The authors of this report provide findings and recommendations of a mixed-methods evaluation of a multiyear action research project by Learning Creates Australia (LCAust). The authors aimed to answer five research questions organised around the three focal areas of LCAust's work: convening supporters, curating evidence and demonstrating solutions.

Learning Creates Australia

Connecting Practice to Evidence

Alexis Gable, Cristina Alvarez, Susan Bush-Mecenas, Jonathan Schweig

ResearchPublished Oct 30, 2025

The authors of this report provide findings and recommendations of a mixed-methods evaluation of a multiyear action research project by Learning Creates Australia (LCAust). The authors aimed to answer five research questions organised around the three focal areas of LCAust's work: convening supporters, curating evidence and demonstrating solutions. Research methods included interviews, a literature review, and sociometric analysis and data were gathered between 2023 and 2025.

The authors determined that it was too early to assess LCAust's success in reaching its goals but that it had made substantial progress in establishing and implementing a body of activities aligned with its three focal areas. Trade-offs also arose in pursuing policy change and programme outcomes that LCAust and other organizations with similar goals will need to address.

The authors recommend that LCAust and other similar organizations pursue relationships with individuals who bring more-critical perspectives to develop an array of stakeholders, weigh the benefits of broad engagement and grassroots approaches with more-prescribed policy strategies, evaluate which kinds of evidence could prevent a fuller understanding of LCAust's work and consider how to offer appropriate supports at the local level when operating in roles that are less hands-on.

Key Findings

LCAust brought together a variety of stakeholders

  • LCAust used a multifaceted approach and deeply engaged stakeholders to pursue its goals.
  • Events helped consolidate a national network invested in broader recognition and elevated youth voices in policy spaces.
  • Respondents identified challenges and opportunities for growth in terms of target audience, focus and connection to action.
  • LCAust convened expert panelists seen as well-respected, influential policy leaders but could engage more experts with critical perspectives and mid-level managers.
  • Most LCAust public social media engagement is modest, but LCAust's LinkedIn engagement has steadily increased.
  • LCAust's mission aligns with popular topics that have broad public support.

Curating evidence on policies and practices was supported by LCAust's action research study

  • Action research reports helped make LCAust's goals accessible and engaging.
  • LCAust's New Work Order series is the most widely cited body of work on LCAust's website.
  • Interest from academic audiences in LCAust's recent publications appears to have decreased over time.
  • Government reports and news outlets recognise LCAust's work.
  • Individuals and organisations aligned with LCAust's mission have elevated LCAust's work.

LCAust's study was set up to demonstrate solutions through four workstream prototypes, but none were at a scale conducive for quantitative impact analysis

  • LCAust produced and piloted a social-emotional progress tool that was ready to scale.
  • Early challenges in developing traineeship led to change in programme design.
  • Strengthened local engagement contributed to the creation of well-being measurement tools and heightened local school engagement.
  • Recruitment challenges led the team to pivot to enhanced rubric and tool testing.

Recommendations

  • LCAust and other organisations that see themselves as catalysts may consider cultivating relationships with individuals who bring more-critical perspectives alongside building relationships with strong supporters, such that these organizations develop a consistent and reliable body of advocates and generate a wide web of engaged stakeholders.
  • LCAust and other organisations that see themselves as catalysts may weigh the benefits of broad engagement and lifting up varied grassroots approaches with the clarity of more-prescribed policy strategies and actions.
  • LCAust and other organisations that see themselves as catalysts may weigh the benefits of different kinds of evidence when presenting a fuller understanding of the evidence underlying their work.
  • LCAust and other organisations that see themselves as catalysts may consider the role they hope to play in supporting implementation and, in situations in which this role is less hands-on, may consider the appropriate supports to build a recruitment and engagement strategy and a management and monitoring plan at the local level.

Topics

Document Details

  • Copyright: Paul Ramsey Foundation
  • Publisher: RAND Corporation
  • Availability: Web-Only
  • Year: 2025
  • Pages: 70
  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.7249/RRA1139-2
  • Document Number: RR-A1139-2

Citation

Chicago Manual of Style

Gable, Alexis, Cristina Alvarez, Susan Bush-Mecenas, and Jonathan Schweig, Learning Creates Australia: Connecting Practice to Evidence. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2025. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA1139-2.html.
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The research described in this report was funded by the Paul Ramsay Foundation and conducted by RAND Australia.

This publication is part of the RAND research report series. Research reports present research findings and objective analysis that address the challenges facing the public and private sectors. All RAND research reports undergo rigorous peer review to ensure high standards for research quality and objectivity.

RAND is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis. RAND's publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors.