Enhancing societal wellbeing through inclusive, innovative, and cross-cutting approaches to social policy.
What we do
There is a need for research to have a positive impact on social, economic, and environmental systems. At ISSR, we are at the forefront of adaptive social policy research and innovation aimed at improving the welfare and societal wellbeing of people and communities experiencing disadvantage.
We work closely with government and non-government partners to identify and access relevant data across education, housing, family dynamics, employment, childcare, social services, and Indigenous affairs to inform policy designed to reduce social disadvantage and exclusion. We do this through inclusive, deliberative, and devolved approaches (e.g., place-based approaches and co-design/co-production) to improve access to opportunities for all.
Objectives
- Build partnerships with external stakeholders in government and non-government organisations.
- Co-design research projects that build evidence to support new programs and policies.
- Develop program logics to explain change and collect evidence to evaluate programs.
- Generate and synthesise evidence to inform the design of policies and programs that aim to support improved opportunities.
- Provide partners, stakeholders, and communities with actionable, evidence-based learnings and recommendations to support improved opportunities.
Project examples
- Foundation Partner for a National Centre for Place Based Collaboration
Australian Government Department of Social Services
- Empowered Communities Partnership: Lessons Learned Project
National Indigenous Australians Agency
- Queensland Housing Strategy 2017–2027 Research and Evaluation Program
Queensland Department of Housing and Public Works
- Evaluation of the Try, Test and Learn Fund
Australian Government Department of Social Services
- Evaluation of the Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot and Community Support Program
Australian Government Department of Home Affairs