The Academy of the Social Sciences congratulates the inaugural commissioners appointed to the Australian Tertiary Education Commission, including Fellow Dr Stephen Duckett FASSA. Australia’s tertiary education sector equips our future workforce with the professional and technical for a range of careers and drive research and innovation. More than a simple qualification and route to employment,…
A series of reports prepared by the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia and the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering for Safe Work Australia maps the national work health and safety (WHS) and workers’ compensation research landscape. The project used an innovative research methodology, combining a taxonomy based scoping review, case study…
What are the social sciences? What do they cover? And who’s involved – as students, teachers, scholars and professionals? How do the social sciences contribute to society? How are they funded? What are their strengths and weaknesses, within disciplines and across sectors? What are the success stories? And what are the ‘grand societal challenges’ that…
Monday 13 April 2026 | Canberra This invitation-only policy roundtable connected the Department of Education team developing the First Nations Education Policy with a multidisciplinary group of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social sciences researchers in an evidence-based conversation around whole of system transformation grounded in rights and options for enduring policy implementation. The purpose…
A new report prepared by the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia for Australia’s Chief Scientist and the National Science and Technology Council has been released. The report was commissioned by Government and overseen by an Expert Working Group of Fellows and other leading scholars. It found that cultural and community institutions and structures,…
The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia has joined with Australia’s other Learned Academies in welcoming the release of the Strategic Examination of R&D (SERD) chaired by Robyn Denholm. Speaking to media on the morning of release, Academy President Professor Kate Darian-Smith congratulated the Australian Government and the expert panel members for their work…
As part of the Australian Government’s 2025 Strategic Examination of Research and Development, six issue papers were released and feedback requested about the impact of research, development and innovation (RD&I). The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia submitted a response to Paper 1: National coordination (National coordination for RD&I impact) on 25 September 2025.…
On Tuesday 29 July, 2025, the Academy partnered with The Melbourne Institute of Applied Social and Economic Research and CEDA to convene 10 leading experts for a rapid-fire forum focused on immediate priorities for boosting Australia’s productivity. The discussion was moderated by ABC finance presenter Alan Kohler AM, and featured 5-minute presentations from experts…
Wednesday 30 July 2025 | Canberra The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia convened a Policy Roundtable exploring how integrated government data can support more effective, efficient policy development and the barriers to use and equitable access. The invitation only Roundtable connected researchers and other data users with funders and data custodians in government…
The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia’s Federal Election Series holds up a mirror to Australia’s evolving democratic system and the unique electoral landscape resulting from compulsory voting and preferential ballots. By convening leading researchers and political practitioners, the Academy has helped foster a collaborative space for in-depth analysis of the past 10 Federal elections, from 1996…
Friday 21 March 2025 | Canberra The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia convened a Policy Roundtable with the Australian Centre for Evaluation (ACE) on the topic of Advancing policy and program evaluation in Australian Government. The invitation only Roundtable connected research, government and industry stakeholders to explore how evaluation can support better policy…
Monday 5 August 2024 | Melbourne This invitation-only roundtable was organised by the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia and the Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE) to discuss challenges and opportunities for the field of education research in Australia going forward. The program and background papers were developed by a working group…
In August 2024, the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (the Academy) and the Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE) convened a Roundtable discussion of priorities and future directions for education research. The roundtable was attended by more than thirty representatives from universities, peak bodies and professional organisations, education unions and education research agencies. Attendees…
Australian Roadmap for Open Research Thursday 13 June 2024 | Canberra A nationally significant conversation to initiate design of an Australian Roadmap for Open Research. Australia needs a clear vision and co-ordinated leadership for Open Research. This invitation-only policy roundtable connected a diverse group of stakeholders from across government, research funding bodies, peak bodies, the…
Thursday 28 – Friday 29 September 2021CANBERRA A comprehensive analysis of the 2021 Intergenerational Report produced following the roundtable is now available. View the book here. The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia convened an in-depth discussion of the role of the IGR and of the assumptions and methodology underpinning its projections. Papers were…
Friday 19 April 2024 | Canberra This invitation-only policy roundtable connected the Productivity Commission team undertaking the inquiry into Australia’s early childhood education and care sector with a multidisciplinary group of Academy Fellows and leading social sciences experts. The roundtable focused on two important aspects of the early learning system: effective models of system stewardship…
A comprehensive summary of Shaping the Future: A new approach to policy that works for young people is available to read and download now. Shaping the Future: A new approach to policy that works for young people is a nationally significant conversation on how young people are positioned within the policy development and implementation landscape…
The Decadal Plan for Social Science Research Infrastructure 2024-33 is a forward-looking blueprint for transforming Australia’s social science research infrastructure over the coming decade, so it can effectively support researchers working at the forefront of their fields and equip the social sciences to address Australia’s most pressing and evolving societal challenges. The Academy extends a…
On Tuesday 5 April, representatives from Australian universities, research institutes, Commonwealth Government science and data agencies, community organisations, Academies and national collections convened in Canberra to discuss planning and investment in the critical social science research infrastructure needed to address the social and economic challenges facing Australia over the next decade. The discussion covered the…
Developments in work and wellbeing for contemporary Australia is a nationally significant conversation on wellbeing frameworks, the care and support economy and the non-financial benefits of work. This policy roundtable connected a diverse range of senior officials with a multidisciplinary group of Academy Fellows and leading social sciences experts. Read a summary of the discussion…
Australia’s Data-Enabled Research Future:The Social Sciences The aim of this project was to identify recent developments, opportunities, and priority gaps in Australia’s social science research data ecosystem. This ecosystems includes Research Data Commons (large-scale data storage and computation infrastructure along with analytic tools and interoperability protocols) as well as the workforce andgovernance arrangements required to…
Academy statement on Australian action needed to address climate change Statement on the need for a price on greenhouse gas emissions Principles of Effective Policy Reform: Lessons for Australia’s Climate Change Policy Impasse The second report from the Academy’s climate change program follows a roundtable discussion in early 2021 in which research and policy experts…
The devestating bushfires over the summer of 2019/2020 have brought into sharp focus the need for the whole of Australian society to proactively mitigate, manage and prepare for the impacts of climate change. The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia has some of our countries leading researchers and policy makers working on these pressing…
This workshop on approaches to regenerating integrity and trust in public institutions is a free event for public servants and community sector representatives, with a morning and repeat afternoon session available. The Academy’s 2018 Symposium brought together researchers from the forefront of inquiry into integrity and trust in institutions. The Symposium’s convenors and leading experts on…