Credit Points 10

Legacy Code 102180

Coordinator Rosemary Leonard Opens in new window

Description The focus of study in this unit is on policy-making and implementation and the place of theory and research in policy formation. In the first part of the unit students explore the nature of public policy - addressing constructs of policy and policy-making and approaches to analysing public policy. The political and social practices of policy-making and implementation in Australia are contextualised and examined at the local, national and global levels. The second part of the unit takes examples of policy-making in the field of social sciences and examines the role of theory and research in the problematisation of issues and identification of solutions. The identification of competing interests, relations of power and key players in understanding, analysing and responding to policy and its outcomes will be undertaken.

School Social Sciences

Discipline Policy Studies

Student Contribution Band HECS Band 4 10cp

Level Postgraduate Coursework Level 7 subject

Restrictions

Students must be enrolled in a postgraduate program.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate critical understanding of the links between theory/research/policy
2. Distinguish between different levels of policy-making:- global, national, local; - state, corporate, community.
3. Appraise the competing interests and power relations in policy-making processes
4. Operationalise strategies for developing, analysing and responding to policy outcomes

Subject Content

Links between theory/research/policy
Local and global political/social frameworks that shape policy making in the Australian context
Competing interests, relations of power and key players in understanding and analysing policy and its outcomes
Levels of policy-formation and implementation: government, community, corporations and organisations
Examples of translation from theory/research to policy
Strategies for analysing and responding to policy and its outcomes
Skills and knowledge for developing policy