Public policy skills are in demand and may be a better choice to study than an MBA

Employers across government and private sectors want workers with these specialist skills.

Public policy skills are becoming increasingly important to a range of workers, including those outside the public arena.

Carnegie Mellon University’s Australia campus head Professor Emil Bolongaita says demand for those with public policy skills is, in part, being driven by private companies that are required to interact with government.

“We teach our public policy students about decision making and uncertainty and about organisational design, management and improvement,’’ he says.

“While it’s aimed at government … it’s (also) for those who have aspirations of working in the private sector, especially in areas that are regulated like mining, environment and finance.’’

Bolongaita says Carnegie Mellon’s Master of Science in Public Policy and Management degree offers a unique combination of analytical, management and technology skills that are as “valuable in the private sector as they are in the public sector’’.

He says the analytical skills that are taught rival those of any MBA qualification, making the public policy postgraduate offering a better choice for many.

Physiotherapist Katie Bourke studied public policy to get a job to be involved in “the bigger picture”.

While graduates still readily find work within government agencies, they are also employed within non-profit organisations and private firms, in roles such as policy or budget analysts, managers and consultants.

Frequently, public policy qualifications allow workers to fast-track their careers, Bolongaita says.

“Having that (public policy) background and training and competencies will ensure that you will be given greater responsibility and you will be on a more accelerated path to a more expansive (job) role,’’ he says.

At a vocational level, certificate and diploma-level qualifications in government are also available.

TAFE Queensland Online justice and government team educator Tina Henriksen says a Diploma of Government can be completed online in 12 months and provides broad training for those looking to work in a public sector administration role.

“Our students work in health, police, emergency services, education and other government departments,” she says.

“Students could be ward clerks, compliance officers or (work in) a host of administrative fields.”

Henriksen says there has been strong employment growth in the public sector, including councils and government businesses.

She agrees having an insight into the importance of legislative compliance and policy is just as beneficial to private sector workers required to liaise with government.

Katie Bourke worked as a physiotherapist before undertaking the Master of Science in Public Policy and Management degree and transitioning to a high-level public policy specialist.

“I wanted to help set the agenda and be a part of the bigger picture,’’ says Bourke, who now works with SA Health as a principal policy officer in intergovernmental relations.

“A key part of my role is being able to solve problems on your feet.

“There is also a lot of high-level strategic writing.

“There’s a lot of intergovernmental relations, working with a wide range of stakeholders and scanning the horizon, looking at what’s coming next and how we can deal with it.’’