The Winston Churchill Trust and the Centre for Policy Futures at the University of Queensland are pleased to announce the inaugural Policy Impact Program Fellows for 2020.
Interest in the program has been significant with a total of 55 applications received, and given the very high standard and strong policy relevance of the submissions, the selection process was particularly challenging. Thank you to all those Churchill Fellows who took the time to apply.
We would like to congratulate the following Fellows selected to further develop their policy ideas with the Program in 2020:
- Jennifer Bowles (VIC 2014) What can be done: Mandated residential therapeutic treatment for young people suggesting substance abuse/mental illness.
- Owen Churches (SA 2018) Fairness and accountability in the use of government decision making algorithms.
- Jessica Cocks (NSW 2016) Families and communities matter – building a more inclusive and responsive child protection system.
- Scott Falconer (VIC 2017) Ethical collaboration and partnership – returning cultural fire to country in Victoria.
- Megan Gilmour (ACT 2016) Systemising school connection for seriously sick kids
- Steven Harrison (TAS 2015) Changing senior secondary school culture to enhance vocational education and training outcomes and pathways with industry.
- Natalia Krysiak (NSW 2018) Design and policy for child-friendly high-density living.
- Taryn Lane (VIC 2017) Models for community-led transitions to zero-net emissions.
- Katrina Marson (ACT 2018) Ignorance is not innocence: safeguarding sexual wellbeing through relationships and sex education.
- Claire Seppings (VIC 2015) An innovative approach to the recidivism dilemma through the expertise of ex-offenders.
- Katherine Webber (QLD 2018) Prioritising public toilet policy and planning to improve access and inclusion in public places.
About the Policy Impact Program
The Policy Impact Program (PIP) is a partnership designed to identify, curate and advocate a selection of ideas from Churchill Fellows that have the potential to shape best practice and policy reform on a variety of relevant and contemporary issues facing Australia. The flagship of the program will be an annual publication Policy Futures: A Reform Agenda, its debut issue to be published later this year.
The rigorous selection process of the final Fellows chosen for the PIP was conducted over two stages and utilising the expertise of an esteemed Selection Committee from around Australia. Stage 1 consisted of a review of written applications to longlist a total of 20 applicants, who were then requested to submit a short video presentation about their policy topic and recommendations. In Stage 2, these presentations and applications were reviewed in a whole of committee meeting in early April to make the final selection of shortlisted applicants for the program.
PIP Fellows will be provided with opportunities to develop their skills in policy and governance, identify and engage with relevant government leaders, extend their networks, and learn how to improve the context-specificity of their findings. This will include participating in a training workshop provided by UQ – Getting Research into Policy and Practice (GRiPP), followed by the opportunity to develop their ideas alongside leading policy experts for contribution as an article in the annual publication.
Given the very high standard of applications, it has been agreed that all of those who reached Stage 2 of the selection process will also be invited to attend a GRiPP Workshop. We congratulate the additional longlisted Fellows on this achievement and look forward to engaging with them for futher policy training: Kate Cole (NSW, 2016), Ian Drayton (ACT, 2016), Jonathan Lane (TAS, 2014), Brad Mashman (TAS, 2018), Sarah May (ACT, 2017), Kelly Richards (ACT, 2010), Catriona Tonacia (ACT, 2011), and Eric Vanweydeveld (NT, 2018).
Once again, the PIP Steering Committee would like to thank all applicants for their time and efforts in engaging with PIP thus far. It is truly inspiring to see the extent to which Fellows across many topics and sectors are consistently, creatively, sometimes loudly though often quietly, sharing their Fellowship findings for the betterment of Australian communities.
We look forward to sharing more news from the 2020 PIP Fellows and Policy Impact Program!
Download the Policy Impact Program Prospectus for more information.