We started the year with big news, and wrapped up with big data
Anyone else feel like the year went by too fast? 2023 was a time of change and excitement at BETA. We started the year by welcoming our new Managing Director, Susan Calvert. Prior to joining BETA, Susan worked at the Office of the National Data Commissioner, and, fittingly, during the year she oversaw BETA’s biggest data project to date: a machine learning analysis of 12 million Australian job ads. In collaboration with the Department of Science, Industry and Resources, and Jobs and Skills Australia, we analysed how language in job ads can encourage or discourage women from applying. We were specifically interested in ways of increasing the diversity of the cyber security workforce, but the lessons learnt will likely apply more broadly – read all about them in our latest report.
Several of our projects related to workforce issues, including disability and return to work
Issues related to the workforce were a theme in other projects across the team. We’re currently working with the Australian Public Service Commission to look at disability identification in HR systems, and the barriers and enablers to APS staff sharing their disability status. With Services Australia and the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations we’re also conducting research into the implementation of two recent changes to leave entitlements, to understand if the intended benefits are being realised. Earlier this year we published our findings from a survey of National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) workers, to understand what predicts intentions to leave the NDIS workforce. The survey found high levels of burnout and low levels of job engagement are associated with greater intentions to leave the NDIS workforce – for further details check out our report.
At the start of this year we published our report on a collaboration with Safe Work Australia (SWA). For this project, we drew on BETA’s earlier research to design and user test guidance materials for supervisors in small and medium businesses, to help them manage the relationship with an injured or ill worker during return to work. This is a project that keeps on giving, as later in the year SWA built further on these materials to develop a template and guide for supervisors to create a return to work plan – while BETA played an advisory role.
We continued to engage with the big issues in behavioural science, connecting with colleagues across the APS and beyond
2023 was a big year for advice, capability building, and reflecting on issues that affect the whole field of behavioural insights. Michael Hallsworth published a ‘manifesto for behavioural science’, prompting us to reflect on the value of behavioural economics beyond nudges, and how to apply behavioural insights responsibly. We also discussed how academics can best engage with policy makers (and vice versa), and were lucky enough to be able to host two in person meetings with our Academic Advisory Panel (AAP).
Our academic advisors also contributed to another successful BI Connect series. During this annual online conference, experts spoke on topics from climate change and risk mitigation, to systems change and healthcare access – you can catch all the recordings here. If you’re a public servant with a BI project you need some extra support with, you can also sign up for the new BE Coached program that we launched this year – an opportunity to take on a small behavioural insights project with guidance from a BETA expert.
We’ve also kicked off an ambitious cross-agency project to build APS capability in evaluation. Perhaps unsurprisingly, BETA’s module focuses on the value of randomisation – stay tuned for an update on this project next year!
Thank you to all our partners, supporters, and networks
As always, we are grateful for our advisors and colleagues in the AAP, the Behavioural Insights Practitioners Network, and PM&C. Our work would not have been possible without the hard work and input from our partner agencies across the APS. This year we would especially like to thank our colleagues from the Attorney General’s Department, Australian Centre for Evaluation, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Australian Energy Regulator, Australian Public Service Commission, Australian Taxation Office, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Department of Education, Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Department of Finance, Department of Health and Aged Care, Department of Home Affairs, Department of Industry, Science, and Resources, Department of Social Services, Jobs and Skills Australia, Macquarie University, National Disability Insurance Agency, PM&C Office for Women, Safe Work Australia, Services Australia, Treasury, and the Workplace Gender Equality Agency.
Some of the work we described in this blog isn’t published – yet. To stay up to date on our work, sign up to our quarterly newsletter, follow us on X, or get in touch via email.
Wishing you all the best for 2024!