University of Canberra

Graduate Diploma in Public Policy

The Faculty of Business, Government and Law's Graduate Diploma in Public Policy is aimed at middle-level managers, community groups and professionals in industries aiming to influence government policy such as, the Australian Public Service, local and state governments, NGOs, and not-for-profit sectors. The Diploma introduces the study and practice of public policy and explores a range of critical and analytical perspectives on the political, economic and cultural factors informing the development and implementation of public policy in Australia. Graduates will develop and apply knowledge and skills to a range of policy problems and will cultivate equitable approaches to policy issues that are sensitive to the multiple standpoints of race, class, gender, age and ability. The Diploma highlights the crucial role of leadership in effecting equitable outcomes. The Graduate Diploma of Public Policy enhances graduates' understanding of co-design and participatory forms of policy making to help them involve a broader range of stakeholders in the policy making process. It provides students with the capacity to critically analyse and understand evidence-based practice in developing sound public policy. It also provides graduates with a conceptual understanding of the use of data, statistics, economic modelling and their analysis which can be readily applied to the real-life challenges of policy analysis and the policy making process. The Diploma develops graduates' knowledge of the social, political and historical context of Australian public law, including its impacts on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, and provides opportunities for thinking creatively about options for reform. Graduates will learn how to effectively communicate the goals of public policy objectives and/or programs, as well as how to manage risk, including understanding government priorities in an increasingly nuanced context both nationally and internationally.