We aim to disrupt cycles of disadvantage by tackling complex social issues.

Our research combines systems thinking, behavioural science and deep collaboration with partners and individuals with lived experience.

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8th May 2025

Fresh perspectives on navigating & accessing Early Childhood Education & Care (ECEC)

Our latest research highlights the structural and behavioural barriers that prevent families from navigating, accessing, and using ECEC, and introduces potential projects to improve the system.

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3rd April 2025

A fresh approach to broadening access to careers

Our latest research uncovers the hidden dynamics shaping career access - and ideas that could unlock opportunities for young people facing disadvantage.

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3rd April 2025

Rewiring the Youth Mental Health System

Discover how our new system map reveals powerful leverage points to unlock better support for young Australians.

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Reimagining the employment services system

We are working with the Paul Ramsay Foundation to generate evidence that will help transform the employment services system to better support those facing the greatest barriers to work.

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We are an applied research not-for-profit, created in Australia in 2022 by BIT (Behavioural Insights Team) and Nesta.

 

Our mission is to enable young people experiencing disadvantage to thrive.

 

Current research priorities include employment services, access to careers, youth mental health and early childhood education and care.

 

Our areas of expertise include:

Behavioural Science Our research is underpinned by a Behavioural Insights (BI) approach, combining disciplines such as psychology and  behavioural economics.

Systems Thinking We develop a thorough understanding of complex systems so we can design effective and pragmatic solutions to hard-to-solve challenges.

Collaboration We partner with like-minded organisations and work closely with those with lived experience to amplify their perspectives.

We established the Centre for Behavioural and System Change to undertake our ambitious program of research, overseen by our Research Committee.

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Project Spotlight: Reimagining employment services

In 2023, we completed a mixed methods research project funded by the Paul Ramsay Foundation that focused on reimagining the Australian employment services system. We worked with over 70 stakeholders and people with lived experience to understand the system and co-design solutions. The project was delivered in partnership with BIT.

 

In June 2024, building on our findings, we began work on a 3-year trial to test a new service model that seeks to build agency and trust in the system to improve job seeker outcomes and wellbeing.

 

Our work is intended to generate evidence that helps transform the employment services system to better service those with more complex needs or at risk of long-term unemployment.

 

Find out more.