In March 2003, the Academy welcomed the news that DEST approved additional funding to ASSA from the Higher Education Innovation Programme (HEIP). Part of the condition of funding was the establishment of a Policy & Advocacy Committee.

The Committee's principle responsibility is to strengthen the social sciences' role in the development of policy issues and providing advice to government, and to advocate the role social sciences have in providing such advice.

The Policy & Advocacy Committee encourages the participations of Fellows and social scientist in engaging in debate, research or other activities that advocate and highlight the importance of the social sciences in providing data, advice, and direction for policy development by government. The social science community is encouraged to accept this invitation to be heard on important issues and to contribute strongly and with effect.

The Committee:

• Oversees the commissioning of policy papers for publication in the ASSA Journal, Occasional Paper Series.
• Encourages policy outcomes from all areas of engagement within ASSA.
• Provides advice and direction to ASSA's overall policy & advocacy engagement to ensure that outcomes impact on government.
• Fosters relationships between government policy-makers and social scientists through various activities.
• Encourages the disseminations of policy outcomes through its press and web publications and encourage media coverage of significant works.

Policy outcomes are distributed via:

• The Academy journal Occasional Paper. Policy papers printed under this series will be further badged as 'Policy Paper #'.
• The Academy journal and newsletter Dialogue.
• Policy e-papers summaries published on the Academy website.

Activities undertaken as part of the Academy's policy & advocacy initiatives:

• Identify current issues in the social sciences with a view to encouraging social science research and policy advice outcomes.
• Workshop Program. Encourage Convenors to produce policy statements: advice that suggests appropriate strategies grounded on sound social science research; or advice that furthers the debate on issues that may require policy intervention or consideration. The Committee also: encourages the participation of, where appropriate, senior members of government and the practice community in workshops; and encourages workshop proposals with a policy focus.
• Commissioned Research. Commissioning of research projects that have policy implications.
• Commissioned Policy Papers. Papers to be printed under the Occasional Paper Series.
• Distributed outcome to Government departments, elected officials and the media.
• Organise round tables, debates and workshops on issues of National importance, and ensure publication outcomes in the process.

The building and sustaining of activities promoting research, policy and advocacy activities is overseen by the Chair, Policy and Advocacy Committee, with support from:

William Douglas,
Project Manager: Policy and Advocacy
Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
GPO Box 1956, Canberra ACT 2601
| ph: +61 2 6249 1788 | fax: +61 2 6247 4335 |
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