Creating public value through design thinking in policy: The case of Kansas’ prison system

In 2008, for the first time in the history of the United States, more than 1% of the adult American adult population was incarcerated. The prison population had increased approximately sevenfold since 1970, the US imprisoned more types of criminal offenders than any other country, and it kept them in prison longer. Here Jo Luetjens reports on work with her ANZSOG colleague Prof Michael Mintrom on how design thinking drove the introduction of an investment approach in the US state of Kansas. Early results are promising, and many other states have since taken up this approach.

Policy and governance, InnovationPower to Persuade16 February 2017prisons

Contracts and convicts: How perverse incentives created the death fleet

It might sound strange, but the tragic voyage of the second fleet, which killed 40% of the convicts on board, holds a lesson for contemporary governments about the consequences of perverse incentives. Here The Mandarin's David Donaldson reports on the work of ANZSOG scholars Gary Sturgess, George Argyrous and Sara Rahman.

Policy and governancePower to Persuade13 February 2017contracting, social services

REMINDING GOVERNMENT: HUMAN RIGHTS ARE CORE BUSINESS

Tomorrow is Human Rights Day. Each year the international community commemorates that day in 1948 when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Australia played a leading role in its development and reach. On its 68th anniversary, Patrick Emerton from the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law reminds us why human rights are more important than ever, and why governments must not forget their role.

Policy and governancePower to Persuade9 December 2016human rights, law

OPINION IS KING: HOW GOVERNMENTS CAN END THE CYCLE OF DISTRUST

Distrust between government and citizens goes both ways, but deliberative democracy offers opportunities in this age of individualism. The convenors of SA’s citizens’ juries, Emily Jenke and Emma Lawson consider how government can recover the trust of citizens.

Social justice, social enterprise and the market: Challenge or opportunity?

Dr John Butcher (ANZSOG Adjunct Research Fellow) recently addressed the Australian and New Zealand Third Sector Research Conference. His presentation offered expert reflections on the practical challenges of cross sector collaboration, and outlined the contribution of his recent open access ANZSOG/ANU Press book The Three Sector Solution: Delivering public policy in collaboration with not-for-profits and business.

NSW Out of Home Care Reform – A game changer?

Kirsty Nowlan, Executive Director, Social Policy and Advocacy at the Benevolent Society examines the major reforms being proposed for the NSW child protection system.

Issues, Policy and governancePower to Persuade24 November 2016ageing

Can we have a pro-community welfare state without the big society bullshit?

In this blog Simon Duffy explores the question of how to narrow the gap between public services (the official welfare state) and the community. He asks whether it is possible for use to develop a pro-community welfare state, one which works in harmony with its citizens, not against them.

Complexity and public policy: new approaches and old concerns

Complexity theorists often make bold claims about its potential to represent a scientific revolution that it will change the way we think about, and study, the natural and social world. In public policy. In this post, Paul Cairney and Robert Geyer talk about their new Handbook of Complexity and Public Policy, and how it suggests complexity can offer us new insights and normative tools to respond to a wicked world in novel and pragmatic ways.

Policy and governance, Creating using evidencePower to Persuade15 November 2016networked governance

Co-production for better public policy: uncovering the smoking gun research

It’s no longer enough for researchers to simply publish their findings. To have a real world impact on an issue like tobacco control, researchers need to work in partnership with policy makers, experts and the community, says Emily Banks from @SaxInstitute.

Women, Ageism and Elder Abuse

Ageism, or the devaluing of older people, differently impacts on women due to the overlay of sexist attitudes on women’s worth. Additionally, lower-status employment and financial insecurity can create an environment whereby older women are particularly vulnerable to instances of elder abuse. Today’s Scorecard identifies key areas for an improved policy response.

The limits of user-choice in specialised health and human services

Specialised health and human services have ‘credence attributes’ that make it difficult for users to discern the quality of care they receive. Thu-Trang Tran from the University of Melbourne argues that recent behavioural economic research and theories on the credence attributes of goods and services fundamentally challenge assumptions underpinning the Productivity Commission’s recommendations for the future of human services and add another layer of important considerations that must be factored into any design of market and regulatory reforms.

Social Service Futures, Policy and governancePower to Persuade2 November 2016evidence-based policy, health

Why Blue Box Thinking is Not Good for Collaboration

In today's video post, Professor Robyn Keast discusses what sets collaboration apart in the '5 Cs' of inter-organisational relationships - competition, cooperation, coordination, collaboration and consolidation. Her presentation builds on her post published on this blog in September: Think outside the 'Blue Box': Three reasons it matters for authentic collaboration.

Policy and governancePower to Persuade1 November 2016networked governance

Wisdom in Public Administration – The elephant in the room

In an environment of "post-truth politics" and hybrid governance, how can we ensure that those working in the public sector are trusted, equipped and encouraged to weigh up evidence, to negotiate consensus among different stakeholders and to design public policy and public services that promote the public good? Thu-Trang Tran, a PhD candidate at the University of Melbourne, explains why we should be looking for - and cultivating - wisdom in public administration.

Policy and governancePower to Persuade31 October 2016government

Law Officers, Lies and Video Tape

The Attorney-General and Solicitor-General's office have been locked in a high stakes political battle over the provision of advice to the Federal Government. In this post, Jennifer Duxbury (@duxburyjen) at the Institute for Governance and Policy Analysis at the University of Canberra, asks, what is the relationship between law and politics in our democracy? This post originally appeared on The Policy Space.

Policy and governancePower to Persuade26 October 2016accountability

Forced Marriage: More than a crime

As an egregious abuse of human rights and an often hidden form of violence against women and children, forced marriage needs very specific policy responses. Currently, the major response is a legal one, requiring police intervention. Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand has been a key driver in increasing awareness of its prevalence in Australia, through conducting research (The Right to Refuse) and helping to establish the Victorian Forced Marriage Network. Good Shepherd’s Kathy Landvogt explains why a criminal response, while important, is not adequate.

What does the Trudeau era mean for the social inequalities that spawn health inequalities? With appreciation to the insights of The Who

One year into the election win by Justin Trudeau and the Liberals in Canada, Prof Dennis Raphael of York University Canada (@DennisRaphael01) assesses progress on the social issues that underpin health. With promises to act on climate change, income inequality, and the inequities experienced by indigenous Canadians, is this government a harbinger of change or a party that "campaigns from the left yet governs from the right"?

Welfare investment approach ‘revolutionary’ — or is it?

Social Services Minister Christian Porter hails his new welfare investment approach as “close to revolutionary”. But how much is it a shift from the hardline approach? This piece, by David Donaldson, was originally published on The Mandarin.

Policy and governance, InnovationPower to Persuade1 October 2016social welfare, social inequalities

Why commissioning is like a unicorn

Today's post from Dr Helen Dickenson is on how the existence of high-quality commissioning is a bit like a unicorn, elusive and prone to unintended stabbiness. It first appeared on her website.

Policy and governancePower to Persuade26 September 2016cross-sector relationships

Reform and the (not so) new role of stewardship

Australian reform discussions have of late focused around some seemingly new language and ideas concerned with stewardship and commissioning. This is being touted as a fundamental change in what government does, but what does this actually mean and will it really lead to significant reform? Helen Dickinson asks these questions and more in our latest post.

Machinery of Government changes: could there be a better way?

Structural changes to government have become a common occurrence in Australia. But, in what circumstances are these so-called 'Machinery of Government' changes worth their while? Dr Gemma Carey reports on a comparison between Canadian and Australian contexts.

Policy and governancePower to Persuade19 September 2016government, policy making

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