Unit of competency Outline

Date retreived
22/07/2026 10:56 AM AWST

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Develop public policy

Develop public policy

Unit of competency
National Code
PSPPOL601A
State Code
C8244
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
07/07/2014
Field of Education
090103 - Policy Studies
Original Release Date
07/07/2014
Nominal Hours
80
Description
This unit covers the development or review of public policy, to enable the implementation of government objectives. For the purposes of this unit, public policy includes government policy affecting all Australians and public sector policy that is not restricted to a particular organisational structure or individual organisation. The unit includes anticipating and confirming the need for public policy development or review; planning the policy development process; gathering and analysing information; determining policy direction; and drafting, gaining agreement for, and disseminating public policy.In practice, developing public policy may overlap with other generalist or specialist work activities such as managing change, managing diversity, managing workplace safety, managing the delivery of client services, managing risk, directing the management of contracts.This unit replaces and, for qualification purposes, is equivalent to PSPPOLD601A Develop public policy. Policy evaluation is no longer part of the unit. Evaluation is addressed in PSPMNGT611A Manage evaluations. No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Anticipate and confirm the need for public policy development or review
  • 1.1 Events, issues or government policies likely to cause changes to public policy are identified.
  • 1.2 The likely implications and impact of these factors that might require public policy development are identified and prioritised in consultation with stakeholders.
  • 1.3 A critical analysis of the need for new or revised public policy is conducted that includes a scan of both internal and external environments, that checks related policies for context and identifies other public policy likely to be impacted.
  • 1.4 Priority areas for public policy development/review are recommended in accordance with government directions.
  • 1.5 Confirmation of the need for public policy development/review and supporting evidence is detailed in accordance with policy and procedures.
2. Plan public policy development process
  • 2.1 The approving authority is confirmed and procedures and protocols for public policy development are confirmed and applied.
  • 2.2 Issues likely to impact on the policy development process are identified, analysed (in terms of risk) and addressed in policy development planning.
  • 2.3 Public policy requirements are outlined in a policy development plan in accordance with organisational procedures.
3. Gather and analyse information for public policy development
  • 3.1 Stakeholders are identified and engaged through the establishment and maintenance of a public policy network.
  • 3.2 Information required to support the policy development process is gathered, analysed and interpreted.
  • 3.3 An analytical framework for the development of public policy is determined and applied.
4. Determine public policy direction
  • 4.1 Strategic input is obtained from high-level staff in accordance with organisational/public sector protocols.
  • 4.2 A range of policy options and criteria for choice are developed and communicated in a timely and understandable way to those responsible for selecting the policy direction.
  • 4.3 Where appropriate, specific policy options are promoted to key individuals, organisations and groups.
  • 4.4 A preferred public policy option is identified and risk treatments are determined in accordance with the policy development plan.
  • 4.5 Approvals/endorsements are obtained in accordance with the policy development plan and public sector procedures and protocols.
5. Draft public policy
  • 5.1 Public policy is drafted using a cyclical process of consultation, feedback, identification of changes and re-drafting implemented in accordance with the policy development plan.
  • 5.2 Risk management processes are implemented in accordance with the policy development plan to ensure progress of the process against the timeframe and milestones.
  • 5.3 An implementation plan that details responsibilities for implementation and strategies for transition, change management, and initial and ongoing training and maintenance of the policy, is included within the policy.
  • 5.4 Mechanisms for monitoring compliance with the policy, quality assurance of the policy, and for evaluation of the policy are included within the policy.
  • 5.5 The policy is developed in accordance with organisational requirements for style, format and contents.
6. Release and promote public policy
  • 6.1 Public policy is cleared through required channels, and agreement of critical stakeholders is gained in accordance with the policy development plan.
  • 6.2 All stakeholders, particularly those who will be responsible for implementing the new or revised policy, are fully informed of the outcomes, and fallout from dissenting stakeholders is managed in accordance with the policy development plan.
  • 6.3 The policy is released and promoted in accordance with government requirements.
  • 6.4 Advice is provided to those affected by policy changes in accordance with organisational policy and 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.
Events may include:
Machinery of Government changes
a shift to designing policy around a set of government priorities not organisational structures/individual agencies
a focus on whole of government policies
changes to legal risks
emphasis on policy research focused on the mid to long term, as well as that developed to meet immediate needs of government
national or international events such as:
change in government
changes in government policy
changes in strategic direction
changes in legislation
changes in the policies of other governments
changing social trends
economic/technological change
Public policy may include:
ongoing policy formulation to meet the immediate needs of government
evidence-based policy
policy focused on the medium to long term
any aspect of Australian life or public sector services or practices for which government considers policy development is required
Stakeholders may include:
all those individuals and groups both inside and outside the government that have some direct interest in government conduct, actions, products and services, including:
employees at all levels of the public sector
government
Ministers
clients
the public
other public sector organisations
other jurisdictions
union and association representatives
boards of management
international governments
international bodies
community groups
non-government organisations
special interest groups
key individuals of influence
Approving authority may include:
chief executive officer
delegated officer, such as policy manager
senior management
board of management
managing director
Issues may include:
political sensitivities
social and cultural sensitivities/factors
resource implications (of policy implementation)
technological influences/implications
jurisdictional issues
'sunk cost' restrictions
non-consenting stakeholders at the end of the policy development process
refusal to be involved, blocking, hampering process
Policy requirements may be defined in terms of:
context
rationale
issues to be addressed
expected outcomes
timeframe
business/government cycles
research methods
resource requirements for development
key stakeholders
communication strategy
feedback mechanisms for review
milestones
precedents
risk analysis
possible complications
success measures/learning from failure or previous problems
possible resource implications for implementation
Information gathering may include:
stakeholder consultation
developments across the public sector or in private sector organisations
evaluation of similar policies
benchmarking (including international benchmarking)
current and closed files
surveys
literature reviews
Internet
comparing with approaches in other countries
Analytical frameworks may include:
logical/rational (including best practice)
incremental
radical transformation
Criteria for choice of 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 and community 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
gender-neutral and written in non-discriminatory language
Outcomes of the policy development process may include:
nature of the policy change
the outcomes expected by stakeholders
issues
expected costs
timelines
contextual factors (including any impact on other related policies)
Promotion of policy may include:
formal launch
national campaign
information sessions
presentations
media campaign
ongoing advice
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:
PSPMNGT604B Manage change
PSPMNGT605B Manage diversity
PSPMNGT606B Manage quality client service
PSPMNGT608B Manage risk
PSPOHS602A Manage workplace safety
PSPPROC602B Direct the management of contracts
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)
development of public policy 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
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 developing public policy, including coping with difficulties, irregularities and breakdowns in routine
development of public policy 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
Replaces
State Code National Code Title Type
C3453 PSPPOLD601A Develop public policy Unit of competency
Replaced By
State Code National Code Title Type
AWU12 PSPPCY008 Develop public policy Unit of competency