Guidelines for Policy Proposal

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Guidelines for Policy Proposal

Issue

Each student must choose a current issue of social importance.

Author

In order to approach the task of researching and writing the proposal, students must imaginatively position themselves within an existing (real) organisation. For example, a student might write their proposal as though they hold a research position with a research institute such as the Australian Research Institute or The Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault. Or they might write as though they were part of an advocacy organisation such as the National Aged Care Advocacy Programme; or a community legal service such as the Tenants Union or the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service.

Audience

Students must imagine that they are writing for a very specific audience. This audience is either the Australian or the Victorian Government. This means you are writing for people who are making practical decisions about policy development and implementation at a state or national level. The audience is made up of politicians who are most likely not experts in the field of concern. Nor are they likely to have much time to read and understand your document. You must be clear, succinct and precise.

Proposal Template

Students are required to follow the structure of the below template. The template outlines 9 sections which must be completed.

Students who do not use the template will not meet the criteria for assessment.

1.  Executive Summary (approx. 100 words)

This section needs to present the purpose of the proposal and introduce the recommendations.

2.  Statement of Issue (approx. 20 words)

Students need to complete or restructure the question below in order to complete this section:

How should the [Australian/ Victorian] Government respond to [the issue/ problem that you have identified/ chosen]?

3.  Background (of Issue) (approx. 400 words)

This is where you explain the issue or problem. How/ why is it an issue? How has it existed historically? (is it a new issue or an ongoing problem that resists solution?)

This section appears to lend itself to lengthy discussion. Resist this. Only include essential

information. Be clear, precise and succinct.

4.  Statement of Organisational Interest in Issue (approx. 80 words)

This is where you provide information about the organisation you are imagining yourself to be part of. You need to do a little research here: go to the website. Who are they? How do they understand their purpose and function?

Use this section to demonstrate your expertise or authority on this issue, based on the attributes of the organisation. Why should your organisation’s proposal be prioritised above all others?

5.  Pre-existing Policy (approx. 300 words)

What approaches/ policy have already been taken on this issue? Discuss this briefly here.

  • You may include policies that have been implemented in another state or country.
    • You may include information that you have already covered in section 3. Do not try and hide that it is the same information, but at the same time, try to avoid repeating it word for word.

6.  Policy Options (approx. 100 words)

Describe 3 courses of action (or inaction) that the Government might take. Be as imaginative as you like. The options can be creative and inventive.

7.  Assessment of Policy Options (approx. 150 words)

Set out the advantages and disadvantages of each of the Policy Options that you introduced in section 6. This section can be presented in dot form. They do not need to be long lists. They can include observations that a particular Policy Option aligns with/

does not   align   with   policy   approaches   already   in   place;   or   with   international

conventions; or with the Constitution.

8.  Recommendation (approx. 400 – 500 words)

Choose one of the Policy Options from section 6 to recommend to your government as the best approach to take in order to address the issue you identified in section 2. Justify this recommendation (why is it the best approach?). This would be an expansion of the assessment you presented for the Policy Option in section 7.

9.  Bibliography (not counted towards word limit)

The policy proposal must be fully referenced using Harvard style in-text referencing and bibliography.

Students MUST use at least 8 academic resources. At least 2 of these MUST be from the subject. Students may use government resources such as fact sheets, reports, policy proposals or officially published statistics. If using more than 2 government resources, students need only use 6 academic resources.

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