A groundbreaking government and university joint-venture in the public interest.

The Australian Public Policy Institute believes that good public policy starts with evidence. Based in Sydney and Canberra, APPI was established by government and a coalition of universities to ensure that public policy is informed by world-leading experts for the benefit of all Australians.

News and impact

News

New report highlights urgent need to review heritage conservation policies

9 September 2026

News

Improving safety and outcomes for children who go missing from out-of-home care

10 August 2026

News

New research calls for strategic action to strengthen resilience in family violence services

27 July 2026

News

Fathers still missing out even as parental leave reforms expand

4 June 2026

APPI events

The Policymaker Summit 2026 – Policy in a volatile era: rethinking the playbook’

Latest APPI reports

The impacts of Heritage Conservation Areas on housing delivery in Sydney: A call for reform

The report, written by Policy Fellow Meagan Kanaley, finds that while heritage conservation delivers important social, cultural and economic benefits, the impacts of HCAs on housing supply, affordability and lost development potential have received limited attention in planning policy. The report recommends a package of opportunities, including a state-wide review of all HCAs, a publicly accessible HCA database, mandatory evidence-based impact assessments, clearer heritage criteria, regular policy reviews and stronger governance to better align local heritage decisions with broader state housing objectives.

Meagan Kanaley

Policy opportunities for reducing missing episodes for children in out-of-home care

Professor Stefanie Schurer, Professor Amy Conley Wright, Professor Judy Cashmore, Andrew Mallos, Irene Wardle and Dr Betty Luu

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Uniting government and universities to improve public policy

APPI drives effective policy outcomes across all government areas through evidence-based solutions that harness leading university expertise. Our government-university collaboration model supports policy development for Australia’s most pressing challenges.

Government Policy Projects

Addressing complex, multidimensional public policy challenges through collaboration between policymakers, university researchers, and practitioners. We deliver rapid response projects for time-sensitive government policy needs.

Policy Grants and Fellowships

Supporting innovative policy-focused research through prestigious Challenge Grants and Fellowship programs. Our Policy Fellows pursue independent research that generates practical policy solutions for government implementation.

Capability-building

Enhancing skills and knowledge exchange for established and emerging policy experts. Our practitioner-centered programs drive capability-building and best practice in contemporary evidence-based policymaking.

Impact and Engagement

Facilitating collaboration through The Policymaker Summit, roundtables, and international peer networks. We provide platforms for government university collaboration and practical policy development across sectors.

Explore more about what we do

Our work is specifically designed to support Australian policymakers in a rapidly evolving policy landscape.

Policy Research Expertise Across Australia's Critical Challenges

APPI drives effective policy outcomes across multiple areas that shape Australia’s future through evidence-based policy research and comprehensive policy analysis.

Our government policy research and policy development work harnesses leading university expertise to address complex challenges spanning economic growth, environmental sustainability, infrastructure development, and social wellbeing.

We deliver practical, evidence-based policy solutions that create lasting impact for Australian policymakers and communities nationwide through rigorous research methodologies and cross-sector collaboration.

Insights from The Policymaker

The Policymaker is a digital publication of APPI, offering a platform for policymakers, researchers and the public to engage with timely solutions to the biggest issues facing Australia. To learn more about The Policymaker, click here.