Overview

This Unit of Study is designed to provide students with a conceptual framework through which the formulation of public policies in Australia can be analysed. Online resources and exercises are designed to provide the theoretical and conceptual background to the subject while the seminars will provide students with an opportunity to further explore these ideas and concepts and to apply them to practical policy issues.

Requisites

Prerequisites
POL30010 The Politics of Public Policy

Rule

50 credit points

Teaching Periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
29-July-2024
27-October-2024
Last self-enrolment date
11-August-2024
Census date
31-August-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
13-September-2024
Results released date
03-December-2024

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Examine and apply the key theoretical frameworks used to explain how public policy is developed
  • Analyse the roles and relationships between key policy actors, institutions, and processes central to contemporary Australian public policy making
  • Reflect on the challenges facing policy actors in complex contemporary settings
  • Research and analyse public policy issues using primary and secondary sources
  • Use professional standard tools and approaches to develop an evidence-based written report addressing a specific policy problem.

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
On-campus
Class
2.00 12 weeks 24
Online
Learning activities
1.00 12 weeks 12
Unspecified Activities
Various
10.00 12 weeks 120
TOTAL156

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
AnalysisIndividual 15% 2,3,4,5 
Briefing ReportIndividual 35% 1,2,3,4,5 
Position PaperIndividual 50% 1,2,3,4,5 

Content

  • This Unit of Study is designed to provide students with a conceptual framework through which the formulation of public policies in Australia can be analysed.
  • Case studies of policy success and policy failure are used to explore the complex nature of ‘wicked’ challenges facing policy-makers in contemporary Australia and beyond, such as climate change, social disadvantage, and mass people movement.
  • There is a strong focus on mixing theory and practice and on helping students to understand, develop and apply the relevant skills required to analyse complex policy issues and to develop and present policy solutions.

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.