Successful national strategies for innovation and economic and social development require consideration of how to harness the contribution of the humanities, arts and social sciences (HASS) as well as the natural sciences, technology and engineering.

Governments in Australia have, broadly speaking, accepted the importance of the natural sciences and technology. Departmental and ministerial committees (for instance, to establish national research priorities) are richly populated with natural scientists and technologists, with only token representation from the humanities, arts and social sciences.

One function of CHASS is to strengthen the representation of our sector in policy discussions. We consult our sector, test draft policies with them, and then represent these views to Government in submissions.