The Crawford School partners with government on Strategic Policy Uplift

The Crawford School of Public Policy is honoured to collaborate with the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, ANU colleagues, and industry experts on the Strategic Policy Uplift Program - a vital initiative designed to enhance strategic policy capability across the sector.

At the opening of a two-day symposium for this program, Professor Janine O'Flynn, Director of the Crawford School, reflected on the importance of partnerships in shaping policy excellence.

This initiative has been co-designed with the department and key stakeholders, ensuring a collaborative approach to program development and implementation. As Professor O'Flynn noted, this program serves as a model for how ANU partners with the Australian Public Service - blending expertise from academia and government to create something truly unique. It also aligns with the Crawford School’s Executive Education programs, which are designed to equip policymakers with the tools and knowledge needed to tackle complex policy challenges.

Blair Comley PSM, Secretary of the Department of Health and Aged Care, highlighted the program's significance in addressing key themes identified in the department’s capability review. He described the review as a valuable diagnostic tool, outlining both strengths - such as the department’s response during the COVID-19 pandemic - and areas for improvement.

Three priority themes emerged: uplifting strategic policy capability, strengthening stakeholder engagement, and empowering executive-level leadership. He emphasised that effective policy requires a strong conceptual framework, rigorous analysis and communication, and a collaborative approach, ensuring that policy is grounded in reality and delivers real-world benefits for Australians.

David O'Toole, former CEO of the Canadian Institute for Health Information, added that this initiative builds on earlier discussions about Australia’s aged care challenges, providing an opportunity for key stakeholders - government, regulatory bodies, and service providers - to collaborate on innovative policy solutions.

We look forward to the further development of the program and to seeing the impact of this partnership in shaping the future of health and aged care policy in Australia!