26 June 2014
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The online research and policy database has expanded its services to meet the needs of a growing and influential audience. And it’s seeking donations to maintain its free service.
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The database and alert service provides free access to the full text of research reports, papers, statistics and other resources essential for public policy development and implementation in Australia and New Zealand.
Since being founded as a small project at Swinburne University of Technology in 2002, Australian Policy Online (APO) has become an essential research tool for people working in education, the government sector, the media, non-government organisations and students – and being free and of high quality, APO is a definite favourite of The Scan.
It now has more than 17,600 subscribers to its free weekly briefing. This year, several new features have been added to accommodate its fast growing audience.
Direct submissions to the site are now welcome. Readers can register as an external editor allowing individuals to upload their own research reports and articles to share with thousands of people in the policy and research community. Content is still regulated by the team of editors to ensure the service retains its high quality.
A growing audience in New Zealand has encouraged a new fortnightly briefing, bringing all open-access policy related research produced in or about New Zealand into one place.
These new services and its expanding audience have prompted Policy Online to start its first annual fundraiser, running to the end of June. Penelope Aitken, editor of Policy Online, points out:
The more we raise, the better we can keep delivering up to date research in an accessible way.
Policy Online is a not-for-profit organisation that needs the help of individuals and organisations to continue providing its free service to all. Individual supporters can be listed on the Policy Online website as a supporter and organisations that donate over $500 have the opportunity to have their logo listed on the Policy Online’s supporters list for a year.
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I find Australian Policy Online an extremely useful resource. It’s both timely and of interest to see emerging views on a variety of subject area.
– Simon Hood , Quantum Consulting Australia.
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