There is growing recognition that governments must do more than manage economies and focus only on purely economic metrics. New South Wales now joins other jurisdictions in seeking to integrate wellbeing measures into government performance reporting and budgeting to drive tangible wellbeing outcomes for the people of NSW. This report sets out a clear pathway for embedding wellbeing into the work of the NSW Government with 6 findings and 14 recommendations.

Key insights

• Learning from best practice – stakeholders highlighted the Welsh Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 as a best-practice example of a wellbeing framework that explicitly requires government agencies to consider wellbeing in their work.
• Defining wellbeing and articulating an end-state vision – the Committee recommends inclusion of a clear definition of ‘wellbeing’ that reflects the aspirations and values of NSW residents.
• Balancing lead and lag indicators – the framework sets out a series of outcomes and indicators to support the eight wellbeing themes of Healthy, Skilled, Prosperous, Housed, Secure, Connected, Sustainable and a strong sense of Community.
• Data development – the success of the framework depends on the quality of the data that underpins it. 
• Embedding wellbeing in decision-making – the Committee recommends that the framework is effectively embedded into budgetary and policy development processes to ensure that wellbeing outcomes directly shape government priorities, resource allocation and program delivery.
• Engaging local governments and communities – the Committee recommends ongoing consultation with local governments, as well as local community and neighbourhood centres, in adopting a place-based approach.
• Sustained public consultation – the framework must evolve to remain relevant, maintaining open and continuous engagement with the public to ensure it adapts to the changing needs of NSW communities.