Public Sector Governance (PADM90016)

Graduate courseworkPoints: 6.25Not available in 2025

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Overview

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This subject equips participants with the necessary executive management skills required to thrive in a ministerial adviser role. Focusing on core concepts involved in advanced project management; industrial relations policy; and, public financial management, this subject explores the key technical and managerial competencies required of the contemporary adviser.

Key ideas that will be explored in this subject include budgets, performance, reporting and decision–making and how these relate to broader notions of governing in complex institutional and policy environments. Complex public service environments in Australia and internationally are examined, particularly the trends in public management reform, the underlying political ideas, and the impacts on policy and practice.

Intended learning outcomes

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

  • acquire an understanding of financial management systems and principles in the public sector.
  • ascertain the complexities in establishing appropriate systems for ethical decision making and governance of public sector organizations and agencies.
  • articulate the interaction of legal principles of Australian employment and labour relations law in a public sector context.
  • explain the distinguishing challenges in managing and governing major projects, including addressing public value, probity and ethical considerations.
  • describe the principles for persuasive communication of complex policy issues and government decisions that have differential effects on stakeholders and their use in effective community engagement.

Generic skills

A student who has successfully completed this subject will:

  • be able to demonstrate competence in critical, creative and theoretical thinking through essay writing, seminar discussion and presentations, conceptualising theoretical problems, forming judgments and arguments from conflicting evidence, and by critical analysis.
  • be able to demonstrate proficiency in the application of project management theory and best practice to empirical problems.
  • have a comprehensive understanding and appreciation of key concepts in public finance.
  • have a high-level ability to combine the theory and practice of public finance in a meaningful way in order to address advisory challenges and reflect critically on one's own professional practice.

Last updated: 4 March 2025