February 12, 2024

UOW and James Martin Institute partner to deliver impactful policy outcomes

Partnership will deliver evidence-based public policy outcomes for the benefit of society

The University of Wollongong (UOW) has announced a partnership with the James Martin Institute for Public Policy (JMI), enhancing its ability to deliver transformative outcomes and real-world impact for the public good.

A joint venture between government and universities, JMI enables policymakers to harness multidisciplinary expertise to drive policy innovation and tackle complex public policy challenges.

UOW has been a cornerstone of the Illawarra region for almost 50 years, playing a pivotal role in shaping the policy innovation landscape in NSW and beyond. This partnership will amplify the impact of UOW research and help deliver positive outcomes to the community.

UOW Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Patricia M. Davidson, said the partnership highlighted the crucial role universities play in research and innovation to create a better world for all.

“As an anchor institution in our communities, UOW has a long and proud history of collaboration with local industry and community partners that continues to deliver transformative outcomes and real-world impact,” Professor Davidson said.

“Joining forces with JMI means we can work alongside government and other universities to deliver impact on a much larger scale, by bringing our expertise to the table on a range of government priorities and complex societal challenges.”

The Hon. Ryan Park MP, Minister for Health, Minister for Regional Health, and Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast, welcomed the announcement.

“The NSW Government is a proud partner of the James Martin Institute and we are delighted that the University of Wollongong will be joining this unique joint-venture,” Mr Park said.

“Through this partnership, the University of Wollongong represents not just an alliance of institutions but a shared commitment to the people of the Illawarra region and gives a broader regional policy perspective.

“It benefits all people in NSW and we look forward to the immense expertise that the University of Wollongong can bring to this collaborative endeavour.”

The Hon. Paul Scully MP, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, welcomed the partnership.

“I am excited by the opportunities that a partnership between the University of Wollongong and the James Martin Institute brings to gain a greater understanding of some of the big policy challenges facing the NSW Government and other governments,” Mr Scully said.

“Importantly, the addition of the University of Wollongong to the existing partnerships that the Institute has will add unique regional perspectives to those policy discussions and debates which is important in developing responses that take the requirements of large regional cities into account.”

JMI Chief Executive, Libby Hackett, said she was delighted to welcome UOW to the partnership.  

“We look forward to bringing leading experts from the University of Wollongong into the range of current projects we are delivering with government, to improve outcomes and transform lives. The breadth of UOW’s cutting-edge research and innovation, combined with its commitment to the Illawarra, will add significant value to the mission of the James Martin Institute.”

Since its launch in August 2021, JMI has delivered a range of collaborative projects in partnership with government in areas such as artificial intelligence, domestic violence, economic reform, regional, rural and remote schools, and women’s economic opportunity.

UOW’s engagement marks an important milestone for the Institute, with the majority of New South Wales universities now forming the partnership alongside government.

Professor Peter Shergold AO, Chair of the JMI Board, said: “The University of Wollongong is a significant addition to the JMI partnership, a truly distinctive Institute for the public good. This is a tipping point with the majority of NSW universities now joining together for policy, and our ambition is to scale even further in the years ahead.”

In addition to supporting Collaborative Projects with policymakers and the ability to undertake Policy Fellowships with JMI, UOW researchers will also gain access to the 2024 JMI Policy Challenge Grant pool – a competitive program that supports experts to generate research-informed policy innovation with the potential to contribute to addressing Australia’s most significant public policy challenges.

ABOUT JAMES MARTIN INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY:

The James Martin Institute for Public Policy is a unique government and university joint-venture that works to transform public policy. The Institute works to more effectively harness Australia’s cutting-edge research expertise in response to government priorities. Established in 2021 as an independent, non-partisan institute with charitable status, JMI has already had a substantial impact, promoting evidence-based policymaking for the public good across a wide range of issues.