EP#109: The policymaking toolkit – part 2
Dr Trish Mercer, Andrew Tongue PSM and Fiona Barbaro PSM return to complete your policy essentials class with a focus on the mystical policy window, the art of foresight, and the power of evaluation.
In today’s complex and fast-moving environment, opportunities to introduce a policy can be tricky to identify. Dr Trish Mercer from the Australian National University, experienced former public servant Andrew Tongue PSM, and Fiona Barbaro PSM from the ACT Government tell us how to ensure you’re ready when the policy window opens.
The panel also dives into why foresight is a crucial, yet underused skill, and how to get it right to create policies and bureaucracies that are made to last. We’ll also get into why evaluation needs to be more than an afterthought, and our guests recommend their best resources for aspiring policy experts.
Discussed in this episode:
- tuning into ministers’ values and priorities
- keeping on top of ‘hot’ issues
- partnering with communities
- how to grow professional relationships
- the importance of foresight to build policy narratives
- upgrading delivery systems to match communities’ needs
- building policy evaluation into policy design
- why policymakers should draw on successes from across local, state and federal levels.
Show notes:
- The policy window | APS Academy
- Rationality and Modernity | Max Weber
- Publications, resources, FAQs | Commonwealth Ombudsman
- Publications | ACT Ombudsman
- The Mandarin
- Grattan Institute
- James Martin Institute for Public Policy
- Australian Government Consulting
- Muddling through | APS Academy
- The Bridge | ANZSOG
Guests:
Dr Trish Mercer
Dr Trish Mercer is a visiting fellow with the Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG) at the Australian National University. Her diverse career in the Australian Public Service, with over 20 years at the senior executive level, spanned policy development and research, financial management, program implementation, community education and direct service delivery experience.
Andrew Tongue PSM
Andrew Tongue PSM, has a long and varied career in public administration. He has served as secretary of two departments in Victoria, including the premier’s department. Andrew joined the Australian Public Service in 1985 and has delivered major reforms across industry, social, national security and indigenous policy. Having worked across and in all spheres of government, Andrew brings unique insights and perspectives.
Fiona Barbaro PSM
Fiona Barbaro PSM is a senior executive in the Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate. She has 25 years of experience in strategy, policy and program delivery in the ACT Public Service. Fiona was awarded a Public Service Medal for her leadership of the ACT’s COVID-19 vaccination rollout and holds degrees in arts, law and an executive master of public administration.