AUSTRALIAN POLITICS AND PUBLIC POLICY

POL5APP

2020

Credit points: 15

Subject outline

This subject focuses on contemporary Australian public policy-making as both political and communicative practice. It examines the institutional, ideological, discursive and political contexts in which policy decisions are made in pluralistic societies like Australia, and the consequences of those decisions for the distribution of power and resources. We begin with an introduction to Australian political institutions, including the role of parliament, the executive, bureaucracy, media and other non-state actors. We then introduce students to diverse theoretical perspectives on public policy-making, along with the specific historical and structural factors that have shaped government decision-making in Australia. We conclude with an analysis of key policy case studies. This subject is suitable for all Master's students who want to work in or understand Australia's political and policy-making environment.

School: Humanities and Social Sciences (Pre 2022)

Credit points: 15

Subject Co-ordinator: Michael O'Keefe

Available to Study Abroad/Exchange Students: Yes

Subject year level: Year Level 5 - Masters

Exchange Students: No

Available as Elective: No

Learning Activities: N/A

Capstone subject: No

Subject particulars

Subject rules

Prerequisites: N/A

Co-requisites: N/A

Incompatible subjects: N/A

Equivalent subjects: N/A

Quota Management Strategy: N/A

Quota-conditions or rules: N/A

Special conditions: N/A

Minimum credit point requirement: N/A

Assumed knowledge: N/A

Career Ready

Career-focused: No

Work-based learning: No

Self sourced or Uni sourced: N/A

Entire subject or partial subject: N/A

Total hours/days required: N/A

Location of WBL activity (region): N/A

WBL addtional requirements: N/A

Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes

Graduate Capabilities

Intended Learning Outcomes

01. Demonstrate an understanding of key Australian political institutions, interests and public policy processes.

02. Demonstrate an understanding of key theoretical and analytical approaches to the study of public policy.

03. Demonstrate an understanding of public policy as a communicative practice in which decision making is influenced by communication, deliberation, negotiation and compromise between competing interests, values and identities.

04. Demonstrate understanding of the key interests, ideas and issues at stake in specific Australian public policy processes and outcomes.

Melbourne (Bundoora), 2020, Semester 2, Blended

Overview

Online enrolment: Yes

Maximum enrolment size: N/A

Enrolment information: N/A

Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Michael O'Keefe

Class requirements

SeminarWeek: 31 - 36
One 3.00 hours seminar per study period on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 36 and delivered via face-to-face.

Unscheduled Online ClassWeek: 31 - 36
One 2.00 hours unscheduled online class per study period on any day including weekend during the day from week 31 to week 36 and delivered via face-to-face.

Assessments

Assessment element	Comments	Category	Contribution	Hurdle	%	ILO*
2000 word essayOn Australian public policy: institutional, ideological and theoretical contexts	N/A	N/A	N/A	No	40	SILO1, SILO2, SILO3
3000 word research report On an Australian Policy case study	N/A	N/A	N/A	No	60	SILO1, SILO2, SILO3, SILO4