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Policy impact
Our research shapes policy and practice, shaping industry. We deliver evidence-based insights that drive meaningful reforms and tangible impact for small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs).
How our research shapes policy and industry
The Deakin Small-to-Medium Enterp Research Centre informs and influences policies that support the growth, resilience and competitiveness of small-to-medium enterprises. Our evidence-based research ensures SME perspectives are heard in national decision-making.
Key policy achievements
Our key policy achievements highlight how research-driven insights have shaped national reforms, strengthened SME support and influenced lasting change.
- Advocated at Treasury’s Small Business Roundtable (2025) for embedding a regional lens in economic reform through regionally disaggregated data.
- Proposed a national Small Business Agency at the North Sydney Deliberative Democracy Forum (2025), voted the top idea by small business owners and later taken to Parliament.
- Submitted recommendations to Treasury on regulating accounting, auditing and consulting firms (2023–2024).
- Published a White Paper outlining post-COVID policy options to boost SME innovation (2021).
- Research for AASB (2018–2021) exposed misuse of Special Purpose Financial Statements, leading to their removal for large private companies.
- Submissions to Treasury and ACCC contributed to strengthening Australia’s misuse of market power law (2016).
Work by our researchers
Browse recent publications from our researchers, covering key issues facing SMEs. Discover evidence-based insights that inform policy, practice and the future of small business in Australia.
Beyond Ownership: Exploring the Sharing Economy Platforms in Thailand’s Emerging Market, 2025, Rojanakit, P., Torres de Oliveira, R., & Dulleck, U.
Global Challenges: Bridging Business, Law, Science, Design, and Engineering for Sustainability, 2025, Torres de Oliveira, R., Toth-Peter, A., & Barner, L.
Digital transformation in commercial banks: Unraveling the flow of Industry 4.0, 2025, Felipe, T., Torres de Oliveira, R., Toth-Peter, A., et al.
University–business collaboration: A collaboration readiness index and scale, 2025, Verreynne, M.L., Torres de Oliveira, R., Cao, Z., et al.
Reflecting back and looking forward: A systematic literature review of SME–university collaborations, 2025, Cao, Z., Verreynne, M.L., & Torres de Oliveira, R.
Family Involvement and Firm Performance: A Worldwide Study Unveiling Key Mechanisms, 2024, Miroshnychenko, I., Torres de Oliveira, R., De Massis, A., & Überbacher, R.
How sector fluidity (knowledge-intensiveness and innovation) shapes startups’ resilience during crises, 2024, Tanveer, A., Torres de Oliveira, R., & Rizvi, S.
Distributive politics and Commonwealth community grants: The influence of federal elections, 2025, Tanewski, G., Kavourakis, J., & Zaman, M.
What does sustainability mean for SMEs: a systematic literature review, 2025, Zaman, M., Tanewski, G., & Ekanayake, G.
R&D investment, innovation, and export performance: An analysis of SMEs and large firms, 2024, Zaman, M., & Tanewski, G.
Efficacy of Commonwealth Government Business Grants, 2024, Kavourakis, J., Tanewski, G., & Zaman, M.
Commonwealth Government Grants: 2018–2022, 2024, Kavourakis, J., Tanewksi, G., & Zaman, M.
Using Intermediaries to Support the Mental Health of SME Owners, 2024, Tanewski, G., Leow-Taylor, S., Torres de Oliveira, R., Bromfield, S., Saxon, L., Noblet, A., et al.
Counting on U training to enhance trusting relationships and mental health literacy among business advisors: protocol for a randomised controlled trial, 2022, Saxon, L., Bromfield, S., Leow-Taylor, S.H., et al.
The case for a national Australian small business agency, 2022, Tanewski, G., Shi, W., Kaourakis, J., & Zaman, M.
Innovation, exports and productivity among Australia’s SMEs, 2022, Tanewski, G., Zaman, M., & Kavourakis, J.
Small Business White Paper 2021: Post COVID Policy Options to Enhance Australia’s Innovation Capabilities, 2021, Tanewski, G., Kavourakis, J., Podolski, E., & Yusoff, I.
On the productive efficiency of Australian businesses, 2019, Cowling, M., & Tanewksi, G.
Financial reporting practices of for-profit entities lodging special purpose financial statements, 2019, Juneja, N., Potter, B., Rose, M., & Tanewski, G.
Business advice by accountants to SMEs: relationships and trust, 2018, Blackburn, R., Carey, P., & Tanewksi, G.
Australian Small Business White Paper – Overview 2018: Small Business – Big Vision Recommendations, 2018, Mroczkowski, N., Tanewski, G., Carey, P., et al.
The provision of business advice to SMEs by external accountants, 2016, Carey, P., & Tanewski, G.
Small Business White Paper: Policy Options for Australia, 2015, Carey, P., Clarke, J., Clarke, P., Tanewski, G., et al.
Application of the reporting entity concept and lodgement of special purpose financial statements, 2014, Carey, P., Potter, B., & Tanewski, G.
Costs and benefits of mandatory auditing of for-profit private and not-for-profit companies in Australia, 2013, Carey, P., Knechel, W.R., & Tanewksi, G.
Contact us
Send an enquiry to the Deakin Small-to-Medium Enterprise Research Centre
