People expect more from governments given the events of recent years. From the redesign of social and economic supports, governments are asked to play a more active role than in the past – driven and shaped by the needs of customers and citizens.
To meet this challenge, government agencies need to rapidly develop new capabilities and new ways of thinking and operating. Many found the COVID experience useful in accelerating reform – such as transitioning to online services or adopting flexible work arrangements – and are keen to build on that momentum. Others are working to navigate and define the COVID recovery landscape, calibrating policy related to areas including regulation, skills, employment and regional development.
Our consultants combine an understanding of government with capabilities relevant to the public sector and policy reform. Our work includes partnering with central agencies on whole-of-government initiatives to develop leadership capability, conducting analysis for Commonwealth, state and territory line agencies to inform policy development, and redesigning services to meet contemporary needs and standards.
Government agencies often find it difficult to determine how much they should charge for the services they offer. Getting it right can be essential to keeping government services sustainable. Using the Nous Product Pricing Tool, our consultants can provide government clients with market information and a framework for price setting.
Expenditure reviews can be used by governments to optimise performance. We have conducted detailed reviews of expenditure on program and functions to assess alignment with government and agency priorities. Our consultants help government clients to ask the right questions about whether agencies are doing the right work, investing in the right things, and operating effectively and efficiently.
Governments are undergoing major shifts in service delivery, regulation, stakeholder engagement, workforce structures and capability needs. Our consultants have provided practical and targeted assistance in all these areas. Our work has brought coherence and rigour to reform efforts, delivered detailed advice and evidence to support reform initiatives and equipped agencies with the capabilities needed to drive and embed change.
Australia’s regions have had uneven economic development and assumptions about their future are being challenged by COVID-impacted demographics and by climate change. Our consultants leverage our economic analysis and curated data sets to provide insights into the opportunities for regional development. We advise governments on specific strategies for supporting regional development through use of a wide range of levers.
Inside a government data agency’s transformation
We head inside the ABARES, which was looking for ways to refresh its operations so it remained a strong and trusted adviser to the Federal Government.
Greater than the sum of the parts: Evaluating the collective impact of complex programs
Tackling knotty problems or capitalising on big opportunities requires all the tools in a policymaker’s toolkit. But how does that policymaker then evaluate the impact of these complex programs?
Sam Abusah, an experienced public policy adviser, has joined Nous as a Principal, strengthening our support for state and territory government clients.
