MANAGING INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND DEPARTMENTAL RELATIONS WORKSHOP

Venue: DPI&F Conference Centre, Ground Floor, Primary Industries Building, 80 Ann Street, Brisbane Time: All workshops are conducted from 9am - 4:30pm

1-Day Workshop
Facilitated by: Professor Scott Prasser

Aims

This new course recognises that public sector practitioners working in Australia’s federal system need skills to work effectively across both different levels of government and across departments to negotiate solutions to today’s complex policy problems.

Negotiating agreements, providing funding, developing whole-of-government actions, managing co-ordination and developing appropriate accountability processes are some of the key activities needed for effective on the ground implementation of programs and policies.

Key areas covered in this new course include:

• Key features and nature of the Australian institutional and constitutional environment and impact on policy development and implementation;
• Core areas for intergovernmental and interdepartmental interaction:
  • Defining issues and problems;
  • Developing viable solutions;
  • Funding programs;
  • Project management;
  • Allocating agency roles and responsibilities;
  • Reporting processes;
  • Development agreement performance measures;
• Potential areas for intergovernmental and departmental conflict and alignment;
• Gaining whole-of-government support;
• Working with central agencies;
• Processes for managing projects;
• Checklists for managing intergovernmental and agency programs and projects;

Methodology - a ‘hands-on’ approach

The workshop first ensures that participants understand the Australian constitutional and political environment.  Then through case studies and hypothetical scenarios and their own experiences, a practical ‘hands-on’ problem solving approach in managing intergovernmental and interdepartmental projects. 

Facilitators – those with experience  

This workshop is facilitated by those who have real intergovernmental and interdepartmental experience in both initiating and managing important and high priority projects.

Michael Carney has worked in the federal department Foreign Affairs and Trade involved in intergovernmental and international agreements and more recently in central agencies like Premier and Cabinet and DPI where collaboration and joint projects were key aspects of his responsibilities.

Bruce Kingston, former senior manager with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, dealt regularly across all levels of government and worked with a federal-state ministerial council involving negotiation policy goals, assessing performance and ensuring reporting processes.

Guest speakers also supplement the workshop to provide up to date examples of best practice processes.