Posts in Creating using evidence
How to make make outcomes-based funding work

Outcomes-based funding gets a lot of flack from the community sector. As Simon Smith from Wesley Mission raised in a post earlier this week, its ambiguity is taken as cause for concern.

Simon's post got us thinking about what some of the upsides of outcomes-based funding might be. So, as we like to do from time-to-time at PTP, we asked some academics to lend a hand.

In this article Dr Fiona Buick (@fibuick) from the University of Canberra, Dr Gemma Carey (@gemcarey) from ANU and Dr Pauline McLoughlin (@PJ_McLoughlin), Lighthouse Institute and Centre for Youth Mental Health affiliate, ask: 'what’s so bad about outcomes-based funding?'

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Creating using evidenceDr. Gemma Careyoutcome and impacts
Moral arguments, twitter and the quest for policy change

Moral and ethical arguments sit at the core of public policy. Politics and policymaking is, after all,  a contest over ideas and world views.

The evidence-based policy paradigm has encouraged academics and, to a lesser extent, advocates to disengage from the moral dimensions of the arguments they make. But, by disengaging we sidestep the very ground upon which policy arguments are fought and won.

Below, Associate Professor Brent Sasley  and Associate Professor Mira Sucharov reflect on the opportunities presented when we combine evidence with a moral stance through social media:

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Creating using evidence, AdvocacyPower to Persuadeevidence-based policy, media
Social Policy Whisperer: Criticism isn't enough, where do we go from here? Reactions to the response to the budget

We've seen widespread criticism of the budget (some of it on this blog!), particularly around cuts to social policy and the (potential) removal of the safety net. While critique is important, Prof. Paul Smyth from the University of Melbourne draws our attention to the lack of feasible alternatives put forth in post-budget commentary. In particular, Paul urges us to think wider than individual social policies to begin to (re)image what the Australian welfare state should look like for this century.

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Creating using evidence, Policy and governance, Issues, Advocacy, Finance and economics, Social Policy WhispererProfessor Paul Smythoutcome and impacts, policy making, social inequalities, social justice, government budget, professor paul smyth
Wrapping up an unbalanced budget

In part two of our budget wrap-up, the CEO of VCOSS and the team at Good Shepherd Social Policy and Research Unit sum up the key societal costs and implications of the Federal budget:

Out of balance: Tanya Corrie, Kathy Landvogt, Susan Maury and Denis Sheehan, Good Shepherd Youth & Family Service

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Creating using evidence, Policy and governance, Issues, Advocacy, Finance and economicsDr Pauline McLoughlinoutcome and impacts, service and social protection reform, health, social justice, government budget
Two steps forward, one step back: young people transitioning from out of home care

Young people leaving state care are one of the most vulnerable groups in Australia. We know that care leavers frequently transition from out of home care with few of the financial, emotional and social supports they need. Many face significant challenges in accessing housing and jobs, and pursuing educational opportunities.

Following recent out-of-home care policy reforms, such as the Victorian Government Five Year Plan, it is timely to consider this often overlooked aspect of our care systems. Reflecting on more than 15 years of research, Associate Professor Philip Mendes (Director of the Social Inclusion and Social Policy Research Unit (SISPRU) at Monash University) writes about the challenges and signs of change for leaving care policy in Australia:

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Creating using evidence, Policy and governance, Issues, AdvocacyDr Pauline McLoughlinresearch, social services, housing and homelessness, social justice, young people