Mobilising evidence for public policy impact: what can Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand learn from Wales?
Evidence-informed policymaking has become an important goal for governments, but producing good research does not automatically lead to better public policy decisions.
At ANZSOG’s recent Mobilising evidence for public policy impact event, our visiting Academic Fellows from the Wales Centre for Public Policy (WCPP) explored what it takes to connect evidence with policymaking, and why relationships, trust and context matter as much as the quality of the research itself.
The event examined how research, practice and lived experience can be mobilised to influence policy decisions, strengthen implementation and support better public outcomes. It drew on the experience of Wales while considering its relevance to Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
Professor James Downe (Professor of Public Policy & Management and Director of Research), Dr Hannah Durrant (Senior Research Fellow) and Dr Eleanor MacKillop (Research Associate) shared lessons from the Centre, including how it works with decision makers, brings together different forms of evidence and assesses its impact.
Professor James Downe explained that WCPP was established in 2014 as an independent What Works Centre serving Wales. What Works Centres are the product of a UK government initiative launched in 2013 to improve public service decision-making using high-quality research and evidence. The Centre expanded its work to support public services in 2017, and is funded by the Welsh Government, the Economic and Social Research Council and Cardiff University.
The WCPP model offers useful lessons for public sector leaders in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Rather than treating evidence use as a matter of simply providing better research, the Centre’s experience highlights the importance of relationships, trust, timing and engagement with different forms of knowledge in shaping public policy and practice. The discussion highlighted several principles that can help strengthen the connection between evidence and decision-making.
Key takeaways from Mobilising evidence for public policy impact
Start with the policy need
Clarify the problem, what decision needs to be made and how evidence will be used before gathering it. WCPP works with decision- makers to understand these needs before synthesising and contextualising relevant evidence.
Think broadly about evidence
Bring together research, data, professional expertise and lived experience. Different sources offer different perspectives, making transparency about their strengths, limitations and areas of disagreement important.
Invest in relationships and trust
Evidence mobilisation depends on more than producing good research. Sustained relationships help evidence brokers understand policy contexts and connect decision- makers with relevant evidence and expertise.
Look beyond policy change
Impact can include changes in understanding, relationships, capability and practice. Some of these effects may also take time to emerge.
Adapt lessons to local contexts
The Welsh model offers lessons rather than a template. For Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, the opportunity is to consider how its principles can be adapted to different institutional and policy environments.
Watch the full Mobilising evidence for public policy impact thought leadership discussion: