50220 Advocacy and Policy

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences: Social Inquiry
Credit points: 8 cp
Result Type: Grade, no marks

Handbook description

This subject gives students practical experience in the processes of proposing and achieving policy change, the structures of governance, the positions of stakeholders and the roles of advocates inside and outside formal structures. It focuses on uses of communication strategies and possible sources of information to be used in putting up a case for change. Students explore the processes of policy making through looking at both theoretical underpinnings and the practices of making changes: the role of politicians, parties, community and the processes of lobbying as well as negotiation between power groups and intervention from the less powerful. It involves understanding the main and competing political ideologies and their proponents.

The subject examines the major changes, which have occurred over the last two decades in the role of the public sector, the market and community, as well as in the nuts and bolts of policy making from the point of view of liberal, conservative, social-democratic and radical approaches. These shifts in the concept of the role of government and the transformation of civil society have had major effects on policy frameworks and social movement and activists' practice.

In the practical component of this subject, students are expected to develop skills in critical analysis of public and social policies within and outside the current parameters of debate. This exercise should include analysing the current policy processes, identifying formal and informal key players, definition of power relations between them and the various documents and data needed to make a case for political and social change.

Developing advocacy strategies for change assist students in understanding the broad policy directions and dominant paradigms and how to argue against these on behalf of groups not well served by them. This is an advanced-level subject, which requires a melding of theory and practice. Students read widely on current political issues and are expected to become problem solvers, to look for ways of changing policy and engaging with interest groups.

Subject objectives/outcomes

At the completion of this subject, students are expected to be able to:

Develop analytical skills for exploring both policy and political problems and the development of solutions.
Be able to analyse the operations of power in and out of formal institutions and the ways in which political process might be influenced and changed by the influence and actions of stakeholders, community organisations and political activism.
Develop skills in both critiquing and proposing policies. They will be able to offer explanations of broad policy directions and dominant paradigms, and develop proposals for particular policy changes, within an advocacy or activist framework.
Develop useable proposals for policy development and/or change which recognise current practical and political constraints.
Demonstrate basic advocacy and activist skills including competence in planning strategies for policy lobbying in the context of the stakeholders/players and potential barriers.

These will be demonstrated by capacities to design a submission for policy change with strategies for advocating the issues.

Contribution to graduate profile

This will contribute to the graduate's development of crucial and skills and knowledge in the area of politics, policy design and implementation as well as strategies for the development of advocacy networks and campaigns at an institutional and community level. These skills are particularly important for seeking employment in the areas of public service, government, community organisations, NGOs, trade unions, and national and international advocacy organisations.

Teaching and learning strategies

This subject will be made up of a weekly hour lecture and two hour tutorial but sometimes this may vary and be clearly interconnected. Therefore students must attend lectures to get the full benefits of the course. The tutorial will involve a variety of learning activities such as tutorial discussion on the nature of the policy process and exercises directed to develop students' skills and knowledge to implement and change policy and strategies for social action.

Teaching and learning strategies are based on the following principles:

A collaborative learning environment where students will develop practical and professional skills by their active involvement in collecting information and developing documentation and proposals.
A sharing of information and experiences through all students participating in tutorial discussions so students can learn from each other's experiences and assist in problem solving.
Students learn from each other and from the teacher as well as the teacher from the students through wide reading, critical thinking, debate and discussion.

Content

The tutorial following the lecture will involve broad questions and a discussion of the lecture material. The second hour will be presentations, in most cases, though one session is a general discussion about tax. Students will be expected to read widely for each tutorial on a weekly basis including at least one broadsheet newspaper and/or the Financial Review; listen to or watch the news and a current affairs program on SBS, ABC or the Ch 9 Sunday program (9am); listen to one or two 'shock jocks' a few times over the semester, and read/watch tabloid current affairs (e.g. the Telegraph, ACA, 60 Minutes, Today Tonight). In addition, students will need to read both general policy texts and specific reports and journal articles relating to topics for assignments. There are no set texts as there are both too many and most do not deal with the process sufficiently realistically.

Assessment

Assignment 1a: Finding out what policies are in existence and who supports them

Objectives	a, c
Value	Presentation 5% and write up 10%
Due	Varied This is in two parts: a 10-minute class presentation which takes in some discussions and suggestions which is then expanded in written form to include any suggestions (1,000/1,500). This can be in point form but should be your words, not just cut and paste from policy documents.
Task	Pick a policy area either at federal or state level that interests you and is likely to involve different viewpoints amongst the major political groupings (Coalition, Labor, Democrats, Greens). Describe the main points in government policy and then summarise what differs and overlaps with other party policies. Look at whether there are also Are these policies supported or opposed by any external major interest groups in these areas and, if so, which ones?

Assignment 1b: Policy discussions

Objectives	a, c
Value	Presentation 5%
Due	Varied
Word Limit	400 words
Task	Students will prepare a short presentation for the class and hand in an extended and updated version of this, a week after the presentation, taking class and tutor comments into account.
Assessment criteria	Demonstrated ability to: Find and analyse government/party policy documents and then summarise and present their main points briefly but appropriately. Tap into community/interest group views via media etc. Engage with the class as a collective learning process. Prepare coherent but brief summaries for class as a collective learning process. Present and sustain a point of view with evidence where necessary (particularly with assignment 1b)

Assignment 2: Essay

Objectives	a, b, c
Value	30%
Due	Week 7
Task	Write an essay of maximum 3,000 words
Further Information	What should be the role of government in the lives of people? Pick a portfolio area and look at current policy directions in an area that interests you, and explore the political and ideological frameworks that underpin the policy questions and where you think these fall short of what you think they should be. Think about the following points in looking at both your ideal versions and analysis of the status quo. How has this particular policy area, over the past couple of decades, dealt with role of governments versus the roles of individuals/families? What, if any, relationship do the underpinning assumptions of either the government or you have to concepts like security, pooling risks, market failure, equity or safety nets? In what ways, if any, do these policies redistribute resources and if so to whom? Using both theoretical and practical analysis look at how these current policies operate and how they may be changed. 3,000 words and wide reading and references are required which should include both theoretical readings and appropriate government and other policy documents.
Assessment criteria	Demonstrated ability to: Understand and become familiar with the broad political and theoretical concepts discussed during the first weeks of semester. Use analytical skills and capacity to distinguish between rhetoric and policy proposals. Understanding of how to sustain viewpoints through use of analytical skills and evidence. Capacity to apply the above theory to practice and show analytical skills.

Assessment item 3: Policy and advocacy strategy plus class presentation

Objectives	a, b, c, d
Value	40% for the policy proposal and class presentation and 10% for the advocacy plan (please note these two parts need to be clearly identified as separate in the handed in material)
Due	Two weeks after class presentation
Task	To develop a submission for policy change and an advocacy plan on how you would suggest the proposal be promoted so it is more likely to be accepted.
Further Information	Students will select an area of policy they would like to see changed and develop the policy proposal and plan advocacy strategies for the individuals or groups who are interested in promoting the policy change. Students will need to choose their topic early in the course and clear their chosen topic with the lecturer in person or by email before they start . This ensures that the topic is reasonable and capable of being done, as some are too big or too hard to follow up. Students can choose to do the same policy area for assignments two and three, if they wish to, but need to note that this assignment will usually require a much narrower focus as effective proposals for policy change need to be tightly focused on specifics that need to be changes rather than the more general debates on the issues. Though they need to fit within broader portfolio areas. The aims of this exercise are, in part, to give you skills in selecting what arguments, facts and issues need to be raised in a policy proposal, As government ministers are notoriously unlikely to deal with long documents, the proposal itself should be a maximum of 3-4 pages long and the advocacy plan maybe another two pages. This requires your demonstrating judgement about what is to be included and skills in brief clear presentation. Other relevant material and back up statistics etc should be included as/in appendices. Lists of people spoken to and sources used should be included in a bibliography.
Assessment criteria	Demonstrated ability to: develop and apply skills of policy research, policy writing and putting a coherent, well argued case. selecting the necessary material effectively from the volume available so relevance and presentation will count strategise, think through advocacy and social action, and to explain the political significance of such a submission. ability to defend your claims for resources and therefore will have to do research to justify your claims. develop and demonstrate your understanding of policy processes, and some competence in finding out information, sorting out the necessary arguments and recognising the limits of your audience, i.e. show an understanding of how to argue a case briefly and cogently.

Minimum requirements

Students are expected to read the subject outline to ensure they are familiar with the subject requirements. Since class discussion and participation in activities form an integral part of this subject, you are expected to attend, arrive punctually and actively participate in classes. If you experience difficulties meeting this requirement, please contact your lecturer. Students who have a reason for extended absence (e.g., illness) may be required to complete additional work to ensure they achieve the subject objectives.

Indicative references

TEXTS AND REFERENCES

I have listed some useful ones but there are a lot of new materials emerging in this area all the time. You are expected to read widely and develop judgement on the value of what is available, particularly on the net. Most texts in this area are not written by practitioners and often put up presumed processes that are much too neat to be useful. So read widely, particularly the heavier news media for current issues, develop a clear sense of whose views can be trusted and why, and develop your skills in selecting the best material for the purposes you require.

Althaus C, Peter Bridgman & Glyn Davis (2007) The Australian Policy Handbook 4th Edition Sydney: Allen and Unwin
Colebatch H K (2002) Policy 2nd edition Buckingham: Open University Press
Colebatch H K (ed) (2006) Beyond the Policy Cycle: the policy process in Australia Sydney: Allen & Unwin
Dalton, T., Draper, M., Weeks, W. & Wiseman, J (1996) Making Social Policy in Australia: An Introduction Sydney: Allen and Unwin
Smyth, P & Bettina Cass eds. (1998) Contesting the Australian Way: States, Markets and Civil Society. Melbourne: Cambridge University Press.
Yeatman, A. (ed) (1998) Activism and the Policy Process Sydney: Allen & Unwin

Further References

Brennan, D., 1994, The Politics of Australian Childcare: From Philanthropy to Feminism, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Drake, J., 'Why I organize', Social Policy, Fall 2001, p. 4
Edwards, L., 2002, How to argue with an economist, Reopening Political Debate in Australia, Cambridge Uni Press, UK
Fine, B, 2001, 'The expanding universe of Social Capital', Social Capital versus Social Theory: Political Economy and Social Science at the Turn of the Millennium, Routledge, London,
Hancock, L. 1999. Women, Public Policy and the State Melbourne: Macmillan
Patmore G and Glover D. eds 2000 New Voices for Social Democracy, Labor Essays 2001, Pluto Press Sydney
Neumann, Klaus, 2004 Refuge Australia: Australia's humanitarian record, UNSW, Sydney
Pocock Barbara, 2003, The Work/life Collision, Federation Press, Sydney
Race for the Headlines, racism and media discourses, 2003, Ant Discrimination Board NSW Sydney.
Saunders, P., 2005, The poverty wars' UNSW Press, Sydney.
Sawer M., & G. Zappala, 2001, Speaking for the People: Representation in Australian Politics Melbourne: Melbourne University Press
Wilson, S, Meagher, G, Gibson, R, Denemark, D and Western, M (eds) 2005 Australian Social Attitudes – the first report, University of New South Wales Press Limited
Winter, I ed, 2000 Social Capital and Social Policy, AIFS Melbourne

POLICY SITES FOR DOWNLOADING RELEVANT PAPERS

The following websites are very useful sources for material which may be relevant to this course. As always, be selective and make sure that what you have found is useful and appropriate.

http://www.aph.gov.au

This is the Commonwealth Parliament site and has a wealth of material on how our system of government works, papers from the parliamentary library on a very wide range of issues, including policy briefings. The website has links to other government departments and state governments. It is very useful as an entry point to government documents. Most departments have lots of policy stuff on line

http://evatt.labor.net.au/publications/papers

This is a Labour/Left based organisation and has many papers up on its website which covers many of the issues raised in this course and offers some book chapters, lectures and other useful documents.

http://www.communitybuilders.nsw.gov.au

This is a NSW government website which supports its involvement in community capacity building. It has many resources aimed mainly at people working in the community.

http://www.aifs.gov.au/institute

This is a government funded research centre with lots of useful information and some papers on line, particularly about Families.

http://www.sprc.unsw.edu.au

This is another funded research centre at UNSW, looking at issues of social policy with useful downloadable papers.

http://www.apo.org.au/

This is a very useful web service page out of Swinbourne University which posts up weekly lists and URLs for many actual papers from some of the organisations listed above and others as well. This also has lists of members' websites on its site so can be used as a general access point.

http://www.onlineopinion.com.au

This has a weekly set of opinion articles and comments which are often quite revolting by readers. It's free and has a wide range of views represented often by people who rewrite for papers

http://www.hawkecentre.unisa.edu.au/institute/HawkePolicyWebsite

The Hawke Policy Website presents research undertaken at the University of South Australia that has implications for social and public policy. The Hawke Research Institute undertakes research and fosters debate on democratic participation, globalisation, equity and sustainable societies.

http://www.lawaccess.nsw.gov.au/lawaccess.asp

This is a useful link for all things legal including human rights and discrimination issues.

http://www.australianreview.net

This is an on line journal, usually left leaning but some interesting discussion issues and articles.

http://www.cis.org.au/

This presents free market, generally neo-liberal and conservative viewpoints but it is worth looking at for different points of view, including some by right wing ALP and the Federal Government.

http://www.ipa.org.au/

This is further to the right than the CIS but somewhat influential with the Howard government.