Australian governments have committed to work in genuine partnership with Indigenous leaders, organisations and communities, to identify the priorities that will inform how governments can better design and deliver programs and services, to close the gap.

Remote communities offer unique challenges that mean mainstream employment and participation solutions have historically fallen short of community expectations. Remote communities feature weaker labour markets, geographic dispersion, language and cultural differences and service delivery challenges. Furthermore, Government payments are the main source of income in many communities.

This evaluation assessed whether SMS reminders could improve timely income reporting among recipients of Newstart and Youth Allowance. A randomised controlled trial tested six SMS message types based on behavioural insights. Sending any SMS significantly increased on-time reporting and reduced payment cancellations, highlighting the effectiveness of simple, low-cost digital nudges in service delivery.

The Performance Framework allows users to track the performance of cities across key measures: jobs and skills; infrastructure and investment; liveability and sustainability; innovation and digital opportunities; governance, planning and regulation; and housing.

Transcript of the 2017 Menzies Oration, delivered by Professor Ian Anderson AO.