivering engagements with new and target partners.
- Ramp up activities to other stakeholders/amplifiers, including by building national and international networks for knowledge exchange.
- Expand delivery modes and organisational partnerships for APPI.
- APPI will strategically position The Policymaker as a critical thought leadership platform in Australia. APPI will seek out collaborations with other news outlets, agencies and like-minded organisations.
APPI Policy Futures: Policy Capacity-building
APPI Policy Futures works at the interface of policy, evidence and practice to drive new opportunities for capability-building and uplift for established and emerging policy experts. These practitioner-centred programs aim to enhance skills and knowledge exchange around best practice in contemporary policymaking. This workstream builds their respective capabilities to collaborate effectively on complex policy challenges.
From 2025 to 2030
APPI Policy Futures will roll out a range of offerings to governments and universities, including:
- Public Policy Masterclasses: Deep-dives by subject matter experts, with a focus on APPI's work to support evidence-based policymaking and engagement.
- Practitioner Series Accelerators: Knowledge and skills development; modular long and short form, in-person and self-serve.
- Intensive Whole-team Capability Clinics: Intensive in-person and team-based ‘learning by doing’ clinics.
Policy Grants and Fellowships: 2030 Approach
Through APPI's Policy Fellows and Policy Challenge Grants, the Institute supports engagement between researchers and policymakers, elevating critical policy development opportunities to government audiences. Policy Fellows, drawn from the public service and our partner universities, pursue policy development projects supported by APPI experts. The Institute’s Policy Challenge Grants support research teams in universities undertaking policy-focused research in areas identified as government priorities.
Bolstering our approach and methods to 2030
In the coming years, the Institute will look to build our grants and fellowship programs further by:
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Policy Challenge Grants |
Policy Fellowships |
|---|---|
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Further increase the impact of grants and enhance APPI support.
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Bolster impact and engagement, connecting to APPI project teams.
Expand fellowships to community and industry, including through seeking external funding. |
Our Impact
Over the last three years, the Institute has already achieved substantial impact across a wide range of policy areas. Our Impact Framework provides a rigorous approach to capturing the impact of our work and Impact Stories showcase the real benefits of better public policy on people and communities. We monitor and communicate impact in a continually evolving manner, recognising the inherent challenges of measuring the impact of collaborations in the policymaking process.
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