Killer facts, politics and other influences: what evidence triggered early childhood intervention policies in Australia?

Authors:
Shelley Bowen School of Public Health and Community Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

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Anthony B. Zwi School of Public Health and Community Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

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Peter Sainsbury Population Health, Sydney South West Area Health Service and School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Australia

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Margaret Whitehead School of Population, Community and Behavioural Sciences, University of Liverpool, UK

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Article Category:
Research Article
Copyright:
© The Policy Press 2009
Online Publication Date:
01 Jan 2009
Pages:
5–32
Publisher:
Policy Press
Volume/Issue:
Volume 5: Issue 1
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1332/174426409X395394
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Understanding the ‘evidence’ for policy is complicated. This article examines the relationship between evidence and policies on early childhood interventions in two states of Australia, revealing powerful insights into what constitutes the evidence for policy and the importance of ‘killer facts’ to decision makers. The nature of evidence in the policy environment is broad and complex, going well beyond research to incorporate policy context and processes. These findings reinforce an evidence-informed approach to health policy making and the need for researchers to develop a more sophisticated understanding of the policy context.

Shelley Bowen School of Public Health and Community Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

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Anthony B. Zwi School of Public Health and Community Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

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,
Peter Sainsbury Population Health, Sydney South West Area Health Service and School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Australia

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Margaret Whitehead School of Population, Community and Behavioural Sciences, University of Liverpool, UK

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Corresponding author.

(shelley.bowen@dhs.vic.gov.au)

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Evidence & Policy
A journal of research, debate and practice