This briefing paper, from the Centre for Policy Development’s Wellbeing Initiative examines Australia’s history in relation to wellbeing economics and government.

The author examines ABS and Treasury engagement with wellbeing, including in the Measuring Australia’s Progress project, finding they were leading instances of government engagement with more expansive and granular indicators of progress.

The paper identifies several lessons for contemporary policy-makers. These include:

• Historic approaches in Australia were largely successful despite the policy environment they inhabited being less wellbeing-literate
• The importance of creating enduring cultural and practical changes for public officials
• Frameworks that include clear guidance are more durable and effective than those focused on measurement alone
• A public mandate for wellbeing acts as a guardrail against politicisation of the public service
• Environmental sustainability is an indispensable component of a successful approach