Improved evaluation will help the Australian Public Service design and implement stronger public policy responses, the Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP has told Sir Roland Wilson and Pat Turner scholars.

The Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury and Assistant Minister for Employment addressed scholars at the Sir Roland Wilson Foundation 2023 Scholar Symposium today.

Dr Leigh spoke about how he was inspired by Sir Roland Wilson’s legacy.

“Every story I’ve heard about Roland Wilson suggests he was a problem solver, not just in an economic policy sense,” Dr Leigh said.

“Drawing my own inspiration from Wilson, I want to talk about an electrifying tool that can help the Australian Public Service better use its resources. It’s a tool that allows the public service to dig a bit deeper to solve policy problems and deliver effective programs.

Dr Leigh spoke about how randomised trials can lead to a better understanding of the effectiveness of policies and programs in delivering their intended outcomes.

“Government should commission more and better-quality evaluations, be more transparent about evaluation findings, and make better use of evaluation evidence.”

Dr Leigh acknowledged Sir Roland Wilson Foundation Chair, Dr Martin Parkinson AC PSM, along with Sir Roland Wilson and Pat Turner scholars.

“As you embark on your research, I encourage you to draw inspiration from your peers, those who have come before you and Roland Wilson’s legacy.”

Scholars are gathered on campus at The Australian National University (ANU) for the 2023 Scholar Symposium.

The two-day symposium, themed ‘Reinvigorating, Reimagining and Reforming the APS’, will see scholars hear from leaders in parliament, the APS and academia, including:

• The Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP, Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury and Assistant Minister for Employment
• Dr Gordon de Brouwer PSM, Australian Public Service Commissioner
• Distinguished Professor Genevieve Bell AO FTSE FAHA, Director ANU School of Cybernetics
• Mr Fiona Jose, CEO, Cape York Partnership
• Ms Karen Mundine, CEO, Reconciliation Australia
• Mr Geoff Richardson PSM, Executive, First Nations Development Services
• Professor Ariadne Vromen, Sir John Bunting Chair of Public Administration, ANU Crawford School of Public Policy
• Associate Professor Michael Di Francesco, Director of Education, ANU Crawford School of Public Policy
• Dr Subho Banerjee, Deputy Commissioner Head of APS Academy and Capability, Australian Public Service Commission
• Mr Dan Bourchier, Referendum/Voice Correspondent, ABC News.

The Sir Roland Wilson scholarship is a three-year, full pay scholarship for PhD research at ANU for high performing EL1 and EL2 APS employees.

The Sir Roland Wilson Pat Turner scholarship a one-to-three-year, full pay scholarship for any level of postgraduate study at ANU or Charles Darwin University for high performing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island APS 4 to SES Band 1 APS employees.

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Photo: Jamie Kidston, ANU