Research Overview
My main research interest is in analysing public sector responses to complex problems and how the mindsets of policy actors are implicated in their inability to adopt new ways of working, with a focus on Indigenous affairs. While I have a deep understanding of both quantitative methods and institutions/administrative processes, my preferred research approach is grounded in interpretive methods, discourse analysis and ethnographic fieldwork. I use narrative inquiry to understand ‘policy worlds’ generally and more specifically the implicit ‘logics’ that underpin either policy reform or resistance to change.
Arising from my PhD, I have published 13 articles in high impact journals (Public Administration, Australian Journal of Public Administration, Australian Journal of Political Science, Australian Journal of Social Issues, Critical Policy Studies, International Journal of Public Administration, Policy Sciences, Public Policy and Administration). A further paper has been published in a special edition of the journal Teaching Public Administration. I received the APSA prize for best PhD paper at the annual conference in 2018 and the ANZSOG Policy Studies Prize for best article published by an ECR in a peer reviewed journal in 2019. I have also chaired panels at international conferences to increase the profile of interpretive methods in public administration research and edited a Special Issue on Public Value in the International Journal of Public Administration. I have also written four book chapters, twelve blogs and presented at more than 20 national and international conferences since 2016.
| From Google Scholar (24 Aug 2024): | All | Since 2019 |
| Citations | 374 | 217 |
| h-index | 11 | 7 |
| i10-index | 13 | 6 |
The motivation for my research is to bring about change in the way the public sector works in addressing complex problems generally, but most specifically in Indigenous policy. This requires bridging the gap between academic research and practice. I attended an ANZSOG workshop on improving Indigenous policy in October 2017 and discussed my findings with many of the participants. I have made a submission to the current review of the national approach to Indigenous policy in Australia and have been invited to a workshop in August to discuss the results of the review. I have also made a submission to the current review of the Australian Public Service.
I have also published a number of blogs and also investigating ways to disseminate the key findings more broadly, including through social media.
The following are comments from policy actors interviewed for my thesis on a draft chapter from my thesis sent to them for their information:
- “After reading this chapter I can say your work is absolutely an accurate reflection of what happened … I can also say it has significant relevance for today’s policy makers”.
- “Well done, a very sound piece of work that will be a great evidence piece for us in the future”.
The following are the summative comments made by the examiners of my thesis:
- This is a very competent thesis, especially in the author’s use of, and knowledge of, the relevant literature and the skilful use of interview material to ground the analysis and bring the field to life.
- The quotes from interview are very apt, illustrating each point succinctly with the benefit of practitioner knowledge. The theoretical framework is formally and rigorously applied. Within this framework the description of how an innovative policy instrument, the National Partnership Agreement on Remote Service Delivery, was applied on the ground, is an important contribution to the literature on Aboriginal policy development, and public policy in general … In my opinion, the material from Chapter Four onwards, suitably edited, should be published either as a series of journal articles or a Discussion Paper in a reputable scholarly series.
The following are comments from referees on articles which testify to the relevance of my research:
- “There is little doubt that the issue of how to work effectively across boundaries is an important one in the field of public administration and this work extends our understanding and challenges some of the conventional wisdom that has emerged. The conclusions are interesting and will provide readers with much to think about”.
- “Although this paper is based on a single-case its logic can be extrapolated to other instances of state/indigenous policy-making (both within and beyond Australia); moreover, in my view the principles also apply to most state/non-state actor attempts to shift the locus of power in policy shaping and delivering”.
- “Your piece will make a very important contribution to a better understanding of what kind of leadership we need to co-create public value”.