Australian Council of Learned Academies
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| Australian Council of Learned Academies | |
|---|---|
| Name | Australian Council of Learned Academies |
| Abbreviation | ACLA |
| Formation | 2010 |
| Type | Council of learned academies |
| Headquarters | Canberra |
| Region served | Australia |
Australian Council of Learned Academies is a federation of leading Australian scholarly institutions formed to provide multidisciplinary advice on nationally significant scientific, technical and cultural challenges. It convenes expertise from major Australian academies to produce evidence‑based assessments and strategic reviews that inform policy debates and public discourse. ACLA engages with a wide range of Australian and international bodies to translate research from academy Fellows into actionable recommendations.
History
ACLA was established in 2010 following discussions among the Australian Academy of Science, Australian Academy of the Humanities, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, Academy of Social Sciences in Australia and other learned societies, amid national reviews led by figures associated with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australian Research Council, and the Prime Minister of Australia's science advisers. Early projects were influenced by international models such as the Royal Society, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, and the Royal Society of Canada, and were timed alongside policy developments like reports from the Productivity Commission and parliamentary inquiries by the Parliament of Australia. Founding activities involved collaborations with university bodies including University of Sydney, Australian National University, University of Melbourne, and institutional partners such as the Medical Research Future Fund.
Structure and Membership
ACLA's membership draws on Fellows from constituent academies including the Australian Academy of Science, Australian Academy of the Humanities, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, and the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia. The council's secretariat is based in Canberra and interacts with national institutions such as the National Library of Australia and the National Archives of Australia. Leadership has included chairs and directors with affiliations to universities like Monash University, University of Queensland, University of Western Australia, and policy organisations such as the Grattan Institute and the Lowy Institute. Membership selection processes mirror practices used by the Royal Society of London and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, with working groups formed around topics championed by Fellows from bodies including the Institute of Public Administration Australia and professional societies like the Australian Medical Association.
Roles and Functions
ACLA commissions interdisciplinary assessments, convenes expert panels, and synthesises evidence to advise ministers, agencies, and statutory bodies such as the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Department of Health and Aged Care. Its outputs inform inquiries by the Senate of Australia, submissions to the Productivity Commission, and briefings for offices like the Prime Minister of Australia and state premiers. The council produces consensus reports akin to publications from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the World Health Organization, and the International Energy Agency, while engaging with peak research funders including the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Australian Research Council.
Major Reports and Projects
ACLA's portfolio has included major reports and projects on topics intersecting science, technology and society. Notable undertakings addressed themes resonant with work by the IPCC, NATO, and the World Bank, while responding to national priorities identified by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation and inquiries such as those by the Australian Productivity Commission. Projects have ranged from analyses relevant to the National Broadband Network rollout and cyber resilience discussions involving the Australian Signals Directorate, to studies on indigenous knowledge coordinated with institutions like the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies and collaboration with the National Health and Medical Research Council on health systems. Report topics paralleled international scholarship published by the Lancet, Nature, and Science.
Governance and Funding
Governance is provided by a council composed of representatives from member academies and chaired by a senior Fellow with a track record in institutions such as the CSIRO, Australian National University, or major state universities. Funding sources have included contributions from member academies, project grants from entities such as the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, philanthropic support from foundations comparable to the Ian Potter Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and commissioned work for agencies like the Australian Research Council and state premiers' offices. Financial oversight follows protocols akin to those adopted by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission and audit practices involving firms comparable to the major international accounting networks.
Collaborations and Impact
ACLA collaborates with domestic partners including the CSIRO, Australian Institute of Policy and Science, state research agencies in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and with international academies such as the Royal Society, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, and the Academy of Sciences of China. Its reports have been cited in submissions to the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee, referenced in deliberations of the Council of Australian Governments, and used by policy units in portfolios like Health and Treasury to inform strategy. The council's interdisciplinary model influenced subsequent initiatives by university consortia including the Group of Eight (Australian universities) and policy centres such as the Grattan Institute, contributing to public debates involving media outlets like the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, The Australian Financial Review, and The Sydney Morning Herald.