Public Sector Management Program

Overview

The Public Sector Management Program is a management and leadership education program for Australia’s public sector managers. It has been developed as a national joint venture across all government jurisdictions to provide managers with a unique opportunity to develop skills relevant to the current public sector environment. The program is open to current and potential middle managers in Commonwealth, State and Local Government organisations in NSW. Prior qualifications are not required. Participants who successfully complete the program will graduate from Flinders University, South Australia with a Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management. In NSW, the program is administered by IPAA NSW on behalf of the NSW Public Service Commission.

What the program offers

•  A focus on knowledge relevant to the workplace and skills for public sector managers

• Practical training to assist with the increasing demands of a changing work environment

• The opportunity for information sharing and networking between Commonwealth, State, and Local Government organisations

•  High quality classroom facilitators and comprehensive learning materials

• Course delivery in a supportive learning environment

• Development of skills to improve outcomes in public sector policy, service delivery, productivity and people management

The program comprises four units:

• Unit 1: Managing up: The framework of public sector management
• Unit 2: Managing out: The public sector in the community
• Unit 3: Managing in: Ethics and career management in the public sector
• Unit 4: Managing down: Operational management in the public sector.
  

PSM Program structure

UNIT 1 • Managing up: The framework of public sector management

• The Australian political and legal system
• Responsible government and public management
• Federal–State relations
• Political, ethical and organisational accountability
• Understanding recent public sector reform initiatives
• Projecting the emerging future
• Coordination and the global challenge of managing up

UNIT 2 • Managing out: The public sector in the community

• The Managing Out imperative
• Networks, contracts and policy communities
• Citizens, clients and stakeholders
• Participation and accountability
• Whole-of-government
• Network delivery and e-government
• Managing relationships in a network environment
• Managing the media and public relations
• Managing Out in practice

UNIT 3 • Managing in: Ethics and career management in the public sector

• Understanding Personality
• Values and ethics
• Emotional intelligence
• Capability and learning
• Career management
• Motivation through goal-setting
• Personal efficiency, priority management and productivity
• Information analysis for problem solving and decision making

UNIT 4 • Managing down: Operational management in the public sector

• Strategic management
• Organisation structure and culture
• The learning organisation and knowledge management
• The budget cycle and financial management
• Strategic human resource management
• Performance management
• Leadership and teams
• Job satisfaction and motivation
• Change management
• Project management
  

There are approximately six new courses run annually. You will be contacted about the next available starting date when your application has been submitted online at:

Course Content

There are three-day classes for each of the four units with a one day introductory workshop. Class time is 13 days in total. Additional study is required for the two assignments submitted for each unit. Students progress sequentially through the units, completing the program in 12 to 15 months.