Welcome to RAND Australia

For 70 years, RAND has worked in the public interest to provide policy research and analysis to clients around the world. The RAND Corporation (Australia) Pty Ltd is RAND’s subsidiary that does work for Australian clients on defence-related topics as well as economic and social issues. With an office in Canberra since 2014, RAND Australia provides local research talent augmented with world-class experts from across RAND’s global presence to solve complex public policy problems with a commitment to RAND’s core values: quality and objectivity. We differ from a traditional management consulting firm in that we rely upon data-driven solutions and strong analytic methods.

RAND Australia's research draws on staff based in Canberra as well as a rich pool of nearly 1,175 global research staff from the United States and Europe. With 70 years of worldwide research in defence, national security, health care, education, transport, employment, innovation, energy, and the environment behind it, RAND Australia is ideally positioned to help improve policy and decisionmaking in Australia.

Featured Publications

  • War, military threat, military power concept. China. Tanks toy near chinese flag on black background top view, photo by 9dreamstudio/AdobeStock

    Deciphering Chinese Deterrence Signalling in the New Era

    China is changing its approach to deterrence signalling in Xi Jinping's 'new era' as it leverages growing military capabilities and the availability of new communication channels. How can Australia, the United States, and other countries better decipher Chinese deterrence signalling in this new era?

  • Australian Army M1 Abrams Tanks with 1st Armored Brigade, assault an enemy position during Exercise Koolendong at Bradshaw Training Area, Aug 21, 2014. Four Marines with 1st Bn., 5th Marines, were given an opportunity to support elements of 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment and 1st Armored Brigade. During Exercise Koolendong 2014, approximately 1500 Marines and Australian Defence Force soldiers will undertake a wide spectrum of infantry training activities to include establishing an expeditionary operating base in austere conditions, company-sized helicopter and ground live-fire ranges, photo by Sgt. James Gulliver

    Accelerating the Australian Army's Contest of Ideas

    The Australian Army prides itself on its pursuit of an intellectual edge. Is the Australian Army discussing ideas that are original, comparable, complementary, or incompatible to those of its contemporaries?

Research Focus Areas

Defence

RAND Australia conducts research on complex strategy, acquisition, force employment, and administrative challenges facing Australia’s national security leaders. Our strategic work focuses on the most pressing and difficult strategy, policy, and defence stewardship concerns of high-level policymakers—from warfighting doctrine and technology to personnel management and health care. Our acquisition and management analyses—on cost trends and estimating techniques, production and workforce management, risk controls, contracting, inventory management, facilities planning, process improvements, and related factors—help Australian leaders control costs and hedge against risk.

National Security

RAND Australia has significant global experience supporting national security agencies that are confronted with emerging technological, social, political, and demographic challenges. RAND has provided support across these types of organisations, both to address immediate threats and to better position organisations to respond to future threats. RAND has extensive experience working with national security agencies in Australia, including the Department of Home Affairs, Attorney-General’s Department, and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Health and Social Well-being

RAND Australia has strong capabilities for improving the health, safety, security, prosperity, and resilience of people and communities in Australia. RAND’s research has been applied to improve outcomes in community health, criminal justice, and the environment. RAND also has a long history of health research to improve service delivery and overall system performance.

Education and Labour

RAND’s experience assessing the effectiveness of educational programs, strategic reforms, and labour policies spans 40 years. RAND Australia’s research on workforce needs for Australia’s naval shipbuilding industry led the Commonwealth to announce a $62 million commitment to found a new Naval Shipbuilding College to stimulate training in vocational and higher education specialties needed by the enterprise.