Strengthening Australia's Policy Reform 'Muscle'

From entrenched disadvantage and climate change to geopolitical instability and artificial intelligence, governments around the world face an urgent need to deliver major, cross-cutting policy reforms. In Australia, progress on complex reform has been limited in recent years, vexed, among other things, by competing evidence claims and resourcing allocations.  

A new research initiative, Strengthening Australia’s Policy Reform ‘Muscle’, is exploring how public sector organisations can build the conditions required for successful reform. Co-funded by ANZSOG and the South Australian Department of the Premier and Cabinet and led by Dr Ruth O'Connor with co-chief investigators Professor Sara Bice and Dr Hayley Henderson, at the Australian National University (ANU) Crawford School of Public Policy, the project addresses a core theme in ANZSOG’s Research Program on public sector capability for policymaking. 

Photo caption: I2S Research Team for the 'Strengthening Australia's Policy Reform Muscle' ANZSOG Research Model Project: (left to right) Lead Researcher Dr Ruth O'Connor, Co-investigators Dr Hayley Henderson and Professor Sara Bice. Photo: Jess Butters.

Launched at the National Press Club on 21 October 2025, two Research Reports and seven Case Studies are available now to support policy reform efforts. Cases cover all levels of government and broad policy disciplines, from nature-based infrastructure solutions to the NDIS, from urban water sustainability to local councils grappling with the January 26 debate, from the NSW Net zero agenda to monetary policy reform and the RBA. 

Short on time? I2S Director Professor Sara Bice's keynote address summarises the key findings and recommendations. 
Photo caption: I2S Director Professor Sara Bice delivers the findings on behalf of the research team at the National Press Club. Photo: ANU Media.