Ethos CRS's Introduction to government course makes your organisation more effective by explaining how the Australian Government works. We provide trainees with an overview of the Australian Parliament, the executive (the role of the Prime Minister, ministerial offices, the Cabinet and the government) and the Australian Public Service. It is designed for public servants and for people who work in non-government organisations or the private sector, and who have dealings with the Australian Government.
The trainers of Ethos CRS have worked for governments, prime ministers and ministers. They have in-depth knowledge of how the Australian Government and Australian Public Service work. This means they can help individuals and organisations engage with government more effectively.
This course is suitable for anyone in the private sector who needs to know more about how government works, and APS level staff and graduates. Ethos CRS can tailor courses to meet the individual needs of organisations.
Topics covered in the course
- the three levels of government
- the electoral cycle and why it is important to your organisation
- parliamentary processes and sitting times
- the legislative process
- The Budget cycle
- roles and responsibilities of public servants
- relationships with community groups and lobby groups
- determining when to approach governments to orchestrate policy change
Expected outcomes
Participants will be able to:
- work more effectively when dealing with government
- understand the roles of the executive, the parliament and the public service
- identify the roles and responsibilities of public servants—and understand what APS Values and the APS Code of Conduct mean at an individual level
- understand what accountability in government means and how it is practised
- better understand the nature of conflicts of interest
Participants
Anyone currently working in government, or in the private and non-government sectors who regularly deals with government.
Program delivery
This course can be delivered over one or two days. Trainees become competent by working through a graded series of exercises.
All trainees receive course materials including a purpose-written manual, which includes guides, tips, resources and checklists.
