James Martin Institute for Public Policy

**Policymaker Challenges** 🧠Wellbeing The Policymaker’s newly launched Challenges hub brings together cross-sector experts to explore policy solutions for some of Australia’s biggest challenges. Today’s spotlight on the Wellbeing hub showcases articles that address how Australia can prioritise wellbeing and early intervention – including in education and care – to address social and economic challenges. Read some of the top articles in this hub below: 📝 ‘Children in crisis need real relationships: the case for a child connection system’ by Jarrod Linkston Wheatley A child protection system preoccupied with risk aversion is impending the emotional growth of children. We need a new model based on relational care and reciprocity to break the cycle. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gzpE67cD 📝 ‘Two minutes is all it takes: measuring food security in Australia’ by Dr Sue Kleve, Katherine Kent and Dr Rebecca Lindberg Food insecurity is a growing problem for Australians – but we need better data and evidence to understand it. Here’s how government can implement more robust and comprehensive data collection to inform policymaking on food security. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gxHeek2p 📝’Reducing the prevalence of diabetes and empowering communities for prevention’ by Cristy Brooks and Freya MacMillan Better coordinated approaches that prioritise preventative health could help stem diabetes prevalence in Australia. https://lnkd.in/gGfduUSc Find out more about the Challenges hub here: https://lnkd.in/gqNRhteH #wellbeing #impact #policyinnovation Centre for Relational Care Monash University University of Wollongong Deakin University Western Sydney University

Our Policy Challenge Grants enable researchers to tackle the greatest policy challenges facing NSW and wider Australia. In 2024, JMI awarded grants to nine innovative projects. These projects aim to develop and advance policy solutions that align with key government priorities including addressing social and affordable housing, the transition to a Net Zero economy, and redirecting investment to early intervention and prevention. Find out more about our 2024 grant projects here: https://lnkd.in/gKRsUqbC Applications for the 2025 Policy Challenge Grant round will close on 2 May 2025. To learn more and apply, visit https://lnkd.in/gW_6t8ci Louise Crabtree-Hayes Chris Tulloch Anne Irvine Fiona Versey Kim Pascoe Shoshana Fogelman Annette McLaren

Yesterday our JMI team took part in University of Technology Sydney's Higher Degree Research Induction Expo! It was a pleasure to meet so many students and researchers from across the university and to showcase our policy programs and projects! Learn more about JMI and current opportunities for researchers, such as our newly opened 2025 Policy Challenge Grant round here: https://lnkd.in/gW_6t8ci Fiona Versey Jonty Boshier

Applications for the 2025 JMI Policy Challenge Grant Program are now open!   A unique opportunity to shape public policy on critical issues facing government today, the 2025 Policy Challenge Grants are open to researchers at the following partner universities: University of Sydney Western Sydney University University of Technology Sydney UNSW University of Wollongong For more information on this opportunity see below:  - Program webpage with FAQs: https://lnkd.in/gW_6t8ci - Applicant guidelines:https://lnkd.in/g_XVAnV6 - EOI questions: https://lnkd.in/gm372-mF - Tips for submitting a strong application:https://lnkd.in/gJXZDyPU   Register for the upcoming information session on the 27th of March here: https://lnkd.in/gGsP_r7J   Anne Irvine Fiona Versey Kim Pascoe Annette McLaren Chris Tulloch Josephine Attwooll Shoshana Fogelman #research #funding #impact #publicpolicy #researchfunding #grants #jmi

The JMI team held an information session at the University of Wollongong today to share insights and highlight partnership opportunities with the University of Wollongong research community, ahead of the 2025 Policy Challenge Grants launch tomorrow. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with University of Wollongong on JMI's policy programs and projects, showcasing the policy impact of their work, and supporting capacity-building efforts for researchers to engage with government. Libby Hackett Anthony Dursi Jane Reynaud Camilla Lonsdale 

**JMI Grant Winners and Alumni Updates* We are excited to showcase the outstanding achievements and events featuring JMI’s grant winners and members of our alumni community: ⭐ Simon Rowell, as part of his JMI Policy Fellowship (Public Service stream), authored the Institute's latest Policy Insights Paper, "A Mission-oriented approach to public finance for NSW," which explores how the NSW Government can leverage investment in NSW manufacturing and beyond. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ghesqAsZ ⭐ Congratulations to Professor Rae Cooper and her team at the Australian Centre for Gender Equality and Inclusion @ Work for securing a 5-year grant to support research aimed at informing the Australian Government’s national strategy for gender equality. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ge8QUP6w ⭐ JMI published two Policy Insights Papers authored by grant teams from the University of Sydney and Western Sydney University: - “Harnessing community perspectives in disaster management,” by Associate Professor Margot Rawsthorne, Professor Amanda Howard, Dr Pam Joseph and Dr Cate Massola - “Building resilient Australian communities,” by Professor Ann Dadich, Dr Cris Townley, Professor Rebekah Grace, Distinguished Professor Lynn Kemp. Learn more here https://lnkd.in/gvHN-h9r and stay tuned for a webinar with the researchers and other key stakeholders! ⭐ Congratulations to Dr. Mitchell Gibbs for being recognised with the 2025 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Award by The Australian Academy of Science, in recognition of his leadership in a groundbreaking marine ecosystem restoration project in Botany Bay, supported by a JMI grant. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gp_fNcKY ⭐ Dr Ehsan Noroozinejad published two articles in The Conversation and was featured on ABC Radio: -  “Net-zero homes are touted as a solution for climate change, but they remain out of reach for most,” https://lnkd.in/gd_RFtn4 - “Shuttered car factories in Australia could be repurposed to make houses faster and cheaper,” https://lnkd.in/g_aR9jK9 - ABC Radio segment on modular housing, https://lnkd.in/gFVp36mD ⭐ Professor Louise Crabtree-Hayes and Dr Sophie-May Kerr, PhD both presented research at the Australasian Housing Researchers Conference (AHRC) 2025, held at the University of Sydney: Find out more here https://lnkd.in/eeJaq-VT Shoshana Fogelman Annette McLaren Anne Irvine UNSW City Futures Research Centre

**Policymaker Challenges** 🏠Housing The Policymaker’s newly launched Challenges hub brings together cross-sector experts to explore policy solutions for some of Australia’s biggest challenges. Today’s spotlight on the Housing hub showcases articles that address how Australia can improve the availability of affordable and appropriate housing for all people. Read some of the top articles in this hub below: 📝 ‘Driving electric vehicle uptake by supporting charging in apartment buildings’ by Thomas Longden & Gina Gatarin Greater access to EV charging in densely populated areas can encourage sustainability. Here’s four expert recommendations to boost EV charging installation in apartment buildings. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gkJTsCWZ 📝 ‘Boosting housing supply: towards a policy framework for prefabricated home’ by Parisa Ziaesaeidi Australians should embrace prefabricated homes as an efficient and sustainable way to boost supply and lower prices. Government should lead the way with a supportive policy framework. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gU99RXZy 📝’Making housing more affordable: bridging the policy gap’ by Ehsan Noroozinejad & Hassan Gholipour Fereidouni “Housing affordability” and “affordable housing” are distinct but related policy objectives. Australia needs an integrated strategy that protects vulnerable groups while fostering an economy that supports quality, reasonably priced housing for all. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/g67aYMgP Find out more about the Challenges hub here: https://lnkd.in/gXrCFFAa #housing #policyinnovation #challenges Urban Transformations Research Centre (UTRC) Western Sydney University Institute for Culture and Society (ICS)

Professor Barney Glover AO, Commissioner, Jobs and Skills Australia, Danielle Wood, Chair Productivity Commission, Libby Hackett CEO James Martin Institute for Public Policy along with session chair Professor Alec Cameron, Vice-Chancellor and President, RMIT University discuss the topic powering productivity: unleashing skills and innovation at the #UASolutionsSummit25.

JMI CEO, Libby Hackett, is participating on Universities Australia’s 2025 Solutions Summit panel “Powering productivity: Unleashing skills and innovation”, chaired by Professor Alec Cameron, Vice-Chancellor and President, RMIT University. The panel features insights from Professor Barney Glover AO, Commissioner – Jobs and Skills Australia and Danielle Wood, Chair – Productivity Commission. She discussed the role of universities in productivity, highlighting research and innovation including technology adoption in industry; education, skills and the workforce; attracting global talent; and creating vibrant cities and regions. Universities are also working to further support public sector productivity more broadly with R&D adoption. Learn more about JMI’s recent project here: https://lnkd.in/gbCi9_ca   Photo Credits: Peter Bentley #UASolutionsSummit25 #JMI 

Meet the 2024 Grant Winners 💡A new ‘build-to-rent-to-own’ model for ‘generation rent’ The project explores the potential of a “build-to-rent-to-own” housing model, which could offer previously excluded groups the opportunity to generate wealth from their housing. Lead researcher: Caitlin McGee, University of Technology Sydney Matthew Daly Joshua Gilbert Gordon Noble Find out more about this grant winning team here: https://lnkd.in/gKRsUqbC Fiona Versey