How policymakers can partner with academics

Under APS Reform Priority 2, the Government has committed to building genuine partnerships and engagement –including with academia – to help develop policies and services that reflect the needs and aspirations of the people they affect. How can policymakers find, and work with, academics to make this happen?

Read time: 6 mins

By Cathy Fussell, a Sir Roland Wilson PhD scholar at the Australian National University.

You work in the public service and you want to work with academics to support your policymaking. Great! But how do you go about it? Here are a few ideas.

Online searches

Google Scholar is a good place to start. It tells you how often a work has been cited in other publications, links to authors’ profiles which include their body of work, and so-called ‘H-scores’ that quantify the size of their contribution to the field,.

University webpages are also worth a look. They usually provide a biography of an academic’s  career, research interests, current research projects and grants, advisory roles, teaching responsibilities, etc.

Publications that collate works from multiple authors on a topic, such as handbooks or special journal issues on a theme, can be another way to find key academics relevant to a subject.

The Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC) has a new platform called Research Link Australia. Co-designed in partnership with academics, government, and industry, the platform features a range of information about researchers, including their capability to collaborate with other non-academic sectors. It will also provide aggregate data about broader research investment across disciplines. Head there to start discovering collaboration opportunities with academics.

Word of mouth, conferences, and seminars

Once you find one or two researchers in the relevant field, a more analogue method is to ask them for referrals to other relevant experts. They may also be able to identify conferences and seminar series in the discipline or field where you can listen to and meet researchers directly.

Peak and intermediary bodies

The Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) hosts a seminar series in partnership with the Australian Parliamentary Library, and another series with the Australian Public Service (APS) Academy. ACOLA has access to more than 3,000 experts in their fields who contribute knowledge, critical thinking and academic evidence to inform national policy. With this breadth of interdisciplinary coverage, ACOLA can facilitate expert discussions on complex issues through trusted, independent and evidence-based advice.

The Australian and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG) was established over 20 years ago by a consortium of governments and universities. It provides public administration leadership and governance education and professional learning, expert advice, and government-focused research relevant to the public sector in partnership with academia. ANZSOG’s website includes a directory of its faculty and expert partners and can be contacted for advice on accessing university-based researchers it works closely with.

The more recently established James Martin Institute for Public Policy is a joint venture between the New South Wales Government and leading Australian universities. It works across government – both state and federal – to help address pressing policy priorities in Australia. The Institute works closely with ministers, advisors, and public servants in harnessing expert advice and public investment in research to improve evidence-based policymaking. Its Collaborative Projects bring together policymakers, researchers and practitioners to outline policy opportunities for critical, cross-government challenges, and its Rapid Response capability facilitates timely connections with relevant experts.

In-house connections

The Australian Government has a range of in-house research capabilities which can provide expert advice or links to external researchers. Broad scientific expertise can be accessed through, for example, the Office of the Chief Scientist or the CSIRO. More specific advice could also be sought through behaviour insights units, design labs, or data analytics units or agencies such as the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, or the Australian Institute of Family Studies.

Finally, the Australian Government has invested in building academic expertise through the Sir Roland Wilson and Pat Turner scholarships for APS staff to undertake PhDs and postgraduate studies. The Sir Roland Wilson Foundation lists on its website scholars and alumni across a broad range of subject areas including economics, First Nations’ perspectives, climate change, cyber security, data analytics, health, welfare, and education. Their recent deep engagement in academia makes these scholars and alumni a great source of expert advice and links to broader networks of relevant academics. Reach out to a scholar or alum directly, or seek advice from the Sir Roland Wilson Foundation.

Authored by

ANU Crawford School of Public Policy