Unit of competency Outline

Date retreived
23/07/2026 1:01 AM AWST

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Assist with specialist policy development

Assist with specialist policy development

Unit of competency
National Code
PSPPOL402A
State Code
C8239
TGA Status
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Current Release Number
3.00
Current Release Date
01/11/2012
View on TGA
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
21/07/2014
Field of Education
090103 - Policy Studies
Original Release Date
21/07/2014
Nominal Hours
50
Description
This unit covers assistance in the planning, research and writing of policy, typically provided by a policy research officer. It includes assisting with policy development planning, researching, contributing to the developments of policy options, and assisting with drafting and dissemination of policy.Contribution to the development of policy expected of all public sector staff is covered in PSPPOL401A Contribute to policy development, rather than this specialist unit.In practice, assisting with specialist policy development may overlap with other generalist or specialist work activities such as applying government processes, providing client services, gathering and analysing information, providing input to change.No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Assist with policy development planning
  • 1.1 Research is conducted into the wider internal and external environment to identify related policies for context and identify other policies likely to be impacted.
  • 1.2 Internal and external stakeholders are identified and prioritised and their contact details are checked to ensure that key individuals and groups are engaged as early as possible and throughout the policy development process.
  • 1.3 Key aspects to be included in the policy development plan are identified and research assistance is provided to determine the content of each in accordance with organisational requirements.
2. Research information for policy development
  • 2.1 Sources of information are identified and evaluated.
  • 2.2 Information required to support the policy development process is gathered and collated in accordance with organisational requirements.
  • 2.3 Gaps, ambiguity and conflicting views in the information are identified, recorded and referred to the principal policy developer, or additional research is conducted to clarify them.
3. Contribute to the development of policy options
  • 3.1 Possible policy options are formulated and analysed under guidance, to identify their strengths and weaknesses.
  • 3.2 Possible criteria for choosing preferred policy option are researched and prioritised in terms of their applicability to the task.
4. Assist in drafting policy
  • 4.1 Initial drafts or selected sections of the policy are written in accordance with organisational requirements.
  • 4.2 Written and oral feedback from stakeholders is captured and included in re-drafting as required.
  • 4.3 The progress of policy development against the timeframe and milestones is monitored and reminders are provided to keep the process on track in accordance with the policy development plan.
  • 4.4 Policy writing is undertaken in accordance with organisational requirements for style, format and contents.
5. Assist with policy dissemination
  • 5.1 Recipients for approved policy documents, particularly those who will be responsible for implementing the new or revised policy, are identified and information is provided on the outcomes in accordance with organisational requirements.
  • 5.2 Routine enquiries on the release and content of the policy are dealt with or referred in accordance with organisational procedures.
The Range Statement provides information about the context in which the unit of competency is carried out. The variables cater for differences between States and Territories and the Commonwealth, and between organisations and workplaces. They allow for different work requirements, work practices and knowledge. The Range Statement also provides a focus for assessment. It relates to the unit as a whole. Text in bold italics in the Performance Criteria is explained here.
Stakeholders may include:
all those individuals and groups both inside and outside the organisation that have some direct interest in the organisation's conduct, actions, products and services, including:
employees at all levels of the organisation
other public sector organisations
private sector organisations
non-government organisations
other jurisdictions
union and association representatives
boards of management
government
Ministers
clients
the public
special interest groups
Policy may include:
public policy
public sector policy
central agency policy
whole of government policies
international policy
organisational policy relating to a range of functions, such as:
human resources
administration
financial management
work practices
training
information technology
technical/professional requirements
environmental and sustainability practices
Key aspects of the policy development plan may include:
context
rationale
issues to be addressed
expected outcomes
timeframe
research methods
resource requirements for development
key stakeholders
communication strategy
feedback mechanisms for review
milestones
precedents
risk analysis
possible complications
success measures
possible resource implications for implementation
Sources of information may include:
stakeholder consultation and submissions
focus groups
developments in other public sector or private sector organisations
similar policies and practices that may be benchmarked
current and closed files
surveys
literature reviews
Internet
Evaluation of information sources may be in terms of:
sufficiency
authenticity
appropriateness
currency
Criteria for choosing preferred policy option may include:
likely effectiveness
implementation timeframe and costs (including infrastructure)
interaction with other policies (existing or being developed)
consistency with broader government agendas
Organisational requirements for style, format and contents may require policies to be:
forward-looking
outward-looking
principles-based
innovative, creative, flexible
evidence-based
inclusive
consistent
self-contained, with adequate coverage of the subject matter
accessible to the intended audience/understandable to all users
in gender-neutral non-discriminatory language
Outcomes of the policy development process may include:
nature of the policy change
match with stakeholder expectations
implementation requirements
expected costs
timelines
contextual factors (including any impact on other related policies)
The Evidence Guide specifies the evidence required to demonstrate achievement in the unit of competency as a whole. It must be read in conjunction with the Unit descriptor, Performance Criteria, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Public Sector Training Package.
Units to be assessed together
Pre-requisite units that must be achieved prior to this unit:Nil
Co-requisite units that must be assessed with this unit:Nil
Co-assessed units that may be assessed with this unit to increase the efficiency and realism of the assessment process include, but are not limited to:
PSPGOV402B Deliver and monitor service to clients
PSPGOV405B Provide input to change processes
PSPGOV406B Gather and analyse information
PSPGOV408A Value diversity
PSPGOV422A Apply government processes
Overview of evidence requirements
In addition to integrated demonstration of the elements and their related performance criteria, look for evidence that confirms:
the knowledge requirements of this unit
the skill requirements of this unit
application of the Employability Skills as they relate to this unit (see Employability Summaries in Qualifications Framework)
assistance with specialist policy development in a range of (2 or more) contexts (or occasions, over time)
Resources required to carry out assessment
These resources include:
public sector policy and legislation
public sector standards, procedures and protocols
policy development guidelines
guidelines for public sector research
Where and how to assess evidence
Valid assessment of this unit requires:
a workplace environment or one that closely resembles normal work practice and replicates the range of conditions likely to be encountered when assisting with the development of policy, including coping with difficulties, irregularities and breakdowns in routine
assistance with specialist policy development in a range of (2 or more) contexts (or occasions, over time)
Assessment methods should reflect workplace demands, such as literacy, and the needs of particular groups, such as:
people with disabilities
people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
women
young people
older people
people in rural and remote locations
Assessment methods suitable for valid and reliable assessment of this competency may include, but are not limited to, a combination of 2 or more of:
case studies
portfolios
projects
questioning
scenarios
authenticated evidence from the workplace and/or training courses
For consistency of assessment
Evidence must be gathered over time in a range of contexts to ensure the person can achieve the unit outcome and apply the competency in different situations or environments
Replaced By
State Code National Code Title Type
AWU18 PSPPCY002 Assist with specialist policy development Unit of competency