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New Zealand is reforming its approach to public spending. Its ‘social investment’ strategy is designed to save money in the long term by investing in vulnerable groups of people, informed by analysis of future costs and the effectiveness of different policy interventions. At a recent Institute for Government event, New Zealand Finance Minister Bill English outlined how this approach is working. George Miller highlights the main lessons, as the UK and – as of this week – Australia consider adopting the approach for their own domestic contexts. 

The latest data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) has been released. HILDA Deputy Director (Research) Professor Roger Wilkins outlines its main findings and policy implications in the article below, which was originally published at The Conversation.

Today's post comes from Nives Dolsak and Aseem Prakash and was first published on the Governance Blog and is worth reflecting on with regard to recent happenings in Australian Politics. It asks what do the Brexit vote, the rise of Trump and Sanders, and apathy towards climate change mitigation have in common? The perils of relying on technocratism to justify policy choices.

Platform Trust New Zealand is a collaboration of community organisations that provideservices to individuals, families and communities where mental health and addictions are an issue.

The group decided it had had enough of ‘business as usual’ approaches to complex health and social issues which didn’t resolve problems.

In the article below, written for the upcoming edition of VICSERV's newparadigm journal, its CEO Marion Blake outlines how Platform Trust changed the way it worked and some of the lessons that emerged.

Brexit is prompting a lot of discussion within the United Kingdom's aid community right now. But while the focus is understandably on EC funding and exchange rates, there’s a less visible and potentially more dangerous funding threat to deal with, argues Michael O’Donnell of Bond (the network of UK development non government organisations (NGOs)).

His article, originally published on Duncan Green's From Poverty to Power blog and republished here with permission, has much of relevance for Australian development agencies and community service organisations that are also under funding and program pressure.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) began its national rollout on July 1, after being trialled at various sites across the country over the past three years. While there is much to rejoice about this landmark change, it is posing particular issues in mental health.

Simon Viereck, Executive Officer of the Mental Health Community Coalition ACT, has a unique perspective on those issues, with the Australian Capital Terrritory being the only whole-of-jurisdiction, whole-of-population trial.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has finally claimed victory in the 2 July election, eight days after the poll was held, although there remains uncertainty over whether the Coalition will form a majority or minority government.

So what lies ahead for key policy areas: jobs, welfare, health, environment, science, education, refugees and asylum seekers, housing, urban design, climate change, the arts and more?