Academic research programs

Federalism at Flinders

School of Political and International Studies Flinders University Link to website

Federalism, and the impact of intergovernmental relations on politics and public policy in Australia, has always been central to research and teaching at Flinders University.

Currently staff and postgraduate students at Flinders School of Political and International Studies are engaged in two Australian Research Council (ARC) funded projects:

• Regulatory Federalism and Public Policy
• The effect of the Specific Purpose Payments mechanism on public policy in the Australian federation.

The Federalism at Flinders website includes links to researchers and publications.

University of New South Wales Federalism Project Link to Website

The UNSW Federalism Project – based in the Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law – aims to contribute to legal scholarship crucial for a modern debate about improving Australia’s constitutional division of power.

The Project is underpinned by a commitment to federalist theory and so views the dismantling of Australia’s federal system by abolition of the States as neither realistic nor desirable. Instead, the project is focussed on reform of the existing federal relationship so as to capitalise upon its strengths and to better meet the challenges facing 21 st century Australia.

This Project is supported through the Australian Research Council’s Discovery Project Scheme until 2012.

The Project website includes a range of web-based material on federalism issues

Griffith University Federalism Project

Griffith University's Federalism Project is a joint initiative of Griffith's Socio-Legal Research Centre, Centre for Governance and Public Policy, and Urban Research Program. Federalism and regionalism and are inextricably links, both in international political theory, Australia's constitutional transitions and the day-to-day practice of politics and public policy. The Federalism Project's aims are to undertake and present the highest quality research into the social, economic and political roots of Australian federalism, and likely or desirable directions for federalism to evolve in response to the challenges of the 21st century.

Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG)

The Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG) is one of the few educational institutions in the world that can claim to be unique. ANZSOG is dedicated to promoting outstanding public sector leadership and policy that really works for the benefit of the public. I urge you to find out more about our unique School by browsing our new website.—Professor Allan Fels AO Dean of ANZSOG

John Curtin Institute of Public Policy (JCIPP)

Based at Curtin University of Technology in Perth, JCIPP is a peak body for research, education and discussion on public policy and administration. Federalism and Constitutionalism is one of the Institute's key research themes.

International Association of Centers for Federal Studies (IACFS) Link to Website

The International Association of Centers for Federal Studies (IACFS) is an interdisciplinary association of Centers and Institutes throughout the world with interests in independent research and publication about political, constitutional, legal, administrative, fiscal, economic, historical and philosophical issues relevant to political systems which have federal features. The Association seeks to further the study and understanding of federal principles and patterns in all their variety.

Professor Cheryl Saunders of the University of Melbourne is the current President of the IACFS.