Communicating Policy Expertise G (11795.1)

Please note these are the 2026 details for this unit
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Communicating Policy Expertise G
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods Online real-time
 UC - Canberra, Online
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.125 3 Faculty Of Business, Government & Law
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
Canberra School Of Politics, Economics And Society Graduate Level Band 2 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
Band 4 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 4 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan Social Work_Exclude 0905)
This unit provides students with an understanding of the art of effectively communicating public policy initiatives, goals and outcomes between governments, other public sector departments, NGO's and the community more generally. It examines the importance of effective communication relevant to the goals of particular policy objectives and/or programs for managing and engaging risk, including understanding government priorities in an increasingly nuanced world. It provides students with critical skills for communication and engagement in policy, program and portfolio objectives whilst recognising the crucial importance of delivering strategic communication to meet the needs of various government departments, stakeholder and community expectations.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Develop the craft of effectively communicating policy expertise to a wide range of stakeholders;
2. Apply cognitive, technical and creative skills to generate and evaluate complex ideas and concepts at the theoretical and practical level;
3. Analyse key target audiences with the aim of identifying their needs, interests and attitudes; and
4. Communicate policy expertise skills to design, evaluate, justify and interpret conclusions and professional decisions to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas


Skills development

All assessments in this unit have been designed to assist students in the development of the stated graduate attributes.



Prerequisites

None.

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

None.
Availability for enrolment in 2026 is subject to change and may not be confirmed until closer to the teaching start date.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
2025 UC - Canberra, Online Study Block 2 17 March 2025 Online real-time Dr Michael Jensen
2025 UC - Canberra, Online Study Block 6 27 October 2025 Online real-time Miss Friedel Marquardt
2026 UC - Canberra, Online Study Block 4 06 July 2026 Online real-time Miss Friedel Marquardt
The information provided should be used as a guide only. Timetables may not be finalised until week 2 of the teaching period and are subject to change. Search for the unit timetable.

Required texts

OECD Report on Public Communication: The Global Context and the Way Forward (2021)

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

All online via the UCLearn page.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in this unit

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) can offer valuable tools for research and learning but it also poses risks to academic integrity and can hold back your learning if improperly used.

GenAI may only be used in authorised ways when completing assessments at UC. This means that GenAI can only be used for an assessment when:

1. the Unit Convener has authorised its use for that assessment

2. the student uses it in the way that the assessment instructions allow

3. the student fully acknowledges its use, with proper citations and references.

Each assignment will include instructions on authorised and unauthorised uses of GenAI. Where the assessment instructions do not specifically state that GenAI may be used and how, then its use is not allowed for that assessment. If unsure, students should seek advice from the Unit Convener.

For each assignment, you will need to submit a GenAI declaration explaining whether and how you used GenAI for the assignment. Your assignment will be marked down if you do not submit a complete and accurate declaration. This declaration can be made on the assessment coversheet to be submitted with each assignment.

Unauthorised use of GenAI may lead to an academic misconduct inquiry. If a marker is concerned that GenAI has been used for an assignment in unauthorised ways, you may be required to attend a Learning Validation Conversation with the unit convener to provide further explanation of how you compiled the assignment and to verify that you have met the learning outcomes for the assignment.

The GenAI for Students Library Guide provides further information, including how to reference GenAI.

Some assignments also require you to complete your work on the Cadmus platform (see information on assignments). If this is a requirement and you do not work in Cadmus, your assignment will be marked down.

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Participation requirements

While it is not graded, tutorial participation is required in this unit.

Required IT skills

Standard audio-visual and computer competencies.

In-unit costs

none

Work placement, internships or practicums

While this unit is practice-focused, it does not include a formal WIL component.

Next step

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