Public sector options

Chartered Secretaries Australia's (CSA) latest iteration of our higher education accredited postgraduate education course, the Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance, includes two public sector options: Applied Administrative Law and Public Sector Accountability and Transparency. Click here to go to the subject content within each subject option in the Graduate Diploma.

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What are the reasons for developing public sector focused options?

More than three years ago, CSA took the strategic decision to ensure that our leadership in governance extended clearly to the public sector. We have always had people from various parts of the public sector studying our postgraduate course in governance and undertaking risk and compliance training with us, but we made the conscious decision to ensure that the content and structure of CSA’s offerings should be as tailored and practical to the specific needs of governance, risk and compliance professionals in the public sector as for their counterparts in the private sector. 

Over this period, the public sector at all levels has been expected to play an increasing role in the real economy. Those public servants who are charged with the role of evaluating public-private partnerships are under intense pressure to ensure they adequately protect the taxpayer’s interest. Besides the additional scrutiny they find themselves under, they work in a market where the cost of finance for public projects is higher than in the past, and they do the job with far fewer resources as public sector staff numbers are reduced.

This has brought, and will continue to bring, increased requirements for rigour in governance arrangements to promote better decision-making and accountability. Such arrangements include ensuring transparent and accountable procedures; appropriate robust direction and control; achieving successful engagement and communication with stakeholders; effective forecasting and budgeting; actively engaging positive risk; and monitoring conformance and performance.

In recent years, various parts of the federal and state public sectors have sought to incorporate private sector elements in their governance models and ensure that the reporting of their performance and achievements is similar to the standards expected within the private sector. However, the ambiguity of governance arrangements in corporatised and non-corporatised public sector bodies, where the identities, roles and powers of owners, managers and the board are not as clear cut as in the private sector, has meant that they often fall short of meeting the governance criteria commonplace in the private sector.

These circumstances place additional governance obligations on public sector professionals which CSA believes can only be achieved by giving public servants a comprehensive and practical education program tailored to the unique requirements of the public sector.

What has been created?

To this end, a complete review of CSA’s postgraduate course was undertaken, with senior academics and practitioners from the public sector being engaged to assist in the writing and development of content in the areas where significant difference remains in governance practice and administration between the public and private sectors. The result is a revised and extended postgraduate course that addresses the specific needs of the public sector, while recognising the areas of governance practice that are the same for both sectors.

CSA’s Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance is the only higher education accredited postgraduate course in Australia that is designed for directors, officers and managers in the public sector with senior governance, risk and compliance roles and responsibilities. Those exacting standards were always in place when our postgraduate governance course was geared to the private sector. The accreditation by departments of education around the country means that the public sector now stands to gain equal expertise, skill and professionalism in governance.

What has been the reaction?

The overwhelming response has been acclaim for an educational course that finally not only meets the specific needs of governance and risk management professionals in the public sector departments and agencies, but also allows students from both public and private sectors to benefit from a shared learning environment. This will be increasingly important for governance professionals from both sectors as the need for a thorough understanding of governance practice in these two increasingly entwined sectors raises the bar on managing shared responsibilities and accountabilities.

Having made the commitment to the public sector in terms of offering quality education in governance, CSA will continue to work with this sector to improve organisational performance and transparency and fulfil our mission as leaders in governance and risk management.

What does this mean to me?

Whether you are in the public or private sector, CSA now has an applied postgraduate course that meets your specific knowledge and practical requirements. You may fit into one or more of the following categories.

• You work in the public sector and are interested in finding out more about CSA’s Graduate Diploma that is tailored to your needs.
• You work in the private sector and your roles and responsibilities are increasingly demanding that you have a deeper knowledge and understanding of public sector governance.
• You have ultimate responsibility, directly or indirectly for your organisation’s governance and risk managment and you recognise the need for persons in your organisation to have these skills.
• You have responsibility for the direction and/or budget for your organisation’s learning and development needs.

If any of the above resonate with you, or someone you know, please contact us through any of the methods below and request further information on CSA’s Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance.