JSQ165 Developing Impactful Public Policies
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: | JSQ165 |
|---|---|
| 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 | $3,912 |
| International unit fee | $5,664 |
Unit Outline: Session 2 2026, QUT Online, Online
| Unit code: | JSQ165 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
Overview
This unit explores the policy cycle and its importance for fostering sustainable institutions and communities. You will learn about departmental structures and decision-making processes, understanding the pivotal role and ethics of public officials. The unit introduces the policy cycle and writing effective policies, alongside identifying key issues and managing projects efficiently. It covers various policy instruments, the importance of consultation, and the critical stages of policy implementation and evaluation. The unit equips you with the skills to develop, implement, and assess impactful and ethical public policies.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Apply the policy cycle to address complex policy issues and support sustainable communities.
- Discuss the impact of public sector ethics on policy development in a democratic society.
- Collect and critically analyse policy data to identify policy issues and inform future policy decisions.
- Design and justify solutions in response to complex policy issues.
- Communicate professionally and strategically to clarify complex information for diverse stakeholders.
Content
This unit covers the following:
- departmental structure & decision making processes
- role of public officials & their ethics
- introduction to the policy cycle and writing policy
- issue identification
- project management
- policy instruments
- consultation and public communication
- policy implementation and evaluation
Learning Approaches
In this unit you will learn through engaging in the following:
- Online modules
- Online discussions
- Readings
- Learning activities
- Digital practices for creating professional resources
This unit employs interactive and discussion-based learning and critical reflection on experience.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
The following types of feedback will assist you to develop the knowledge and skills in this unit:
- Self-feedback in the form of reflective activities
- Peer feedback in the form of group discussion and online collaborative sessions
- Adaptive feedback in the form of online interactive learning activities and quizzes
- Teacher feedback in the online collaborative sessions, discussion boards, and written feedback on assessment
Assessment
Overview
This unit has two assessments:
1. Briefing note - this task draws on your understanding of the policy cycle to research a local issue and produce a briefing note with possible solutions.
2. Verbal briefing on implementation plan - this task builds on the first assessment and your understanding of the policy cycle to develop an implementation plan for a possible solution to the local issue.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Briefing note
You will take on the role of a policy officer in your local context to create a briefing note for senior officials briefing them on a contemporary localised issue. You will attach appendices discussing each of your alternative recommendations and include evidence of the issue.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Verbal briefing on implementation plan
You will take on the role of a policy officer to design the implementation of a policy. You will select one of the policy options proposed in Assessment Task 1. Your implementation plan will be presented to senior officials. You will produce presentation slides including a proforma email reply to address public concerns about this issue. You will record yourself delivering the presentation.
This live presentation will also include a brief reflection on how you addressed possible ethical implications of the implementation plan and how this will inform your future practice. You will be required to respond to questions about the ethical implications and design of your implementation plan.
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
The following is required to be purchased for this unit. Other resources will be available in the unit's Canvas site.
Resource Materials
Prescribed text(s)
Althaus, C., Ball, S., Bridgman P., Davis G. & Threlfall, D. (2023). The Australian Policy Handbook, 7th ed. Routledge.
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with this unit.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.JQ23 Graduate Certificate in Policy and Governance
- Discuss the role of policy development in supporting sustainable institutions and communities.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, Briefing note, Verbal briefing on implementation plan - Critically analyse data and evidence to identify policy issues and inform policy development.
Relates to: ULO3, Briefing note - Design and justify real-world solutions to complex policy problems.
Relates to: ULO4, Briefing note - Recognise and collaborate with a plurality of stakeholders and articulate diverse perspectives.
Relates to: ULO5, Verbal briefing on implementation plan
JQ45 Master of Justice
- Critically analyse research, data and evidence and apply to justice practices and contexts.
Relates to: ULO3, Briefing note - Evaluate complex and sensitive problems of justice to inform evidence-based responses.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO4, Briefing note, Verbal briefing on implementation plan - Apply a range of communication modes to professionally and strategically interpret and convey critical information to diverse stakeholders.
Relates to: ULO5, Verbal briefing on implementation plan - Examine how ethics, intersectionality and contextual factors converge to impact on and shape social justice issues.
Relates to: ULO2, Briefing note, Verbal briefing on implementation plan
Unit Outline: Session 4 2026, QUT Online, Online
| Unit code: | JSQ165 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
Overview
This unit explores the policy cycle and its importance for fostering sustainable institutions and communities. You will learn about departmental structures and decision-making processes, understanding the pivotal role and ethics of public officials. The unit introduces the policy cycle and writing effective policies, alongside identifying key issues and managing projects efficiently. It covers various policy instruments, the importance of consultation, and the critical stages of policy implementation and evaluation. The unit equips you with the skills to develop, implement, and assess impactful and ethical public policies.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Apply the policy cycle to address complex policy issues and support sustainable communities.
- Discuss the impact of public sector ethics on policy development in a democratic society.
- Collect and critically analyse policy data to identify policy issues and inform future policy decisions.
- Design and justify solutions in response to complex policy issues.
- Communicate professionally and strategically to clarify complex information for diverse stakeholders.
Content
This unit covers the following:
- departmental structure & decision making processes
- role of public officials & their ethics
- introduction to the policy cycle and writing policy
- issue identification
- project management
- policy instruments
- consultation and public communication
- policy implementation and evaluation
Learning Approaches
In this unit you will learn through engaging in the following:
- Online modules
- Online discussions
- Readings
- Learning activities
- Digital practices for creating professional resources
This unit employs interactive and discussion-based learning and critical reflection on experience.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
The following types of feedback will assist you to develop the knowledge and skills in this unit:
- Self-feedback in the form of reflective activities
- Peer feedback in the form of group discussion and online collaborative sessions
- Adaptive feedback in the form of online interactive learning activities and quizzes
- Teacher feedback in the online collaborative sessions, discussion boards, and written feedback on assessment
Assessment
Overview
This unit has two assessments:
1. Briefing note - this task draws on your understanding of the policy cycle to research a local issue and produce a briefing note with possible solutions.
2. Verbal briefing on implementation plan - this task builds on the first assessment and your understanding of the policy cycle to develop an implementation plan for a possible solution to the local issue.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Briefing note
You will take on the role of a policy officer in your local context to create a briefing note for senior officials briefing them on a contemporary localised issue. You will attach appendices discussing each of your alternative recommendations and include evidence of the issue.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Verbal briefing on implementation plan
You will take on the role of a policy officer to design the implementation of a policy. You will select one of the policy options proposed in Assessment Task 1. Your implementation plan will be presented to senior officials. You will produce presentation slides including a proforma email reply to address public concerns about this issue. You will record yourself delivering the presentation.
This live presentation will also include a brief reflection on how you addressed possible ethical implications of the implementation plan and how this will inform your future practice. You will be required to respond to questions about the ethical implications and design of your implementation plan.
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
The following is required to be purchased for this unit. Other resources will be available in the unit's Canvas site.
Resource Materials
Prescribed text(s)
Althaus, C., Ball, S., Bridgman P., Davis G. & Threlfall, D. (2023). The Australian Policy Handbook, 7th ed. Routledge.
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with this unit.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.JQ23 Graduate Certificate in Policy and Governance
- Discuss the role of policy development in supporting sustainable institutions and communities.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, Briefing note, Verbal briefing on implementation plan - Critically analyse data and evidence to identify policy issues and inform policy development.
Relates to: ULO3, Briefing note - Design and justify real-world solutions to complex policy problems.
Relates to: ULO4, Briefing note - Recognise and collaborate with a plurality of stakeholders and articulate diverse perspectives.
Relates to: ULO5, Verbal briefing on implementation plan
JQ45 Master of Justice
- Critically analyse research, data and evidence and apply to justice practices and contexts.
Relates to: ULO3, Briefing note - Evaluate complex and sensitive problems of justice to inform evidence-based responses.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO4, Briefing note, Verbal briefing on implementation plan - Apply a range of communication modes to professionally and strategically interpret and convey critical information to diverse stakeholders.
Relates to: ULO5, Verbal briefing on implementation plan - Examine how ethics, intersectionality and contextual factors converge to impact on and shape social justice issues.
Relates to: ULO2, Briefing note, Verbal briefing on implementation plan