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Mastering Policy Fundamentals: Government in Practice

Build the skills and knowledge required to understand how government makes decisions, navigate your role and deliver impactful advice.

03 Jul 2025
03 Nov 2025
Next date
Delivery
In-Person
Location
Wellington
Duration
1 day
CPD/PLD Hours
7.5

Course overview

This course creates clarity on government decision-making processes and the role of the policy professional. It examines the four levels of government decision making (Ministry, Minister, Cabinet and Parliament) and breaks down the formal processes and requirements behind different advice products. Through hands-on activities and real-world simulations, this course equips you to navigate the system with political savvy and apply insights directly into your work. This course is best suited for graduates, subject matter experts and anyone else new to government advisory roles, and any policy professional who would appreciate a refresh of the government decision-making processes.

Facilitated by

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Emily Mason

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Joanne Dow

In partnership with

What you'll learn

  • How decision-making processes in government work, including opportunities to shape the process
  • The policy professional’s role in supporting government decision making
  • The purpose of different products for giving advice

Course modules:

Morning

  • People and Processes: 
    • What is policy? It’s just about making decisions.
    • A day in the life: Ministry Chief Executive.
    • A day in the life: Minister.
    • A day in the life: Cabinet.
    • A day in the life: Parliament (focusing on Select Committee)
    • Stages of legislation
  • Policy products:
    • Understand your context as a policy professional.
    • The different purposes of advice and products.
      • Tell the Minister something.
      • Help the Minister make a decision.
      • Support a decision maker to do something.
      • Help with government accountability.
      • Collect information.
      • Communicate a message or direction.

Afternoon

Bringing it all together: A real life example to practice what’s needed for taking an issue to Cabinet and oral parliamentary questions.

Upcoming Courses & Delivery Options

03 Jul 2025 | Wellington

Duration: 1 day

$895

excl. GST

03 Nov 2025 | Wellington

Duration: 1 day

$895

excl. GST

Can’t make these dates or want a private course?

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