Graduate Certificate in Public Policy and Finance for the Australian Public Sector
Graduate Certificate in Public Policy and Finance for the Australian Public Sector
We are pleased to announce that nominations are now open for the 2020 delivery of the Graduate Certificate in Public Policy and Finance for the Australian Public Sector program delivered by the Institute for Governance and Policy Analysis (IGPA) at the University of Canberra. The program is available to APS employees at EL1, EL2 and SES Band 1 levels, as well as Policy Officers at APS 6. This program is designed for future APS leaders and is aimed at developing the management and policy skills needed to meet the governance challenges of the 21st century. In particular, it focuses on providing participants with the skills, strategies and tools to develop the highest quality policy proposals.
The program, which is set for its fifth delivery since 2016, was co-designed by IGPA, the Department of Finance, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Treasury, and the Department of Education and Training. It deepens participants’ understanding of public policy practices in Australia, tools of policy analysis, as well as the processes and skills required for effective budgeting and financial management in Australia. Its first three deliveries have included 160 participants from 20 Commonwealth agencies. Teaching staff on the program are drawn from IGPA’s world-leading academic staff, as well as current and former practitioners from the APS and beyond.
IGPA has received extremely positive feedback from its participants:
‘Fabulous… lots of interesting topics and new ways of thinking. The course was positive and so were the people’.
‘IGPA exceeded my expectations by providing an enjoyable learning experience and wide-ranging subject experts’.
Teaching Staff
Teaching on the program is conducted by the core members of our academic team such as: Professor Mark Evans (IGPA/Democracy 2025), Professor Patrick Dunleavy (IGPA/London School of Economics), ARC Laureate Professor John Dryzek, Professor Gerry Stoker (IGPA/Southampton/ Centenary Professor), Professor Laurie Brown (NATSEM/IGPA) and Dr Paul Porteous (IGPA/Harvard Kennedy School); as well as by IGPA’s esteemed adjunct faculty, including: Adj Prof Michelle Grattan AO, Adj Prof Martin Parkinson, Adj Prof Virginia Haussegger, Adj Prof Carmel McGregor PSM, Adj Prof Ian Watt AO, Adj Prof Ian McPhee AO; Prof John Hewson AM; as well as leading current practitioners from across the APS.
IGPA Graduate Certificates
IGPA’s Graduate Certificate program brings together the best of academic research and evidence on problems in public policy and finance, and the best of current practice. Graduate Certificates are post graduate qualifications, and participants should be aware that they will be required to complete assessment items outside of class times. On completion of the Graduate Certificate, graduates will have earned 12 credit points towards a Master Degree at the University of Canberra.
Participant Entry Requirements
The Graduate Certificate is open to current APS employees at SES Band 1, EL1, and EL2 levels (or equivalent), as well as to Policy Officers at APS 6. As the course is an accredited Graduate Certificate, participants require either a bachelor’s degree, or proof of sufficient work experience (see table below). Please ensure that you have a certified copy of your academic transcript available. If you are using work experience in lieu of a bachelor’s degree, you will need a certified transcript of your other highest qualification and a statement from your employer indicating your length of employment and the nature of your work experience.
Work Experience for Postgraduate Entry
| Qualification | Length of work experience | Nature of work experience |
| Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree # | 4 years | Managerial, professional, paraprofessional or clerical role |
| Diploma # | 8 years | Managerial, professional, paraprofessional or clerical role |
| Year 12 or Certificate IV # | 10 years | Managerial, professional, paraprofessional or clerical role |
# Or equivalent qualification
Program dates
| UNIT 1 | UNIT 2 | UNIT 3 | UNIT 4 |
| 16 March 2020 | 18 May 2020 | 24 August 2020 | 26 October 2020 |
| 17 March 2020 | 19 May 2020 | 25 August 2020 | 27 October 2020 |
| 18 March 2020 | 20 May 2020 | 26 August 2020 | 28 October 2020 |
| 19 March 2020 | 10 June 2020 | 27 August 2020 | 29 October 2020 |
| 20 March 2020 | 11 June 2020 | 28 August 2020 | 30 October 2020 |
| 23 March 2020 | 12 June 2020 | 31 August 2020 | 2 November 2020 |
Classes run from 9am-5pm on these dates, and are held as face-to-face sessions, typically on University of Canberra campus.
Nomination cut-off date
Wednesday, 22 January 2020
Typically, agencies’ Learning and Development areas prefer to co-ordinate nominations. Otherwise, please send your nominations to GradCert | at | canberra.edu.au providing the following information:
- Name
- DOB
- Agency
- Position
- E-mail Address
- Telephone Number
- Previous Study/Work Experience
Once nominations are received, we will contact each participant and provide a step-by-step guide on how to enrol into the program. Please note that places are limited.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about the program content please get in touch with Education Program Director, Dr Brendan McCaffrie at Brendan.McCaffrie | at | canberra.edu.au. For any queries relating to the administrative side of the program such as enrolments, deadlines etc please email GradCert | at | canberra.edu.au.
Information Session
We will be holding an Information Session for prospective participants to ask questions about the program on Monday, 9 December from 12:30pm-1:30pm at the Department of Finance (1 Canberra Ave, Forrest ACT 2603).
