JSB269 Effective Policy Making for Social Justice
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | JSB269 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | 72cp of completed study |
| Equivalent(s): | JSB178 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $2,174 |
| Pre-2021 CSP student contribution | $1,020 The pre-2021 commonwealth supported place (CSP) contribution amount only applies to students enrolled in a course prior to 2021. To learn more, visit our Understanding your fees page. |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $3,456 |
| International unit fee | $5,592 |
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2026, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | JSB269 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | 72cp of completed study |
| Equivalent: | JSB178 |
| Coordinator: | Sarah Warner | s6.warner@qut.edu.au |
Overview
This unit emphasises the significance of the policy cycle in government for creating policies that support equitable and robust institutions. It highlights the importance of policy officers understanding the government’s processes and systems for policy development. This understanding ensures that policies reflect the principles of equality, justice, and strong institutions. The unit also underscores the need for innovative solutions when analysing policy issues and the importance of public sector ethics. It stresses the role of policy officers in building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of clear communication, both written and verbal, when briefing politicians and senior bureaucrats on policies. Overall, this unit equips policy officers with the necessary skills and knowledge to contribute effectively to policy development and implementation.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Identify and explain social justice issues to inform the development of policy by governments.
- Implement the policy cycle to propose fully informed policy recommendations.
- Analyse qualitative and quantitative data to inform innovative policy solutions.
- Brief politicians and senior bureaucrats on policy issues and solutions.
Content
This unit will cover the following:
- The policy cycle - the standard methodology for identifying policy issues, conducting policy analysis, making recommendations, implementing and evaluating policies
- Analysing policy issues and developing innovative solutions
- Public sector ethics
- Building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
- Writing standard policy documentation
- Briefing politicians and senior bureaucrats on policies (verbal and written forms)
Learning Approaches
In this unit you will learn by engaging in the following:
- lectures (recorded)
- workshops (on-campus and online)
- online learning materials
- peer and group discussions
The unit adopts an interactive learning approach in which you are encouraged to discuss and critique the Australian political system.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Feedback in this unit is provided to you in the following ways:
- a range of formative exercises discussed and undertaken throughout the unit
- feedback from peers as you investigate and discuss issues raised throughout the unit
- comments about summative assessment work included with your grade
- general summative assessment feedback posted to the whole cohort via the unit Canvas site.
Assessment
Overview
In this unit there are two assessments:
1. Question Time Briefing - This task draws on skills for the development of clear political communication, the review of background information and determining the goal of a new policy.
2. Briefing Note - This task brings together skills for developing viable policy solutions to create a briefing note on a new policy to address a social justice issue.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Question Time Briefing
You will be given a policy issue that you and your partner will be required to research from both the Government and Opposition’s perspective. You will develop a structured, debate-style exchange to a "question without notice". The task develops skills in policy analysis, and persuasive political communication, while grounding performance in solid evidence. This is a live presentation - not pre-recorded.
The use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools is allowed to help you study and find out more about the topic; noting AI-generated content may not be accurate, reliable, or may display bias. Any content generated may not be copied and included in your final submission.
Assessment: Briefing Note
You will write a Briefing Note, in the format provided, on one of the policy issues provided. The Briefing Note should engage with the impact of the issue, suggest policy options and implementation strategies that will help alleviate the challenge, and provide suggestions for evaluating the success of the proposed recommendations. You will be supported during workshops to develop realistic policy recommendations.
The use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools is allowed to help you study and find out more about the topic; noting AI-generated content may not be accurate, reliable, or may display bias. Any content generated may not be copied and included in your final submission.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
There are no resources that are required to be purchased for this unit. Resources will be available in the unit's Canvas site.
Risk Assessment Statement
Students are advised that some content in justice units may be confronting. If you are concerned that the content of a unit may impact your completion of the course, please see the unit coordinator. You can also access free student counselling through QUT Counselling via the QUT Student Homepage.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.JS34 Bachelor of Justice
- Apply social and criminal justice principles to explain justice issues and contexts.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, Question Time Briefing, Briefing Note - Collect and analyse evidence to inform decisions and recommendations in justice systems.
Relates to: ULO3, Briefing Note - Communicate justice and social issues in respectful, professional and ethical ways with other professionals and stakeholders.
Relates to: ULO4, Question Time Briefing, Briefing Note
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2026, Online
| Unit code: | JSB269 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | 72cp of completed study |
| Equivalent: | JSB178 |
Overview
This unit emphasises the significance of the policy cycle in government for creating policies that support equitable and robust institutions. It highlights the importance of policy officers understanding the government’s processes and systems for policy development. This understanding ensures that policies reflect the principles of equality, justice, and strong institutions. The unit also underscores the need for innovative solutions when analysing policy issues and the importance of public sector ethics. It stresses the role of policy officers in building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of clear communication, both written and verbal, when briefing politicians and senior bureaucrats on policies. Overall, this unit equips policy officers with the necessary skills and knowledge to contribute effectively to policy development and implementation.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Identify and explain social justice issues to inform the development of policy by governments.
- Implement the policy cycle to propose fully informed policy recommendations.
- Analyse qualitative and quantitative data to inform innovative policy solutions.
- Brief politicians and senior bureaucrats on policy issues and solutions.
Content
This unit will cover the following:
- The policy cycle - the standard methodology for identifying policy issues, conducting policy analysis, making recommendations, implementing and evaluating policies
- Analysing policy issues and developing innovative solutions
- Public sector ethics
- Building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
- Writing standard policy documentation
- Briefing politicians and senior bureaucrats on policies (verbal and written forms)
Learning Approaches
In this unit you will learn by engaging in the following:
- lectures (recorded)
- workshops (on-campus and online)
- online learning materials
- peer and group discussions
The unit adopts an interactive learning approach in which you are encouraged to discuss and critique the Australian political system.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Feedback in this unit is provided to you in the following ways:
- a range of formative exercises discussed and undertaken throughout the unit
- feedback from peers as you investigate and discuss issues raised throughout the unit
- comments about summative assessment work included with your grade
- general summative assessment feedback posted to the whole cohort via the unit Canvas site.
Assessment
Overview
In this unit there are two assessments:
1. Question Time Briefing - This task draws on skills for the development of clear political communication, the review of background information and determining the goal of a new policy.
2. Briefing Note - This task brings together skills for developing viable policy solutions to create a briefing note on a new policy to address a social justice issue.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Question Time Briefing
You will be given a policy issue that you and your partner will be required to research from both the Government and Opposition’s perspective. You will develop a structured, debate-style exchange to a "question without notice". The task develops skills in policy analysis, and persuasive political communication, while grounding performance in solid evidence. This is a live presentation - not pre-recorded.
The use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools is allowed to help you study and find out more about the topic; noting AI-generated content may not be accurate, reliable, or may display bias. Any content generated may not be copied and included in your final submission.
Assessment: Briefing Note
You will write a Briefing Note, in the format provided, on one of the policy issues provided. The Briefing Note should engage with the impact of the issue, suggest policy options and implementation strategies that will help alleviate the challenge, and provide suggestions for evaluating the success of the proposed recommendations. You will be supported during workshops to develop realistic policy recommendations.
The use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools is allowed to help you study and find out more about the topic; noting AI-generated content may not be accurate, reliable, or may display bias. Any content generated may not be copied and included in your final submission.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
There are no resources that are required to be purchased for this unit. Resources will be available in the unit's Canvas site.
Risk Assessment Statement
Students are advised that some content in justice units may be confronting. If you are concerned that the content of a unit may impact your completion of the course, please see the unit coordinator. You can also access free student counselling through QUT Counselling via the QUT Student Homepage.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.JS34 Bachelor of Justice
- Apply social and criminal justice principles to explain justice issues and contexts.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, Question Time Briefing, Briefing Note - Collect and analyse evidence to inform decisions and recommendations in justice systems.
Relates to: ULO3, Briefing Note - Communicate justice and social issues in respectful, professional and ethical ways with other professionals and stakeholders.
Relates to: ULO4, Question Time Briefing, Briefing Note