This paper explores the repositioning of state curriculum agencies in response to the establishment of the Australian Curriculum and the key national policy organisation responsible for its development: the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA). I begin with an analysis of the federal Labor government's role in the…

The study detailed in this paper examines the growing role of non-state actors in the transnational policy-making landscape through a case study of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE)--a partnership of donor and developing country governments, multilateral organizations, civil society, private companies and foundations, dedicated to…

Collaborative inter-professional practice (IPP) is hailed increasingly by policy-makers and a growing number of practitioners as "the" new form of professional practice for those working within and across services for children and young people. Based on desk research, and drawing upon an increasingly invasive use of the term…

Despite a lack of applied research, social partnerships are increasingly being adopted by both government and non-government agencies to meet localized needs in education and other fields. This article discusses the findings of an investigation of how social partnerships can best be formed, developed and sustained over time. Earlier work…

Addresses the need to clarify dimensions of holistic approaches to integrating children's services by examining current collaborative initiatives in Ontario, Canada. Outlines social and demographic trends, discusses ecological perspectives influencing the cooperation movement, and explores murky implementation issues. Cooperative ventures must…

This paper explores the 'joined-up thinking' and attempts at 'joined-up working' that policy architects recommend for the successful operationalization of the New Deal for 18-24 year olds. In particular, it examines the difficulties arising around the full-time education and training option. The research project reports upon the 'implementation…

The policy agenda of the UK government has repositioned the voluntary sector as a key player in the delivery of locally responsive, "bottom up" services to address the complex problems of social exclusion, reaching out to sectors of the community which are beyond the grasp of traditional state or market providers. This has drawn many…

Describes the Norwegian government's "barns oppvekskstar," a closely intertwined set of laws and value systems overseeing children's education, health, and social well-being. Although delivery of local services cannot be adequately evaluated since decentralization, the Norwegian case illustrates how parents, teachers, government…