Australian Policy and History is led by historians in the Centre for Contemporary Histories at Deakin University.
Australian Policy and History seeks to promote historians as constructive participants in the public policy debate. It emboldens them to look beyond the academy, to connect with policymakers, the media and the public, and to consider the ways that our knowledge and expertise can contribute to the advancement of Australian society.
Central to the ethos of Australian Policy and History is our non-partisan character. We aim to engage stakeholders from all areas of Australian society in a spirit of co-operation and problem-solving. While we recognise that many issues are complex and defy easy solutions, we are motivated by the desire to achieve public policy outcomes that are informed by historical evidence. We promote civility and respect in public debate.
As an established forum for policy-oriented history, Australian Policy and History brings academics and policymakers together in conversations about our shared past, present, and future. Recognising the wealth of untapped historical knowledge across the country, we provide opportunities for historians to hone their skills in communicating expertise to public audiences.
We partner with national and international bodies to ensure our work has the widest possible reach. Our Australian partners include the Museum for Australian Democracy and the Australian Historical Association. Our international partners include History and Policy in the United Kingdom, the National History Center in the United States and the Le Page Center for History in the Public Interest at Villanova University in the United States.
Our history
Australian Policy and History was co-founded in 2010 by Professor David Lowe, Professor Melanie Oppenheimer, Zoe Pollock and Professor Nicholas Brown. In its first ten years headed by David Lowe at Deakin, it ran seminars and workshops on subjects such as preparing policy briefs, journalism and historical writing, history, policy and politics in Australia and India, Australian overseas embassies, and early career writing for public impact. In 2018 at a London conference organised by Professor Andrew Blick (Kings College and UK History and Policy) and David Lowe, APH members joined with other historians around the world who believe that the quality of the decision-making in the present benefits from a deeper knowledge of the past.
In 2019, Associate Professor Carolyn Holbrook became Director of Australian Policy and History. Under her stewardship, Australian Policy and History published insights from some of Australia’s leading historians on the pressing issues of the day, engaged policymakers and scholars in conversations about their work, and provided fellowships to support talented emerging historians whose work engaged with ongoing contemporary issues.
Now under the leadership of Dr Mia Martin Hobbs and Dr Geraldine Fela at Deakin, Australian Policy and History continues to promote historical perspective on the policy issues of the day. We are undertaking new initiatives to lead public conversations about the history of ongoing crises, understand how the past is being used and abused in the present moment, and foster dialogue between historians, activists, policymakers, and the public.
Our sponsors and partner organisations
