The Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management is an 18-unit program which is part of the Graduate Program in Public Administration offered by the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences.

The course is available on campus, by flexible delivery or in mixed mode: on-campus/flexible delivery, and requires one semester of full-time study, or equivalent part-time.

It articulates with the 36-unit Graduate Diploma in Public Administration and three 72-unit masters programs - the Master of Public Administration, Master of Public Administration (Management) and Master of Public Administration (Policy).

Sequentially developed topics allow progression through the three levels.

Students who complete the graduate certificate normally receive credit for up to 18 units of topics should they wish to proceed with the graduate diploma or masters.

Admission requirements

Applicants must normally hold an approved degree or equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution.

Admission may be granted based on prior work and voluntary experience. This will usually include several years of experience in a public sector or non-government organisation. Admission will be based on the extent to which work or voluntary experience has enabled the applicant to develop an understanding of issues in the public and non-government sectors, and management and/or analytical skills.

Applicants who wish to be admitted on this basis need to provide:

  • a curriculum vitae
  • a description of the roles and activities in work or voluntary positions
  • a description of the skills and abilities demonstrated through their work/voluntary experience
  • name(s) of referee(s) who could verify work/voluntary experience.

The Faculty Board may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.

Course aims

The Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management aims to introduce the theory and practice of public management for current and future public servants and those interested in knowing more about management in the public sector. 

Learning outcomes

Graduates with a Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management will be able to:

  • Understand contemporary trends and developments in public sector administration and management in both developed and developing countries
  • Apply relevant theories in explaining real world public administration and management problems
  • Demonstrate skills needed to tackle problems and challenges facing public sector managers (specific skills dependent on elective choice).

Program of study

To qualify for the Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management, a student must complete 18 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the program of study set out below.

Not all topics are necessarily available in a given year.

Except with permission of the Faculty Board:

  • the program must be completed within six consecutive semesters;
  • no topic may be attempted more than twice.

The award of a grade of Fail (F) in 6 or more units may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purposes of the University's Policy on Student Progress.

The Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management will also be awarded, on application, to students who have satisfactorily completed the Public Sector Management course offered jointly by Australia's Federal, State and Territory governments.

Core - Year 1 topics


 POAD9022  Public Management  (4.5 units)

 

 AND one topic chosen from:

 POAD9130  Toolkit for Public Management  (4.5 units)
 POAD9137  Ethics in Public Administration  (4.5 units)
 POAD9139  Organisational Politics, Culture and Management  (4.5 units)
 POAD9142  Leading and Managing Change  (4.5 units)

Elective - Year 1 topics

 POAD9132  Action learning project/internship (9 units)  

or two 4.5 unit topics chosen from:

 EDUC9601  Strategic Thinking and Planning  (4.5 units)
 EDUC9605  Knowledge Management for Organisational Learning  (4.5 units)
 EDUC9762  Introduction to Statistics  (4.5 units)
 POAD9026  Management in Non-Government Organisations  (4.5 units)
 POAD9028  Evaluation Methods  (4.5 units)
 POAD9034  Risk Management - Principles and Practice  (4.5 units)
 POAD9037  Financial Management  (4.5 units)
 POAD9044  Selected Issues in Public Management  (4.5 units)
 POAD9118  Managing Human Resources in the Public Sector  (4.5 units)
 POAD9131  Development Administration  (4.5 units)
 POAD9135  Project Management  (4.5 units)

One topic may be taken from any other post-graduate program with the approval of the Director of Studies.