Course Title: Apply government systems

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2014

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

RMIT, Building 80, Level 5, 445 Swanston Street Melbourne VIC 3000

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
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.
 

 

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.

Element:

2. Apply knowledge of inter-governmental 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.
 

Performance Criteria:

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.
 

Element:

3. Apply knowledge of political context.

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
 

Performance Criteria:

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

Multi Group Presentations are used throughout the course and students are expected to participate in class discussions and exercises. The use of ‘real world’ examples will assist students throughout the course.

Learner activity: Students will take an active role during the ‘MGP’.
• Groups will reflect and discuss key concepts.
• Individuals/groups will apply concepts to current situations.
• Students will summarise key points.
• Individuals will participate in case studies and problem solving scenarios
• Groups will respond to generic question sessions.

The use of “real world” examples will facilitate the understanding of the theoretical concepts and students will be encouraged to use lateral thinking
 


Teaching Schedule

Week 1 -7 July  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 weeklyProgram map to confirm all students are correctly enrolled.
Assessment overview – what they are doing and when.


Week 2 - 14 July Course introduction – Overview on Government systems and Overview on OHS
Week 3 - 21 July 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? Current knowledge of government systems with respect to legislation of OHS.
Week 4 - 28 July The structure of the Federal Government, the role of federal parliamentarians, the judiciary and the public service; lobbyists and how they work.
Safety for workplaces legislation
• Overview
• Legislation & guidance
• Responsibilities & resources
• Cost of illness & injury
• Broad impact on OHS
Week 5 - 4 August The structure of the Federal Government, the role of federal parliamentarians, the judiciary and the public service; lobbyists and how they work.
Safety for workplaces
• OHS management systems
• Induction & training
Week 6 - 11 August 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 - 18 August 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 Assessment 1. Discussion on role of OHS 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 - 25 August In class Workshop on Major assignment including OHS coverage.

Mid Semester Break
1 - 5 September inclusive

Week 9 - 8 September 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 10 - 15 September Elections and campaigning; political parties, their images and the role of public relations within them.
Guest speaker – Political campaignerWhat Could Happen?
• What could go wrong and how bad it could be?
• Controlling the risks
• Back to work Assessment 1
Week 11 - 22 September 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. Moving toward the OHS goals: Find out; Putting it together; What could go wrong and how bad it could be?; Controlling the risks; Back to work
week 12 - 29 September 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? Ensure  a Safe workplace Test.
Week 13 - 6 October Guest speaker on local government; the role of communications and its importance in a large metropolitan council; dealing with the extensive number of stakeholders.
Week 14  - 13 October Major Assignment submission Assessment 3
Week 15 - 20 October Return final assessment and schedule any resubmission for next week
Week16 - 27 October Interviews/Assessment feedback/Resubmissions 

 






 


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

This course is deleivered and assessed in conjunction with RMIT course OHTH 5592C Ensure a safe Workplace.

Students are required to complete a max of three tasks. All tasks must successfully be completed to be deemed competent in this course.

Assessment 1 - 3 Reports/Presentations on political and regulatory 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)

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?

For this assessment, you will cover
• common law duties to meet general duty of care requirements
• regulations and approved codes of practice relating to hazards in the work area
• emergency and evacuation procedures OHS responsibilities for all workplace personnel (staff and students)
• how key information regarding OHS is communicated to students
• where to find relevant information/further training on safe operating procedures


Assessment 2 Major Assignment – Develop a Communication Plan for a Member of Parliament or a candidate for the forthcoming Victorian State Election.
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 on Government systems and ensure a safe workplace.
Individual activity - 
For this assessment task students need to draw upon what you have learned in this course. You need to answer several test questions about how an OHS system, regulations and government systems and how can best be evaluated and continuously improved.
Students need to draw upon your knowledge of your lectures and workshops as well as additional research undertaken in this course.

 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.

 

 


 


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.

Other Information

Nil

Course Overview: Access Course Overview