Our expertise

Garner Willisson consultants have expertise in providing a range of public policy consultancy services.  Project teams are comprised of public policy professionals, subject matter and technical experts with experience and credentials tailored to individual project requirements. 

Public policy consulting projects generally involve:

Policy analytics across the policy cycle relating to policy design and implementation.

Theory and practice of evaluation including developing middle range theories, program theory and theories of change, designing and re-designing programs and service delivery, conducting policy and program evaluation, developmental and realist evaluation, monitoring and evaluation, and performance measurement.

Building policy capability through providing training and professional development workshops in policy development, program management and program evaluation.

Project Examples

Details on some of our key project can be found here.

Policy research and evidence reviews

Use of co-design, evaluative rubrics and evaluation quality assessment frameworks and tools for Indigenous policies and programs – Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (2018)

Policy and evidence review for the Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Conditions Model of Collaborative Care – Arthritis Australia, Abbott Pharmaceuticals (2012)

Literature review of financial literacy and capability programs – Matrix on Board (2012)

Evidence review for the Coordinated Veterans Care Program – Department of Veterans Affairs (2011)

Evidence review for Transition to Independence Program – Youth Off the Streets (2010)

Needs analysis for palliative and respite care services for Indigenous people in the ACT and NSW surrounding regions – ACT Division of General Practice (2010)

Literature review into social isolation in the young veteran population – Department of Veteran Affairs (2009)

Evaluation projects

Indigenous Advancement Strategy (IAS) Evaluation Handbook – Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (2019)

Impact review of kJ display laws in the ACT – Department of Health, ACT (2017-2018)

Evaluation of the Departmental Evaluation Strategy and Capability Building Plan (2012-2016) – Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development (2016)

Evaluation of the Primary Health Care Research, Evaluation and Development Strategy – Department of Health, Australian Government (2015)

Evaluation of the Money Mob Talkabout an APY Land Financial Capability Program – Matrix on Board, Department of Social Services (2012-2015)

Evaluation of the National Preventive Health Research Strategy – Australian National Preventive Health Agency (2013)

Evaluation of Paung Ku – AusAID, Yangon, Myanmar (2012)

Evaluation of the Clinical Handover Pilot Program – Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (2011)

Evaluation of Australian Clinical Quality Registries – Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (2010)

Evaluation of the Responsible Gambling Ministerial Advisory Council – Department of Justice, Victorian Government (2010)

Evaluation of the MATES Program ACT – Australian Red Cross (2010)

Evaluation designs, Monitoring and Evaluation Frameworks, Strategies and Plans

Monitoring and evaluation framework for the National Strategic Approach to Maternity Services – Department of Health (2019)

Monitoring and evaluation framework for the Strategic Investment Plan Ministry of Health Republic of Vanuatu (2016)

Evaluation framework for the Northern Australia Roads Programs – Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development (2016)

Monitoring and evaluation framework and strategy for the Status Resolution and Social Support Program – Department of Immigration and Border Control (2016)

Monitoring and evaluation framework for Psychological Support Programme and Mental Health Policies Awareness Raising Strategy – Department of Immigration and Border Control (2015)

Evaluation framework and strategy for the Philippines Performance Challenge Fund Incentive Scheme – AusAID, Manila (2012)

Monitoring and evaluation framework for the Rural Adversity Mental Health Program – Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health, Orange, New South Wales, University of Newcastle, New South Wales Health (2012)

Monitoring and evaluation framework for the Coordinated Veterans Care Program – Department of Veterans Affairs (2011)

Monitoring and evaluation framework Cape York Welfare Reform trial – Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (2010)

Evaluation framework for the National Centre for Research Excellence in Indigenous Health Workforce and Policy – Murdoch University / University of Melbourne / Queensland University (2009)

Monitoring and evaluation framework for the Australian Sustainable Schools Program – Department of Environment, Water, Energy and the Arts (2009

Professional development training and workshops

Integrating a Framework of Evidence and Evaluation

Building Evaluation Capability: Techniques to Monitor, Evaluate and Communicate Policy Outcomes

Monitoring and Evaluating the Impact of Policy

Policy Implementation and Program Delivery: Measuring the Outcomes of Government Policies

Writing Effective Policy Documents

Associates and Partner organisations:

Professor Helen Berry, University of Canberra

Dr Chris Cooper, University of Tasmania

Robyn Considine, Consan Consulting, University of Newcastle

Professor David Dunt, University of Melbourne

Julie Elliott, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology

Sheila Holcombe, Analytical Business Consulting

Associate Professor Rosemary Knight, Australian National University

Margaret MacDonald, Director MacDonald Wells Pty Ltd

Anne Markiewicz, Director Anne Markiewicz and Associates Pty Ltd

Dr Nicki Mazur, ENVision Environmental Consulting

Carolyn Page, Director, The Clear English Company & Public Sector Policy Solutions

Dr Ian Patrick, Director Ian Patrick and Associates Pty Ltd

Dr Anita Pryor, Adventure Works

Rob Richards, Director, Evidentiary & Public Sector Policy Solutions

Liesl Rockchild, Art Management and Design

Geoff Simms, Geoff Simms Consulting

Graham Smith, Numerical Advantage, University of Canberra

Policy and evidence review for the Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Conditions Model of Collaborative Care – Arthritis Australia, Abbott Pharmaceuticals (2012)

Literature review of financial literacy and capability programs – Matrix on Board (2012)

Evidence review for the Coordinated Veterans Care Program – Department of Veterans Affairs (2011)

Evidence review for Transition to Independence Program – Youth Off the Streets (2010)

Needs analysis for palliative and respite care services for Indigenous people in the ACT and NSW surrounding regions – ACT Division of General Practice (2010)

Literature review into social isolation in the young veteran population – Department of Veteran Affairs (2009)

Evaluation projects

Indigenous Advancement Strategy (IAS) Evaluation Handbook (2019) – Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet

Impact review of kJ display laws in the ACT – Department of Health, ACT (2017-2018)

Evaluation of the Departmental Evaluation Strategy and Capability Building Plan (2012-2016) – Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development (2016)

Evaluation of the Primary Health Care Research, Evaluation and Development Strategy – Department of Health, Australian Government (2015)

Evaluation of the Money Mob Talkabout an APY Land Financial Capability Program – Matrix on Board, Department of Social Services (2012-2015)

Evaluation of the National Preventive Health Research Strategy – Australian National Preventive Health Agency (2013)

Evaluation of Paung Ku – AusAID, Yangon, Myanmar (2012)

Evaluation of the Clinical Handover Pilot Program – Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (2011)

Evaluation of Australian Clinical Quality Registries – Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (2010)

Evaluation of the Responsible Gambling Ministerial Advisory Council – Department of Justice, Victorian Government (2010)

Evaluation of the MATES Program ACT – Australian Red Cross (2010)

Evaluation designs, Monitoring and Evaluation Frameworks, Strategies and Plans

Monitoring and evaluation framework for the National Strategic Approach to Maternity Services – Department of Health (2019)

Monitoring and evaluation framework for the Strategic Investment Plan Ministry of Health Republic of Vanuatu (2016)

Evaluation framework for the Northern Australia Roads Programs – Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development (2016)

Monitoring and evaluation framework and strategy for the Status Resolution and Social Support Program – Department of Immigration and Border Control (2016)

Monitoring and evaluation framework for Psychological Support Programme and Mental Health Policies Awareness Raising Strategy – Department of Immigration and Border Control (2015)

Evaluation framework and strategy for the Philippines Performance Challenge Fund Incentive Scheme – AusAID, Manila (2012)

Monitoring and evaluation framework for the Rural Adversity Mental Health Program – Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health, Orange, New South Wales, University of Newcastle, New South Wales Health (2012)

Monitoring and evaluation framework for the Coordinated Veterans Care Program – Department of Veterans Affairs (2011)

Monitoring and evaluation framework Cape York Welfare Reform trial – Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (2010)

Evaluation framework for the National Centre for Research Excellence in Indigenous Health Workforce and Policy – Murdoch University / University of Melbourne / Queensland University (2009)

Monitoring and evaluation framework for the Australian Sustainable Schools Program – Department of Environment, Water, Energy and the Arts (2009

Professional development training and workshops

Integrating a Framework of Evidence and Evaluation

Building Evaluation Capability: Techniques to Monitor, Evaluate and Communicate Policy Outcomes

Monitoring and Evaluating the Impact of Policy

Policy Implementation and Program Delivery: Measuring the Outcomes of Government Policies

Writing Effective Policy Documents

Associates and Partner organisations:

  • Professor Helen Berry, University of Canberra
  • Dr Chris Cooper, University of Tasmania
  • Robyn Considine, Consan Consulting, University of Newcastle
  • Professor David Dunt, University of Melbourne
  • Julie Elliott, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
  • Sheila Holcombe, Analytical Business Consulting
  • Associate Professor Rosemary Knight, Australian National University
  • Margaret MacDonald, Director MacDonald Wells Pty Ltd
  • Anne Markiewicz, Director Anne Markiewicz and Associates
  • Dr Nicki Mazur, ENVision Environmental Consulting
  • Carolyn Page, Director Public Sector Policy Solutions
  • Dr Ian Patrick, Director Ian Patrick and Associates
  • Dr Anita Pryor, Adventure Works
  • Rob Richards, Director, Evidentiary & Public Sector Policy Solutions
  • Liesl Rockchild, Art Management and Design
  • Geoff Simms, Geoff Simms Consulting
  • Graham Smith, Numerical Advantage, University of Canberra