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News and analysis

Stay up to date on our latest news, publications and events

We change the conversation around the policy issues that matter through media, publications, podcasts, events and workshops.

Publications

All the findings, policy briefs and reports produced by our research teams are widely available for researchers, practitioners and the general public.

Chinese New Year celebrations in Sydney's Chinatown.

Podcasts

Catch up on our podcasts to hear all the new and bold ideas coming out of the Lab and our community.

News and commentary

Our research community gets behind the news to the biggest issues of the day in the Lab blog, and our work is frequently cited in the media. Catch up on the latest at the Lab.

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Policy Matters

Australia goes to the polls on 21 May. So what are the issues that should matter for Australians? What are the essential choices we need to make as a country?

Leadership for Good: Nick Bryant

Reflections from a returned correspondent

In this Leadership for Good talk, Senior Policy Fellow Nicky Bryant and Tim Soutphommasane were in conversation about leadership and change, including reflections from Nick on his time covering the world's presidents and prime ministers up close as a senior BBC correspondent.

Out of the Ordinary: How Can We All Work Together to Build a Better Australia

With the pandemic ripping at the social fabric of our city, an inspiring line up of speakers came together for the Lab’s 2021 Annual Event to discuss what we can all do to support each other through the pandemic and create a better Australia.

The latest from the Lab

Buhle Booi and Nkosikhona Swaartbooi from South African civil society organisation Reclaim the City closed the Lab’s 2019 Annual Event, which showcased stories and analysis of social change and community organising from around the world.

Director of the Lab Marc Stears interviewed former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd as part of the Sydney Ideas public talks program.

Organisations across the migration sector came together with researchers for a workshop at the Lab on adapting community refugee sponsorship models for Australia.

A member organisation of the Sydney Alliance, the Lab helped to fill Sydney Town Hall with over 2000 Sydneysiders driven to change housing and energy policy ahead of the 2019 Federal Election.

Nobel Laureate and 2018 Sydney Peace Prize winner Joseph Stiglitz came together with Oxfam Australia and the Policy Lab to discuss the key drivers of economic inequality in Australia.

In partnership with the Museum for Contemporary Art and renowned Australian artist Janet Laurence, the Lab convened a series of interactive public conversations about the arts, the environment and policy.

Together with former Sex Discrimination Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission and UN Special Rapporteur Elizabeth Broderick, the Lab helped researchers working on issues of fairness and gender equality build a shared agenda.

New York University’s Jonathan Haidt visited the Lab, here pictured with Vice Chancellor Michael Spence, to debate the roots of and ways to ameliorate the rise of political polarisation.

Citizens UK Deputy Director and Lead Organiser Jonathan Cox told the story of organising across Cardiff and London at the culmination of a three week gathering of leading change-makers from around the world, hosted by the Lab.

The Lab’s Director Marc Stears gave his inaugural lecture to a full house of Sydneysiders on strengthening our democracy through everyday action, generosity, humility, open-mindedness and creativity.

The Lab partnered with the Wayside Chapel on its Side by Side Conference, bringing people together from all walks of life to work on building a fair and equitable society. The Lab’s Director Marc Stears is pictured with Wayside’s Pastor and CEO Jon Owen. Photo credit: © Wayside Chapel

At Wayside Chapel’s Side by Side conference, Lab Director Marc Stears led a conversation with the former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and three high school students on how to engage young people in the political decisions that will affect their lives.

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Policy Matters

Australians will be heading to the polls on May 21. What are the issues that should matter for Australians? What are the essential choices we need to make as a country?

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Appointment of Policy Fellows

Renowned former BBC correspondent Nick Bryant, and economic researcher Claire Connelly, will be joining the Lab to pursue research investigating the future of democracy, economic inequality and an agenda for post-pandemic rebuilding in Australia.

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Strengthening Australian civil society

In partnership with Paul Ramsay Foundation and in collaboration with civil society leaders from across Australia, the Lab has embarked on an ambitious project to strengthen civil society and build community resilience.

Publications

Podcasts

News and commentary

Policy Matters

Leadership for Good: Nick Bryant

Out of the Ordinary: How Can We All Work Together to Build a Better Australia

Latest Sydney Policy Lab news

Policy Matters

Appointment of Policy Fellows

Strengthening Australian civil society

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