Research and Policy
The research and policy work of Lab members forms a network of projects, collaborations and nodes.
We invite you to browse current and past work below, read our publications and get involved.
Research projects
Major research projects are at the core of the Lab’s work. Each project is led by an Academic Chair from the University of Sydney, involves collaborators from across faculties and external partners, and is supported by Lab staff.
Championing Australia’s Relational Economy
The Championing Australia’s Relational Economy program seeks to elevate care in society through exploratory and applied research that embeds person-centred principles, values and practices in Australian public policy.
Building on the success of Australia Cares, the program is an umbrella for the Lab’s multidisciplinary, community-centred research across the lifespan. We work with people across the University of Sydney alongside the expertise and wisdom of CARE partners in the community. The program’s strength is its commitment to partnership with communities, practitioners, researchers and policymakers in Australia and internationally.
Collaborations
Our collaborations connect Lab researchers with other research groups, governments, civil society organisations and philanthropy.
- Housing and inequality – Professor Garry Barrett, Associate Professor Leigh-Anne Hepburn and Professor Jaime Miranda.
Nodes
Breakthroughs on complex policy challenges happen when researchers share building understanding and relationships across disciplinary lines. The Lab is nurturing these connections through nodes.
Each node in our policy network is a group of academics and community members with a shared interest in a specific public policy area or methodology that can transform lives.
With Lab support and seed funding, node members share existing work, create space for collaboration and nurture future full-scale Lab research projects. For academics, nodes are an opportunity for leadership, connection with peers and access to the benefits of Lab membership.
We warmly encourage colleagues to find out more and express interest in forming a node (pdf, 62KB) before 9 October 2024.
Policy Bites research seminars
Our lunchtime seminars – Policy Bites – are a forum for researchers and practitioners to present their exploratory and applied policy work in its early stages. Each public seminar gathers the Lab community in our collaborative space to hear and discuss new research as we exchange ideas across disciplines.
In semester 2 2024, seminars are Tuesday at 1 pm in the Lab’s space.
Semester 2, 2024 Policy Bites
- 10 September – Premature mortality of racial minorities and the poor, politics, and the perpetuation of inequality - Associate Professor Javier Rodriguez, Claremont Graduate University
- 24 September – Story Tech: Power, Storytelling & Social Change Advocacy – Professor Ariadne Vromen, Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU
- 15 October – A whole-systems approach to person-centred care – Professor Brendan McCormack, Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, The University of Sydney
- 29 October – Is global childhood immunisation still a force for equity? – Professor Kim Mulholland, Murdoch Children's Research Institute
- 12 November – Co-governance: Communities and government working together better – Dr Frances Foster-Thorpe, NSW Cabinet Office; Professor Ilan Katz, Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW; Dr Shona Bates, Centre for Future Health Systems, UNSW
Policy Bites are organised by Dr Kate Harrison Brennan, Director, Sydney Policy Lab; Dr Assel Mussagulova, Lecturer in Public Policy and Public Administration, School of Social and Political Sciences; and Associate Professor Meru Sheel, Sydney School of Public Health.