Course Title: Apply government systems

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 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

99255522

alain.grossbard@rmit.edu.au

This Course is co-delivered and co-assessed with course ’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
2/. Apply knowledge of inter-governmental linkages
3/. Apply knowledge of political context

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.
1.2 Decisions, advice and actions are taken making effective use of a comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of these organisational linkages.
 

2.1 Linkages between governments are identified and regularly reassessed to maintain currency of information.
2.2 A comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of the linkages between governments is used in taking decisions, advice and actions.
 

3.1 Information is sourced from inside and outside the organisation, and its authenticity and reliability confirmed.
3.2 An analysis of the political, social and economic environment is undertaken that takes into account emerging trends, and current and possible future goals of the organisation.
3.3 A comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of the current political environment is reflected in decisions, advice and actions taken
 

 


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

A series of real-life activities completed individually or in groups, a simulation exercise on the introduction of a piece of legislation, a report from an interview with a memeber of parliament.


Teaching Schedule

Week 1 11 February 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


Week 2 18 February Course introduction – Overview on Government systems
 

Week 3 25 February 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 4 March 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


Week 5 11 March 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 18 March 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


Week 7 25 March 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.
Guest speaker – PR Manager, State Government


Mid Semester Break
28 March – 3 April inclusive

Week 7 1 April Role of PR in the delivery of a government service in Victoria
Week 8 8 April Visit to State Parliament.
Guest speaker – State Member of Parliament

Everyone is a Partner in Safety
• Workplace consultation
• Communication with everyone
• Resolving OHS issues
• Communicating OHS outcomes effectively


Week 9 15 April Work on Major Assignment
 

Week 10 22 April 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


Week 11 29 April 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


Week 12 6 May 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


Week 13 13 May 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


Week 14 20 May Major Assignment in
What has been learnt?


Week 15 27 May Return final assessment and schedule any resubmission for next week


Week 16 No classes resubmissions only
 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources


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

This Course is co-delivered and co-assessed with course ’Ensure a Safe Workplace’ (OHTH5592C)
 

Assessment 1 3 Reports/Presentations on political issues (Federal, State and Municipal)
Individual assignment
Length: 500 words each
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: 1800 - 2000
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. 
 

More detailed assessment sheets for each assessment task will be disseminated throughout course delivery.
Submission Requirements: All assessment tasks need to be submitted via Blackboard.
You should:
• Ensure that you submit assessments on or before the due date. If your performance in the assessment is affected by unexpected circumstances, you should consider applying for Special Consideration. Information on the process and application forms is available at http://rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=ls0ydfokry9rz website.
• Always retain a copy of your assessment tasks. (hard copy and soft copy)
• When you submit work for assessment at RMIT University you need to use a cover sheet that includes a declaration and statement of authorship. You must complete, sign and submit a cover sheet with all work you submit for assessment, whether individual or group work. On the cover sheet you declare that the work you are presenting for assessment is your own work. An assignment cover sheet for submission of work for assessment is available from the Student forms website.
• Each page of your assessment should include footer with your name, student number, the title of the assessment, unit code and title and page numbers. For example, Julie Macpherson, 324567, Task 2, OHS2345C Ensure safe workplace, Page 1 of 10.
 


Assessment Matrix

Full details on how this course is assessed against the Unit elements and performance criteria plus critical aspects of evidence can be found in the Learning and Assessment Tool available from your course teacher.

Course Overview: Access Course Overview