Inside government

Overview

This course is for those who are new to the public sector and need an overview of how it works or have a new job where they need a better grasp of government processes.

Course Content

Success in the public sector requires an appreciation of the public sector context and its origins. Managers and people involved in policy development must have a thorough understanding of how government and the policy process work. This course provides an overview of the evolution of the system of government in Australia and examines the recent public sector reform agenda which has reshaped the role and functions of government. Participants have the opportunity to consider differences between the public and private sectors which derive from the inherently political environment of operating in the public sector. The course examines the implications of these differences for the current and future role of the public sector manager.

Course Outcomes

By the end of this course attendees should be able to:

• understand the development of Australia’s system of government and its constitutional and legislative framework
• understand the electoral system and parliamentary processes and responsibilities of Commonwealth, State and Local government
• be familiar with the machinery of government, including the role of central agencies and ministers’ officers
• identify similarities and differences between the public and private sectors
• understand government reforms and the new notion of government
• apply accountability requirements, including prescription and enforcement of ethical standards and practices.

Benefits to your organisation

• staff develop a sound understanding of how government works, government reforms and the new notion of government
• increased understanding of the machinery of government

Benefits to you

• better understanding of the context of your work and its relationship to the government structure
• thorough understanding of the machinery of government