Course Title: Apply government systems
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 2013
Course Code: POLI5019C
Course Title: Apply government systems
School: 650T TAFE Business
Campus: City Campus
Program: C6102 - Advanced Diploma of Business (Public Relations)
Course Contact : Sally Parrott
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 5175
Course Contact Email:sally.parrott@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Alain Grossbard
Level 5, 445 Swanston Street, Melbourne Vic 3000
9925522
This course is co-delivered and co-assessed with Ensure a Safe Workplace (OHTH5592C)
Nominal Hours: 60
Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.
Pre-requisites and Co-requisites
None
Course Description
This unit covers the effective application of government systems to work in the public sector. It includes applying knowledge of linkages between government/other organisations and between governments, and applying knowledge of the broader political context.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
PSPGOV601B Apply government systems |
Element: |
1/. Apply knowledge of organizational linkages |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Organisational linkages between government organisations and with quasi-government organisations and non-government organisations are identified and regularly reassessed to maintain currency of information.
|
Learning Outcomes
This unit covers the effective application of government systems to work in the public sector. It includes applying knowledge of linkages between government/other organisations and between governments, and applying knowledge of the broader political context.
Details of Learning Activities
This course is co-joined with Ensure a Safe Workplace (OHTH5592C)
In addition to integrated demonstration of the elements and their related performance criteria, learning activities will need to confirm:
• the knowledge requirements of this unit
• the skill requirements of this unit
• application of Employability Skills as they relate to this unit
• application of knowledge of government systems in a range of (3 or more) contexts (or occasions, over time) that may include generalist or specialist work activities such as managing client services, developing financial strategies, managing regulatory compliance and directing contracts.
• organisations in the public and private sector
• public sector policy, legislation, regulations, guidelines, practices
• ethical standards
• governance practices
• systems thinking
• inter-organisational communications strategies/protocols
• organisational and public sector power structures and sources of power
• equal employment opportunity, equity and diversity principles
• public sector legislation such as occupational health and safety and environment and sustainability in the context of applying knowledge of government systems
Teaching Schedule
Week 1 Course Induction
• Course delivery and assessment details
• Course support documents – any text books or readings
• Online learning environment – go through Blackboard shell
• Grading – remind them of codes and no marks (codes at end of doc)
• Plagiarism – must have signed cover sheets on all assessments
• Appeals – take them through this process and where it is on website
• Extensions – take them through process (details on website.)
• Feedback – when they can contact you and expect a response.
• Submission requirements – how all work must be uploaded and how
• Resubmission policy – one resubmission, marked to a pass allowed
• Where to get support - Student study support details
• Student responsibilities – must check emails and bb shells weekly Hand out assessment overview in week
Week 2 Course introduction – Overview on Government systems Information to inform course content and delivery
Week 3 Current knowledge of government systems: Why is the knowledge of government systems important to public relations practitioners? Why do we need government relations? What are the three tiers of government and are they related? Who are our political parties?
Week 4 The structure of the Federal Government, the role of federal parliamentarians, the judiciary and the public service; lobbyists and how they work.
Simulation Case Study
Safety for workplaces
• Overview
• Legislation & guidance
• Responsibilities & resources
• Cost of illness & injury
• Broad impact on OHS Assessment 1 (Activity)
Week 5 The structure of the Federal Government, the role of federal parliamentarians, the judiciary and the public service; lobbyists and how they work.
Simulation Case Study
Safety for workplaces
• OHS management systems
• Induction & training
Week 6 The structure of the State Government, the role of state parliamentarians, the judiciary and the public service; lobbyists and how they work.
Safety for workplaces• Workplace consultation
• Communication with everyone
• Resolving OHS issues
• Communicating OHS outcomes effectively Assessment 1 (Activity)
Week 7 Discussion on role of PR in the delivery of a government service in Victoria and the relationships necessary to achieve outcomes; analysis of last year’s State Government elections.
Week 8 Role of PR in the delivery of a government service
Mid semester break (2-8 September)
Week 9 - Visit to State Parliament.
Guest speaker – State Member of Parliament
Week 10 - Everyone is a Partner in Safety
• Workplace consultation
• Communication with everyone
• Resolving OHS issues
• Communicating OHS outcomes effectively
Week 11 - Elections and campaigning; political parties, their images and the role of public relations within them.
Guest speaker – Political campaigner
What Could Happen?
• What could go wrong and how bad it could be?
• Controlling the risks
• Back to work Assessment 1 (Activity)
Week 12 - Pressure groups; who are they, how do you deal with them; what influences are exerted on governments, why and how?
Guest speaker – Pressure group leader Assessment 1 (Activity)
Week 13 - The structure of Local Government in Victoria; the roles and responsibilities of Councils and Council Officers; how do these differ from other forms of government?
Guest speaker – PR Manager from Local Council
or President of Municipal Association of Victoria Assessment 1 (Activity)
Week 14 - Excursion/visit to Melbourne Town Hall Council Chambers
Guest speaker on local government; the role of communications and its importance in a large metropolitan council; dealing with the extensive number of stakeholders.
Guest speaker – Lord Mayor
What is happening?
• Moving toward the OHS goals
• Find out
• Putting it together
14 20 May Major Assignment submission
Week 15 - Return final assessment and schedule any resubmission for next week
Week 16 - Resubmissions only
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
Nil
Overview of Assessment
Students must demonstrate an understanding of all elements of a particular competency to be deemed competent. Assessment methods have been designed to measure achievement of each competency in a flexible manner over a range of assessment tasks.
Assessment will incorporate a variety of methods including assignments, journals, presentation and written or test. Students are advised that they are likely to be asked to personally demonstrate their assessment work to their teacher to ensure that the relevant competency standards are being met.
Assessment Tasks
Assessment 1 3 Reports/Presentations on political issues (Federal, State and Municipal)
Individual assignment
Aims: Analyse and describe current political event using government system concepts and tools. Suggest ways the issue could have been reduced or resolved, in hindsight.
Apply skills in finding information using online resources, books, journals and newspapers. Apply Harvard referencing skills.
Assessment criteria:
 Application of government systems concepts and tools to answer the questions
 Good use made of a variety of resources
 Presentations of the final Report
 Correctly uses Harvard referencing system to reference the resources
(minimal requirement: Harvard system used, not footnote system; author-date in the text, not the book title; reference list, not bibliography)
Instructions
Identify a current or past story in the news which portrays a political issue. The lectures will list categories of issues to assist you think of a news story.
Describe and comment on the event, with the benefit of hindsight, using political risk management concepts and tools: Briefly describe the event (attach a copy of the article if convenient). From the point of view of a public relations practitioner, describe the context of the issue or event, the actual risks associated with the issue or event, who the issue affected and how it affected them. Are there any other issue that you now think should have been identified?
What political reduction strategies were already in place or likely to have been in place before the event? What other issue reduction strategies could have been used or have been used since?
Assessment 2 Major Assignment – Develop a Communication Plan for a Member of Parliament
Group-based - Work in groups of 3 and develop a written Communication Plan.
Length: 1200 - 1400 words
Group Interviews: 10 minutes
Aim: This assignment requires you to develop a Communication Plan for a member of Parliament to assist the politician respond to their issue.
Students must meet at least 2 times and provide Meeting Minutes to the teacher outlining items discussed and action agreed for preparation of joint report. Class time will be used for meetings if time permits. Student must also complete a peer review form and give it to the teacher.
Assessment 3 Test covering lectures and activities/workshops
Individual activity -
Students complete number of activities and workshops that will be assessed via a final test in class.
Assessment Matrix
Nil
Other Information
Nil
Course Overview: Access Course Overview