JSQ165 Policy, Governance and 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: | JSQ165 |
|---|---|
| Equivalent(s): | JSN165 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $3,756 |
Unit Outline: Session 1 2025, QUT Online, Online
| Unit code: | JSQ165 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
Overview
This foundational unit is designed to introduce the skills required for research and policy positions in government agencies and enhance the key vocational skills required for working in any government agency, including writing, communication and consultation for developing policy. You will be introduced to the policy cycle and the wider policy issues associated with government and social justice environments.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Apply knowledge of the policy cycle, and approaches to policy development to analyse options and make recommendations for regulatory action (CLOs 1.1, 1.2, 2.3, 4.1)
- Discuss the impact of public sector ethics on policy development (CLOs 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 2.1)
- Collect and critically analyse qualitative policy data to inform future policy decisions (CLOs 2.1, 4.3, 5.1)
- Reproduce and manipulate government documents for specific project needs (CLOs 1.1, 3.1, 3.2)
- Communicate professionally and strategically (CLOs 3.1, 3.2)
Content
The content of this unit has both theoretical and practical elements to ensure that you gain both understanding and applied skills. The unit adopts a practical approach to developing policy including, analysis and writing skills but also addresses theoretical aspects of governance, public policy, policy development practices and public sector ethics.
The modules in this unit include:
Module 1 - Public Sector Ethics
- Public Sector Ethics and Corruption
- Sociology and Psychology of Ethics
- Indigenous awareness
Module 2 - Introduction to Policy
- Why policy government documents
- Policy templates
Module 3 - The Policy Cycle
- Issue identification
- Policy instruments
- Consultation, coordination and decision making
- Policy implementation
- Policy evaluation
Learning Approaches
This unit will be offered online in the form of self-contained modules that introduce you to new concepts, provide opportunities for you to apply your knowledge to real world scenarios and to work collaboratively to practice your skills.
The unit adopts a team-based learning approach which allows you to work within a community of practice to build your knowledge and practice your skills in applying the policy cycle, analyzing policy data and writing government documents.
Your participation in the unit includes:
- Independently working through the learning modules
- Discussing and collaborating with your teams to apply your knowledge to real world scenarios
- Practicing the skills in collaboration with your teams
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
The summative assessment for this unit is constructed around real-world documents and tasks. The purpose of the assessment is to ensure that you have both the necessary theoretical understanding and the practical skills required of an effective and proactive employee. Collaborative practice activities will serve as formative assessment, which will provide you with early feedback to assist you with building your knowledge and skills prior to the summative assessment items.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Briefing note
You will produce a two-page briefing note for senior officials to brief them on a real world policy issue. Your note will include three pages of appendixes, that identifies the relevant policy issue, suggests three possible alternatives, and recommends a specific course of action.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Policy report
You will analyse data relevant to a current policy issue and write a policy report to inform senior officials of the issues and make recommendations for action.
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
Prescribed and recommended texts for this unit.
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 known risks associated with this unit.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.JQ45 Master of Justice
- Critically analyse research, data and evidence and apply to justice practices and contexts.
Relates to: ULO3, Briefing note, Policy report - Evaluate complex and sensitive problems of justice to inform evidence-based responses.
Relates to: ULO1, Briefing note, Policy report - Apply a range of communication modes to professionally and strategically interpret and convey critical information to diverse stakeholders.
Relates to: ULO4, ULO5, Briefing note, Policy report - Examine how ethics, intersectionality and contextual factors converge to impact on and shape social justice issues.
Relates to: ULO2, Briefing note, Policy report
Unit Outline: Session 3 2025, QUT Online, Online
| Unit code: | JSQ165 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
Overview
This foundational unit is designed to introduce the skills required for research and policy positions in government agencies and enhance the key vocational skills required for working in any government agency, including writing, communication and consultation for developing policy. You will be introduced to the policy cycle and the wider policy issues associated with government and social justice environments.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Apply knowledge of the policy cycle, and approaches to policy development to analyse options and make recommendations for regulatory action (CLOs 1.1, 1.2, 2.3, 4.1)
- Discuss the impact of public sector ethics on policy development (CLOs 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 2.1)
- Collect and critically analyse qualitative policy data to inform future policy decisions (CLOs 2.1, 4.3, 5.1)
- Reproduce and manipulate government documents for specific project needs (CLOs 1.1, 3.1, 3.2)
- Communicate professionally and strategically (CLOs 3.1, 3.2)
Content
The content of this unit has both theoretical and practical elements to ensure that you gain both understanding and applied skills. The unit adopts a practical approach to developing policy including, analysis and writing skills but also addresses theoretical aspects of governance, public policy, policy development practices and public sector ethics.
The modules in this unit include:
Module 1 - Public Sector Ethics
- Public Sector Ethics and Corruption
- Sociology and Psychology of Ethics
- Indigenous awareness
Module 2 - Introduction to Policy
- Why policy government documents
- Policy templates
Module 3 - The Policy Cycle
- Issue identification
- Policy instruments
- Consultation, coordination and decision making
- Policy implementation
- Policy evaluation
Learning Approaches
This unit will be offered online in the form of self-contained modules that introduce you to new concepts, provide opportunities for you to apply your knowledge to real world scenarios and to work collaboratively to practice your skills.
The unit adopts a team-based learning approach which allows you to work within a community of practice to build your knowledge and practice your skills in applying the policy cycle, analyzing policy data and writing government documents.
Your participation in the unit includes:
- Independently working through the learning modules
- Discussing and collaborating with your teams to apply your knowledge to real world scenarios
- Practicing the skills in collaboration with your teams
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
The summative assessment for this unit is constructed around real-world documents and tasks. The purpose of the assessment is to ensure that you have both the necessary theoretical understanding and the practical skills required of an effective and proactive employee. Collaborative practice activities will serve as formative assessment, which will provide you with early feedback to assist you with building your knowledge and skills prior to the summative assessment items.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Briefing note
You will produce a two-page briefing note for senior officials to brief them on a real world policy issue. Your note will include three pages of appendixes, that identifies the relevant policy issue, suggests three possible alternatives, and recommends a specific course of action.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Policy report
You will analyse data relevant to a current policy issue and write a policy report to inform senior officials of the issues and make recommendations for action.
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
Prescribed and recommended texts for this unit.
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 known risks associated with this unit.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.JQ45 Master of Justice
- Critically analyse research, data and evidence and apply to justice practices and contexts.
Relates to: ULO3, Briefing note, Policy report - Evaluate complex and sensitive problems of justice to inform evidence-based responses.
Relates to: ULO1, Briefing note, Policy report - Apply a range of communication modes to professionally and strategically interpret and convey critical information to diverse stakeholders.
Relates to: ULO4, ULO5, Briefing note, Policy report - Examine how ethics, intersectionality and contextual factors converge to impact on and shape social justice issues.
Relates to: ULO2, Briefing note, Policy report