Insider/outsider: exploring factors that limit or promote the influence of organisations outside government on public policy

Paige Fletcher, a PhD Candidate at Flinders University, is examining the influence of actors outside government on public policy through a case study of feminist organisations and policy addressing gendered violence. She explains here why this research is needed and how to get involved.

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) play an integral role in policy formation and implementation. However, the ability of these organisations to fulfil this role may be limited by a number of internal and external factors. There remains some debate about whether states and/or governments are the only factors that determine the effectiveness of NGOs to be able to influence the policy-making process, or whether this is also determined by the strategies that NGOs use.

My research seeks to clarify the relationships between NGOs and public policy by examining the effectiveness of NGOs to influence policy formation. Using a case study of feminist organisations and domestic violence public policy, I will examine whether an insider/outsider status impacts the effectiveness of feminist organisations in influencing and contributing to public policy. The findings will provide insight as to whether feminist organisations are key in the development of public policy addressing gendered violence and the formation of feminist policy (rather than individuals within the public sector who identify as feminists).

I will utilise a triangulated approach in my methodology, with both primary and secondary data analysis to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the impact that a relationship with the state has on the ability of feminist organisations to formulate policy. Primary data will consist of semi-structured interviews with public servants and policymakers from the Departments responsible for the development and implementation of the case study as well as with members of both feminist insider and outsider organisations. The National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children will be examined as the case study along with two state policies that are resulting from this federal policy; the New South Wales It Stops Here: The NSW Government’s Domestic and Family Violence Framework for Reform and the Victorian Family Violence Rolling Action Plan. Feminist insider and outsider organisations will be identified from the secondary data and from interviews with public servants and policymakers, however, a preliminary list includes Our Watch, Australian Women Against Violence Alliance (AWAVA), DV NSW, and Domestic Violence Victoria.

If this research sounds like something you’d be interested in hearing more about, or potentially being interviewed for this research, or know someone who would be, please email me at paige.fletcher@flinders.edu.au.

This research project has been approved by the Flinders University Social and Behavioural Research Ethics Committee in South Australia (Project number 8549).

Content moderator: Sue Olney