Society and wellbeing

Explore the highlights of our recent work, media coverage and more.

We support policymakers in addressing Australia’s most pressing challenges in housing, health, education and more.

Advancing societal wellbeing in Australia requires practical, evidence-based approaches to address challenges such as the cost of living, housing affordability, healthcare access, and equal opportunities.

We work closely with policymakers to identify their challenges and leverage university expertise and evidence to find innovative solutions to these pressing issues, identifying actionable strategies that address local needs, support long-term sustainability, and create lasting, positive impact for all Australians.

Highlights

Health

At the 2026 Policymaker Summit, we brought together leaders across health, policy and lived experience to examine youth mental health and wellbeing, including access to support, social and economic pressures, online harms and how young people can have a more meaningful role in shaping policy.
Social policy

Our pioneering report, developed in close collaboration with the NSW Department of Communities and Justice and the Centre for Relational Care, outlines clear, actionable steps for driving a course change in child protection in NSW, paving the way for more effective and inclusive approaches to safeguarding vulnerable children.

Education

In 2022, the Australian Government launched an ambitious process to develop the Australian Universities Accord to drive transformative reform of Australia’s higher education system. The Institute was commissioned by the Australian Universities Accord Panel to help design a new funding model for Australian higher education teaching and scholarship.

Ongoing work

Policy Challenge Grant
Associate Professor Ruth McCausland (University of New South Wales)
| 2025 – Present
Policy Challenge Grant
Dr Marina De Barros Pinheiro (University of Sydney)
| 2025 – Present
Policy Challenge Grant
Professor Louise Crabtree-Hayes (Western Sydney University)
| 2024 – Present
Policy Challenge Grant
Dr Angela Smith and Dr Jenna Condie (Western Sydney University)
| 2024 – Present

Completed work

Policy Fellowship
Bernard Ripperger
| 2025 – 2026
Heritage planning and housing supply in NSW
Policy Fellowship
Meagan Kanaley (on secondment from NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure)
| 2025 – 2026
Policy Challenge Grant
Professor Scott Eacott (University of New South Wales)
| 2024 – 2026
Policy Challenge Grant
Associate Professor Fiona Allison (University of Technology Sydney)
| 2024 – 2026
Policy Challenge Grant
Prof Amy Conley Wright (University of Sydney)
| 2022 – 2026
Policy Challenge Grant
Professor Kalervo Gulson (University of Sydney)
| 2023 – 2026
Policy Challenge Grant
Dr James Deehan (Charles Sturt University)
| 2023 – 2026
Policy Challenge Grant
Associate Professor Alfredo Paloyo (University of Wollongong)
| 2024 – 2026
Policy Challenge Grant
Associate Professor Ghena Krayem (University of Sydney)
| 2022 – 2026
Policy Fellowship
Dr Sophie-May Kerr (UNSW)
| November 2023 – March 2024
Policy Fellowship
Dr Archie Thomas (UTS) and Samara Hand (UNSW)
| 2024 – 2026

Recent reports

Media coverage and op-eds

Open Forum
21 April 2026