This working paper reflects on Australia’s experience over the last ten years of reform (following the election of Kevin Rudd in 2007 to today) highlighting selected ‘preconditions’ for effective evidence-based policy-making. Sound evidence-to-policy pathways are necessary because it enables governments to make informed decisions to improve community living standards on the basis of the best information available. Utilising case studies the paper highlights six selected inter-related ‘enabling factors’ which support the use of evidence by governments.