Building policy capability for a stronger public service
ASPI’s Better Policy Program is a flagship professional development offering from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), designed to build and strengthen policy capability across the Australian Public Service (APS).
Originally developed to improve policy and decision-making within the Australian Department of Defence, the program is now being expanded to APS staff across defence, national security, intelligence and international portfolios—supporting agencies to deliver clearer, stronger and more confident policy advice in increasingly complex environments.
Why Better Policy?
Policy today demands more than good analysis. It requires practitioners who understand how decisions are really made, can navigate complexity, collaborate across government, and translate evidence into advice that decision-makers can act on.
ASPI’s Better Policy Program bridges the gap between policy analysis and policy capability, turning ASPI’s strategic expertise and real-world experience into practical, practitioner-led learning.
The Better Policy Program: A Progressive Capability Pathway
The program consists of three complementary modules. Each can be taken as a standalone course, or combined as a structured learning pathway that builds progressively deeper capability.
1 Day Workshop - 22 April 9:00am to 5:00pm
Fundamentals of policy and government decision-making, including:
- How policy decisions are made in practice
- Navigating the end-to-end policy cycle
- Core policy roles, responsibilities and stewardship
- Introduction to ASPI’s Better Policy Handbook (included)
Ideal for: APS graduates, new starters, and staff new to policy roles.
Location: Barton, ACT
Cost: $900 ex GST
2 Day Workshop - Date TBC
Applied policy skills focused on real-world challenges, including:
- Case studies drawn from government practice
- Stakeholder engagement and consultation
- Options development and comparative analysis
- Strategic framing and communication of advice
Ideal for: Policy officers seeking to strengthen influence and practical effectiveness.
Location: Barton, ACT
Cost: $1800 ex GST
2 Day Workshop - Date TBC
Advanced analytical capability methods & tools to support complex decision-making, including:
- How to identify & use data and evidence in policy development
- Evaluation, impact assessment and benefits mapping tools
- How to assess risk and policy effectiveness
- Presenting policy advice clearly and persuasively
Ideal for: Policy practitioners working on high-impact or complex policy issues.
Location: Barton, ACT
Cost: $1800 ex GST
Who Is This Program For?
Target Audience
- APS graduates and new starters
- Policy officers (APS 1–6)
- New or aspiring policy practitioners
- Staff transitioning into policy roles
The program is available to individual participants and to teams or agencies seeking to uplift policy capability at a group or organisational level.
What You’ll Gain
Key Benefits
- Stronger policy tradecraft and analytical confidence
- Clearer understanding of government decision-making
- Improved quality and consistency of policy advice
- Stronger collaboration, stewardship and cross-agency networks
- Practical tools you can apply immediately in your role
Why Learn with ASPI?
- Learn from senior practitioners with real-world policy experience
- Gain insight into every stage of the policy cycle
- Build networks across agencies and portfolios
- Take home ASPI’s exclusive Better Policy Handbook
This is not generic policy training—it is grounded in the realities of Australia’s strategic, national security and international policy environments.
Where & How
- Face-to-face delivery at ASPI’s Professional Development Centre, Barton ACT
- Led by ASPI Senior Fellows and experienced senior public-sector practitioners
- Highly interactive, practical and discussion-based
Practical, practitioner-led learning that translates ASPI’s policy expertise into actionable skills—building better policy practitioners for a stronger public service.