The University of Sydney
Course Information:
Evidence Based Policy
|
There is a growing recognition of the importance that the evidence from research informs the development and evaluation of health policy. Strengthening understanding of the links between evidence and policy and practice is a crucial element in the improvement of health systems. This unit will equip students with skills to critically appraise policy proposals and to offer informed advice on making policies more effective by using evidence. Students will gain experience in techniques to assess evidence needed for policy development, including systematic and rapid reviews. Specifically, students will learn how evidence can be used to a) identify areas that require effective interventions, b) implement the most effective interventions and c) monitor and evaluate outcomes. . The unit emphasizes the manner in which political processes and imperatives shape new policy approaches. Assessments will allow students to demonstrate their acquisition of policy assessment / interpretation skills, critical analysis of data and evidence and their application to emerging problems. This unit prepares students for the policy research project in HPOL5009, for which it is a prerequisite. The unit is taught in conjunction with the Sax Institute and the Menzies Centre for Health Policy (University Sydney). |
Organisational theory, management and administration
|
We all have experience of organisations through our work and life and yet few of us have taken the time to think about how we might understand organisaitons better. Organisation theories provide us with different lenses through which we can understand organisation. This unit explores the development of organisation theory from its beginnings to the present day. Concepts, theories and models from the perspectives of the Historical, Modern, Symbolic Interpretive and Postmodern periods are studied through selected original works by key writers in the field. |
Organisational Culture and Change
|
Institutions throughout most parts of the world are confronted by a period of rapid and dramatic change. The external demands placed upon them to change and improve are considerable. The key elements of leadership, vision and mission and their relationships to the development of a unique organisational culture are essential ingredients for organisational effectiveness, excellence and continuous improvement. This core unit focuses upon the internal and external forces that influence the culture of a variety of organisations and uses the competing theories and alternative approaches to management development in the core unit EDPA5001 to build upon the basic concepts. |
International Politics of Human Rights
|
This unit introduces students to the notion of human rights, outlines international human rights enforcement mechanisms and the application of human rights standards globally. Throughout the course we consider the evolution of human rights and consider questions about the adequacy of existing human rights machinery. We examine criticisms by a range of commentators of the UN and other international rights institutions and discuss alternatives for protecting international human rights. We also look at the role played by Non-Government Organisations in advancing and protecting human rights throughout the world. |
Policy Making, Power and Politics
|
This unit focuses on the nature of public policy and the processes by which it is produced. Relevant issues are common to all nation states, although they take specific forms in each individual country. First, the unit takes an overview of public policy - dealing with basic themes such as 'What is policy?' through to different approaches to understanding the policy process. These include policy cycles, rationality, interest groups, institutions, and socio-economic interests. Second, it maps out and examines the main components of public policy making: actors, institutions and policy instruments. Third, it focuses on aspects of policy-making processes which often attract a high level of attention from analysts. These include problem definition, agenda setting, decision-taking, policy implementation, policy evaluation and crisis policy-making. Fourth, it examines wider issues in terms of the state and who ultimately holds power over the making and shaping of public policy. Finally, it examines the 'bigger pictures' of long term policy trends, and the extent to which national policy making capacities and processes have been affected by globalisation. Assessments offer a large element of flexibility, allowing students to concentrate on areas of particular interest. |
Social Policy Process
|
The world of policy is changing, from a centralised model to a decentralised one, in which you may be involved, at least at institutional level. Whether you work in the public, private, or third sector as an educator, social worker, civil servant or in another capacity, it is important to understand the changing world of policy. Another change that we examine is the rise of neo-liberalism and its effects on the policy process. Critics charge that policy is now framed with economic rather than social good in mind, and that the success of policies is measured by the same calculus. How is policy made, and by whom? How does Australian federalism influence the making and implementation of policy? What kinds of transnational influences affect the policy process, and to what extent? Do different countries respond to difference (class, ethnic, gender, age), in a world of increasing diversity, migration and mobility? |
Leadership in Theory and Practice
|
'The leader points the way.' Eleanor Roosevelt. Leadership is a story that resolves these questions: What is a leader? What kinds of leaders are there? Is democratic leadership different from other kinds? Is leadership in a local community similar to that in national politics or international politics? Are leaders made or born? Is leadership generic? Is it the same in Europe and Asia? What is the difference between a leader and a manager? This unit reviews and evaluates theories of leadership. Participants' experiences and perceptions of leadership are an important part of the unit. |
Organisations as learning communities
|
In a rapidly changing world the necessity for an organisation to improve performance in order to keep pace and even be in the forefront of changes is an imperative for long-term survival. This unit explores the concepts of the learning organisation, organisational learning and communities of practice. Emphasis is placed upon the importance of dialogue in organisational learning. The use of scenario analysis, scenario planning and learning histories as means of supporting organisational learning is studied. |
Global Social Policy
|
A key perspective of this unit of study is from non-government organisations' partcipation in the development of a global civil society and their contribution to global social policy. It also examines the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and how NGOs have contributed to both the ambitions of the goals as well as the outcomes for different countries. This unit provides opportunities for students to deepen their understanding and knowledge of core global concerns such as poverty, health, education, environment, NGO corporate engagement and gender equality and make links to the vital role of NGOs in these areas. |
Community Work Policy and Practice
|
This course aims to develop the student's ability to engage in current debates concerning community work. |
Citizenship Rights and Social Movements
|
This unit will provide an analysis of theories and practices of citizenship rights in Australia, other Anglophone countries and European countries in the 20th and 21st centuries. It will examine the relationships between different modes of citizenship, claims for rights and the formation of social movements with regard to the women's movement, Indigenous movements (where applicable) and movements concerned with migration, ethnic diversity and multiculturalism. Analyses will focus on the processes, content and outcomes of social movement advocacy. |
Policy Making, Power and Politics
|
This unit focuses on the nature of public policy and the processes by which it is produced. Relevant issues are common to all nation states, although they take specific forms in each individual country. First, the unit takes an overview of public policy - dealing with basic themes such as 'What is policy?' through to different approaches to understanding the policy process. These include policy cycles, rationality, interest groups, institutions, and socio-economic interests. Second, it maps out and examines the main components of public policy making: actors, institutions and policy instruments. Third, it focuses on aspects of policy-making processes which often attract a high level of attention from analysts. These include problem definition, agenda setting, decision-taking, policy implementation, policy evaluation and crisis policy-making. Fourth, it examines wider issues in terms of the state and who ultimately holds power over the making and shaping of public policy. Finally, it examines the 'bigger pictures' of long term policy trends, and the extent to which national policy making capacities and processes have been affected by globalisation. Assessments offer a large element of flexibility, allowing students to concentrate on areas of particular interest. |
Policy Making, Power and Politics
|
This unit focuses on the nature of public policy and the processes by which it is produced. Relevant issues are common to all nation states, although they take specific forms in each individual country. First, the unit takes an overview of public policy - dealing with basic themes such as 'What is policy?' through to different approaches to understanding the policy process. These include policy cycles, rationality, interest groups, institutions, and socio-economic interests. Second, it maps out and examines the main components of public policy making: actors, institutions and policy instruments. Third, it focuses on aspects of policy-making processes which often attract a high level of attention from analysts. These include problem definition, agenda setting, decision-taking, policy implementation, policy evaluation and crisis policy-making. Fourth, it examines wider issues in terms of the state and who ultimately holds power over the making and shaping of public policy. Finally, it examines the 'bigger pictures' of long term policy trends, and the extent to which national policy making capacities and processes have been affected by globalisation. Assessments offer a large element of flexibility, allowing students to concentrate on areas of particular interest. |
Program Information:
Faculty of Education and Social Work
Services
Internships
Practica
Workshops
Degree and Certificate InformationNo degrees listed.Certificates
| Master of Social Work |
| Master of Policy Studies |
Information on Training and Other Services
| The Policy Process and How to Influence It |
|
| Action Research |
|
| Community Work |
|
Additional InformationThe MPS – and its component graduate certificate and graduate diploma – attracts students from different countries and a range of backgrounds in the human-services industry.
Despite this inherent diversity, and regardless of whether the students have come from schools, hospitals, health or community centres, international organisations, the public service or police force, aged care, children's services, social work, unions, peak bodies and non-government organisations, their shared goal is to learn more about policy processes because of a belief that policy changes can significantly improve social outcomes for individuals and communities.
|
