Public Policy PG (6268.7)

This unit aims to deepen the participants' capacity to understand and ability to undertake policy development, analysis, implementation and evaluation processes. It seeks to do this by building knowledge of the more useful elements of policy theory and a strong focus on the actual practice of public policy-making in Australia. It includes a strong focus on the importance of crafting evidence-based policy, while keeping the reality of the political context firmly in view. It provides an introduction to the Australian policy advisory system together with an understanding of current economic (macro-economy and fiscal strategy), political (federalism) and social (citizen expectations) contexts which shape policy development. It explores what is really distinctive about providing public goods and programs? Is there a spectrum of "publicness", with some goods having a more obvious public character and others? How do you measure public value? It presents a 'critical' guide to the principles of traditional policy design and encompasses policy learning from overseas and policy framing, and it argues that strategic communication is a key tool of policy-making in a contested policy environment. Three sets of skills are developed in this module: political awareness (i.e. the capability to 'see like a minister or end user'), the ability to develop a succinct business proposal to underpin quality strategic policy advice, and advocacy skills in policy presentation. A pervading theme throughout the unit is the challenges facing the APS in formulating policies that address contemporary and emerging policy problems in a cost-effective, efficient and ethical way. Attention is directed to sythesising historical and current knowledge on the art and craft of policy making with a particular focus on applying that knowledge to real world policy issues of relevance to participating government departments.

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit, students will have:
1. A working knowledge of Australian federal government policy processes and an ability to undertake policy analysis;
2. An up to date knowledge of the current and emerging real-world Australian policy challenges in policy development and a capacity to develop possible responses to real world policy challenges; and
3. Synthesising relevant knowledge and research skills for practical application in the public sector.

Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
4. UC graduates are able to demonstrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing - communicate and engage with Indigenous Australians in ethical and culturally respectful ways
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development

Skills development

This unit aims to deepen the participants' capacity to understand and ability to undertake policy development, analysis, implementation and evaluation processes. It seeks to do this by building knowledge of useful elements of policy theory and a strong focus on the actual practice of public policy-making in Australia. It includes a strong focus on the importance of crafting evidence-based policy, while keeping the reality of the political context firmly in view. This unit will encourage students to learn from each others' policy experiences and encourage students to apply this shared knowledge to specific policy problems  of relevance to participating government departments.

Policy analysis requires both knowledge of the policy process (applicable to any type of policy) and knowledge of the field to which the policy applies.  It includes knowledge of the broad macro-level forces which constrain policy processes such as the political or economic contexts; understanding the institutional processes which shape policy agendas and the solutions we apply to them; the application of knowledge at the decision-making (e.g. problem definition, agenda-setting; policy formulation) and the field levels (implementation, evaluation); and technical tools of analysis.

It presents a 'critical' guide to the principles of traditional policy design and encompasses policy learning from overseas and policy framing, and it argues that strategic communication is a key tool of policy-making in a contested policy environment.

Three sets of skills are developed in this module: political awareness (i.e. the capability to 'see like a minister or end user'), the ability to develop a succinct business proposal to underpin quality strategic policy advice, and advocacy skills in policy presentation.

A pervading theme throughout the unit is the challenges facing the APS in formulating policies that address contemporary and emerging policy problems in a cost-effective, efficient and ethical way. Attention is directed to synthesising historical and current knowledge on policy making with a particular focus on applying that knowledge to real world policy issues.

 

Prerequisites

None.

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

None.