About Us
Power to Persuade is an independent platform for global discussion about social policy, founded in 2011 and based in Australia.
Through our blog, Twitter account @PowertoPersuade, symposiums and webinars, we aim to promote understanding and communication across four key groups involved in designing, delivering, researching and/or navigating social policy – government, academics, the community sector, and people whose lives are shaped by it. The boundaries between these groups are blurring as more people move between them, but at times - even within their own ranks - they have contrasting views of how policy should be designed, translated into practice, and evaluated.
Power to Persuade is a space for everyone to contribute to knowledge and debate around social policy, to draw on lessons from around the world, and to build constructive connections with people with different perspectives. Alongside work from widely-acknowledged experts, we publish articles from people who aren't dominant voices in social policy research and practice, including early career researchers, frontline workers, and people and communities affected by policy decisions.
We encourage you to share your experiences of navigating policy processes and of social policy initiatives, programs and projects. We want to hear what works well in Australia and internationally; stories of unintended consequences; challenges you have faced or are facing in social policy; and things you’d like to see done differently.
Through open, constructive and respectful debate and discussion on this platform, our combined voices can be a powerful force for change.
Who We Are
Power to Persuade is an incorporated association run by volunteers.
Our blog and Twitter account @PowertoPersuade are managed on a rotating weekly roster by a volunteer team of highly skilled and well-informed moderators drawn from Australian and international universities and the community sector, backed by a specialist team of experts.
Our director, Associate Professor Sue Olney, has worked in government, the not-for-profit sector and as an academic. Our work is guided by a Committee of Management drawn from our members, and Professor Helen Dickinson in an advisory role.
Our work is supported by the Public Service Research Group at UNSW Canberra.
Our history
Power to Persuade was founded in 2011 by Professor Gemma Carey, in partnership with Dr Kathy Landvogt from the Women's Research, Advocacy and Policy (WRAP) Centre at Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand.
We became an incorporated association in 2021.
