Shared Future

Health and Education consistently rank as the most important issues for Victorian families, and they are also two areas in which there are overlapping responsibilities between the Commonwealth and State Governments.

Shared Future is a policy research project of the Department of Premier and Cabinet which focuses on these issues. Over the coming months, commissioned research will be published on this site exploring different areas and aspects of health, education and Commonwealth-State relations.

The project was managed within DPC by the Policy and Strategy Projects Branch (now the Policy, Strategy and Implementation Branch) with considerable input and feedback from a distinguished Expert Reference Group. This group was chaired by Professor Glyn Davis AC, and included Professor Peter Dawkins, Mr Alan Bansemer, Mr John Menadue AO, Professor Linda Rosenman, Professor Meredith Edwards AM, Dr Martyn Forrest and Dr Louise Watson. The project also benefited considerable from discussion with many senior officials from other States and Territories.

Major Report: Governments Working Together: A better future for all Australians

Dr Vince Fitzgerald and Mary Ann O'Loughlin of the Allen Consulting Group prepared a major report on policy reform in health, education and Commonwealth-state relations. The report proposes innovative policy solutions to improve outcomes for Australians in key social policy areas. It also recommends a fresh approach to federalism.

The report is now available:
Governments Working Together: A better future for all Australians Full Report (PDF 1.8mb)
Executive Summary (PDF 299kb)
Chapter One - Introduction (PDF 143kb)
Chapter Two - Changing society, changing expectations (PDF 203kb)
Chapter Three - Equity, incentives and opportunities: taxes, benefits and the distribution of income (PDF 169kb)
Chapter Four - Australia's health care system: need for reform (PDF 234kb)
Chapter Five - Educating Australia's children (PDF 284kb)
Chapter Six - The roles of the two levels of government in social policy and programs (PDF 112kb)
Chapter Seven - Reform principles (PDF 194kb)
Chapter Eight - A new health system for all Australians (PDF 245kb)
Chapter Nine - An education system for all Australians (PDF 232kb)
Chapter Ten - Comprehensively meeting families' needs: a fresh approach to federal collaboration (PDF 189kb)
Appendix (PDF 159kb)

Underlying Research
DPC commissioned a range of original research to inform the major report.

Recent Private Health Insurance Policies in Australia (PDF 587kb)
School Performance in Australia: results from analysis of school effectiveness (PDF 502kb)
General Practice and Medicare: Options for Reform (PDF 2.1mb)
Strategic Engagement between the Public Sector and Private Hospitals (PDF 1mb)
A New National Agenda (PDF 337kb)
Performance of the Australian Education and Training System (PDF 735kb)

Related Links
Melbourne Institute
Department of Human Services
Centre for Post-compulsory Education and Lifelong Learning
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development

To provide feedback on any aspect of the Shared Future project or to request copies of the reports in an alternative format, please email SharedFuture@dpc.vic.gov.au or contact Monique Davis on (03) 9651 2183.

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