Table 1 National Strategy Actions, and transformation capacities to which they could contribute

S1.1 Establish a collaborative visioning framework to prepare a National Urban Policy (NUP)

Cities greater than 50,000 population to establish metropolitan plans

1.1-1.3; 2.1-2.3; 3.1-3.6; 4.1-4.5

S1.2 Embed the SDGs across all actions and related policy within this National Strategy and the NUP

The NUP also reflects the UN Habitat Program principles for NUPs

1.2; 3.1

S1.3 Align the existing National Cities Performance Framework with the NUP

Goals, targets and performance audit for all cities aligned with the NUP

1.1-1.2; 3.1; 4.5

S1.4 Build knowledge of interactions and trade-offs within urban and regional systems to support national strategy implementation

National urban systems research program established; State of Australian Cities and Regions assessment framework to report on conditions and dynamics in Australian cities and regions; Provide a national information platform to link knowledge to cross-sectoral urban systems innovation

1.1-1.3; 3.1; 4.3

S1.5 Embed participation, engagement, and co-design between researchers, policy makers, business, and communities in development and implementation of the NUP

Establish new practice guidelines for inclusion of diverse stakeholders in urban policy formulation; Institute national arrangements to enable engaged and participatory urban policy formulation

2.1-2.3; 3.2; 4.2

S1.6 Build a knowledge platform and supporting processes on effective engagement, co-design, and participation practices

Platform to be open access

2.1-2.3

S2.1 Establish a National Urban Forum alongside the biennial State of Australian Cities conference to drive a national agenda-setting process

A National Urban Forum operates as a multi-sector, multi-stakeholder event to coordinate knowledge and innovation co-production and exchange

3.5; 4.1-4.2, 4.4-4.5

S2.2 Establish a network of cross-sector local Knowledge and Innovation (K&I) Hubs at city and regional scales across Australia

K&I Hubs established in all cities and regions; formally linked to each other including via the National Urban Forum and knowledge sharing platforms; wide stakeholder involvement

1.1-1.3; 2.1-2.3; 3.1-3.6; 4.1-4.5

S3.1 Expand an open access data sharing and analytics platform supported by governments and industry/ sector partners for a minimum of 10 years

National open access digital platform(s) for collating, indexing, hosting, and disseminating Australian urban research and policy material; linked to stakeholders via National Urban Forum and NUP processes

3.3-3.5; 4.1, 4.4

S3.2 Link Australian researchers and institutions into global urban research networks

Australian urban researchers and institutions supported to participate in overseas research and policy collaborations; drawing on the K&I Hubs

3.5; 4.1, 4.4

S4.1 Build the capacity of urban researchers to engage with policymakers to deliver practicable knowledge linked to the NUP, the SDGs, and K&I Hubs

Training in policy engagement and research-to-policy translation in university teaching and development programs; new trans-disciplinary cross-institutional PhD program linked to the NUP; nationally funded secondments to, and research with, policy and practice organisations

4.4

S4.2 Build the capacity of urban practitioners to engage with researchers to apply research in policy and practice, linked to the NUP and the SDGs

Scholarships and secondments funded for policy and practice professionals to join research programs aligned to the NUP; professional bodies supported to strengthen practitioner capability and accreditation in commissioning and use of research

3.3; 4.4