All Publications

2024

Menopause Matters: Igniting Change with Menopause Policy Reform  Despite being a natural process of human biology, the United Nations Population Fund notes that the menopause transition 'remains shrouded in secrecy'.  Thankfully, the veil is slowly lifting, evidenced by articles, interviews, and features stories in newspapers, and on radio, television and podcasts over the past few years.  Half of the population will experience the menopause transition directly, and the other half indirectly as a result of their relationships with partners, friends or colleagues. It can be a difficult time for all involved - physically, mentally, and socially. Yet perimenopause and menopause remain largely overlooked, undervalued, and under-researched.  Read Here

Reclaiming the Future: Safeguarding the Rights and Needs of Children and Future Generations From the moment of birth, a child's survival, health, and wellbeing depends on adults. Not just those closest to them - parents and grandparents - but adults that children will never know and whose decisions and attitudes will determine much about their childhood and the future they experience.  Children's reliance on adults is not by choice but necessity. It is a non-negotiable part of being a child. The child-adult relationship is an unwritten and unenforceable contract that relies on adults doing the right thing by children. It is an extraordinary power over and responsibility that every generation has to the one that follows them.  Read Here

2023

Indian Ocean Futures: Prospects for shared regional success Could Australia and the 22 other sovereign nations that stretch across Eastern and Southern Africa, the southern parts of West Asia, South Asia, South-East Asia and Australasia who share the Indian Ocean be on the cusp of a Golden Age of prosperity? The UWA Public Policy Institute has established itself as a key player in the public policy space since its establishment in 2018. Now in its fifth year, the Institute is marking an exciting new phase as it expands its impact beyond borders and across the region with its most ambitious report yet. With expert contributions from 20 international leaders and academics, Indian Ocean Futures casts an eye across the dynamics of the region, exploring the proposition there is real scope to develop the collective prosperity, sustainability and connectivity of the region. From a reimagining of the Ocean as a trade destination rather than simply a route through which trade passes, through to using quinoa to alleviate food insecurity in South Asia, and unlocking the boundless potential of the African diaspora in Australia, Indian Ocean Futures is a prospectus for a concentration of minds, stimulating fresh debate about the extent, limits and nature of greater regional cohesion. Read Here (PDF 3.7MB)

The Governance and Operation of Smaller Statutory Agencies ANZSOG has partnered with the public sector commissions of Queensland and Western Australia to commission a research project investigating small statutory agencies, with the goal of producing best practice guidance for establishing and operating these increasingly important and numerous arms of government.  Research for this paper was undertaken by The University of Western Australia's Public Policy Institute. It is the first output from the project.   The paper reviews some relevant scholarly and grey literature and finds that while there has been significant consideration of governance issues in general, there have been fewer studies aimed at the interaction of these issues with the size of agencies. This analysis summarises the literature and its contribution to identifying issues facing small agencies, and also reveals critical gaps which will provide future directions for this research project and the field more broadly. Read Here (PDF 505KB)

2022

Annual Report 2021-22 Read a summary of the Institute's activities from July 2021 to December 2022, including events, publications, media mentions, policy briefings, and more.  Read Here (PDF 21.5MB)	WA 2050: People, Place, Prosperity What could Western Australia look like at mid-century and how do we get there? With 2050 a generation away, the report aims to stimulate progress, joining expertise across the sectors to expose future issues, their implications, the trade-offs involved, and the action that can be taken now to drive positive change.  Practical proposals made by the 50+ leading contributors to this report include:  Establishing a Storyteller-in-Chief of WA Formulating an operation plan to implement the Closing the Gap strategy Leading the call for a Federal Indian Ocean Strategy Ensuring budget proposals include a gender lens to measure impact on women Embracing a 'regulatory sandbox' approach to start-ups Setting pro-environmental behaviour mandates Funding primary and regional care to leverage telehealth and other technology  Read Here (PDF 12.5MB)	2022 Laki Jayasuriya Oration The 2022 Laki Jayasuriya Oration was delivered by the Hon. Dr Anne Aly MP, Federal Member for Cowan, Minister for Early Childhood Education and Minister for Youth.  The oration was created in honour of Emeritus Professor Laksiri (Laki) Jayasuriya (1931-2018) who was an intellectual, policy and campaigning pioneer. Having first arrived at The University of Sydney in the 1950s, he had an extraordinary career in academia, working at the interface of government and community organisations. Read Here (PDF 3MB)

2021

Annual Report 2020-21 Read a summary of the Institute's activities from July 2020 to June 2021, including events, publications, media mentions, policy briefings, and more.  Read Here (PDF 1MB)	Public Policy Engagement Guide: A Tool for UWA Researchers The only publicly-available guide of its kind in Australia, this publication upskills UWA researchers on how to engage potential government collaborators and funders, and how to make policy impact. It is a complement to the biannual 'How to work with government' researcher training workshops.  It includes advice on how to:  be successful in policy engagement and impact creation shape and influence public policy communicate your research to policymakers write for policy professional  pitch to media navigate the Australian policy landscape Read Here (PDF 1.6MB)	Going Further, Faster: A Policy Agenda for WA 2021 This report, published at the start of a new parliament, contains timely, evidence-based ideas and practical proposals to meet many of the most pressing current and emerging challenges for WA.  well researched and steeped in practical know-how, the report presents policy proposals that will advance environmental protection  safeguard and promote Aboriginal cultural heritage improve mental health outcomes (especially among children and young adults) diversify our strong yet concentrated economy, and refresh our democratic institutions, practices and cultures Read Here (PDF 7.7MB)

2020

The Preparedness Report: Climate Change and the Challenges Facing Universities and Professions This publication brings together 10 contributions from leading researchers and practitioners that look at the implications of climate change for academic disciplines and professional bodies: their responses to, as well as their responsibility to adapt in the face of its challenges.  A first of its kind, The Preparedness Report is about starting a debate in Australia and internationally on these and many more pressing questions. We very much hope that you find its contents interesting and the practical suggestions put forward useful and timely.  Read Here (PDF 5.8MB)	Re-imagining Australia: Migration, Culture, Diversity This publication gathers 11 essays from leading academics and practitioners that look at particular aspects of ethnic pluralism in Australia. For instance, the inclusion of diverse voices in national democratic politics is an important issue in understanding whether, or how far, ethnicity acts as a source of political division in Australia. The publication follows on from former WA Premier Geoff Gallop's Inaugural Laki Jayasuriya Oration (March 2020).  Read Here (PDF 0.8MB)	2020 Inaugural Laki Jayasuriya Oration The inaugural Laki Jayasuriya Oration was delivered by The Honourable Geoff Gallop, AC FIPAA, former Premier of Western Australia and Emeritus Professor of The University of Sydney.  The oration was created in honour of Emeritus Professor Laksiri (Laki) Jayasuriya (1931-2018) who was an intellectual, policy and campaigning pioneer. Having first arrived at The University of Sydney in the 1950s, he had an extraordinary career in academia, working at the interface of government and community organisations. Read Here (PDF 5MB)

2019

Our Priorities: Sharing Prosperity UWA Capability Statement In February 2019, the WA Government published 'Our Priorities: Sharing Prosperity'. This contained the essential story of how government would seek to build a better outcomes for the people of our state. To achieve that goal requires knowledge expertise and know-how. It requires better and timely use of our capabilities of The University of Western Australia. Making a genuine difference to the six pillars of 'Our Priorities' is of great importance to UWA, and we have created our response to the government's initial statement. Read Here (PDF 0.6MB)	From Workplace Stress to Workplace Wellness: An Assessment of the Health and Well-Being of Local Government Chief Executive Officers in Western Australia Local government Chief Executive Officers across the State of Western Australia are facing unprecedented levels of work-related stress. This report documents, for the first time ever, their previously hidden afflictions. Using a multi-method approach to data collection, researchers employed inductive focus group, abductive in-depth qualitative interviews and deductive quantitative survey research to shine an important light not only on the extend of their distress, but also on the relevant antecedents and effects. This report was prepared for Local Government Professionals Australia WA. Read Here (PDF 5.5MB)	2019 Reid Oration This year's lecture was delivered by the Honourable Geoff Gallop, AC FIPAA, former Premier of Western Australia and Emeritus Professor of the University of Sydney. In his scintillating speech, Professor Gallop examined the case for political reform and the culture of political activism in Australia based on the radical agenda around constitutional changes, and drew on the examples of the referendum on the Australian Republic, the campaigns for legally protected rights and liberties and, finally, indigenous recognition. Read Here (PDF 3.4MB)

 

Big Issues for Western Australia Big Issues for Western Australia gets opinion formers to look at concerns that are vital for the future success of the state's economy, communities, public services and social cohesion. Contributors are focused on old and new problems, fresh ideas and approaches, and crucially, the use of evidence and expertise to set policy choices, drawing on examples of what works elsewhere that can have traction in WA. Read Here (PDF 1.07MB)	Let Every Stage Advance: Policy Ideas for Australia's Fiftieth Parliament Let Every Stage Advance: Policy Ideas for Australia's Fiftieth Parliament contains 11 short essays from newly elected federal MPs and Senators, on the topic of a policy idea whose time is yet to come. The project has sought to engage with politicians, at the start of their parliamentary careers, on long-term public policy challenges that face our nation over the next 15 years. Read Here (PDF 1MB)