This policy insights paper highlights how better integration of local knowledge and participation can improve disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. The research – focusing on three Local Government Areas in New South Wales – outlines how strengthening community engagement can lead to more coordinated and resilient disaster management across the state.

This report outlines the growing youth crisis in New South Wales and highlights three case studies of evidence-based early intervention programs. It advocates for funding place-based, early intervention programs as a long-term strategy, rather than relying on short-term, reactive solutions.

This paper explores the perspectives of two communities in New South Wales, drawing on their lived experiences of community-wide crises to establish what community resilience means and how it is best supported. The insights from these communities reveal policy opportunities for the NSW Government that could boost community resilience in future.

OCHRE (Opportunity, Choice, Healing, Responsibility, Empowerment) is the state plan for Aboriginal affairs. This assessment finds that progress on key measures is slowing and in some cases stalling. The review calls for a firm and unequivocal recommitment to OCHRE and makes suggestions towards achieving this.

An evaluation of a program supporting women in custody who have children involved in the child protection system. Under the program, child protection caseworkers are ‘co-located’ in NSW correctional centres. The program was found to be a well-designed, beneficial and much needed initiative with some improvements noted.