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Director's Desk

With Semester 2 well under way, it seems an appropriate time to draw attention to some of the highlights of the Centre for Public Policy activities over the last couple of months. Since the last report the Centre has been its usual hive of activity. Associate Professor Ann Capling and I have just completed teaching one of the core units for the Master of Public Policy and Management, Advanced Policy Design. Ann and I were obviously delighted to have the University's Vice Chancellor, Professor Glyn Davis, join us as part of the teaching team. With his help and that of Dr Juan Baeza, we enjoyed a busy and stimulating intensive program. Student feedback was very positive, although the large numbers enrolled in our programs are causing concern to some participants. This year's intensive had over 30 enrolments and this is clearly at the outer limit of what can be managed within a seminar format. We are continuing to monitor this closely and do all we can to keep quality at the highest possible standard.
 
The Centre is currently in the midst of another exciting teaching venture, this time with a group of Chinese leaders from the southern city of Zhongshan who sought out the CPP to design for them a series of short courses on public policy. These programs have provided a valuable opportunity to learn more about the contemporary needs of Chinese public officials and to make links for them into local and state government here in Victoria.

Our Policy Forum program has continued to attract great interest. In June we were treated to a visit by Professor Gerry Stoker from the Institute for Political and Economic Governance at the University of Manchester who gave a fascinating address on the topic of Understanding and intervening in the dynamics of public participation in local governance. Professor Stoker was joined by Minister for Local Government, Candy Broad MLC, who acted as a respondent in this well-attended session. Also in June, the CPP along with the Brotherhood of St Laurence hosted a morning seminar on the topic of 'More or Less Poverty? The Howard Years Assessed' which was also a very popular event.
 
July included a visit from Bill Reimer, Professor of Sociology at Concordia University in Montréal, who led a session on social capital and rural community development. Our series on Women, Work and Social Care in the New Welfare State was also a highlight, featuring an opening address from State Women's Affairs Minister, Mary Delahunty.
 
In terms of the Centre's research agenda, we were very happy to hear confirmation that our research program in the field of Social Connectedness and Governance was favoured with new funding from Australian Research Council (ARC). This involves a Linkage grant with our partners at Port Phillip, Maribyrnong, Knox and Manningham city councils and Vichealth.
 
Finally I am pleased to report that during October the CPP will be undergoing a University review. This is part of the regular cycle of reviews which the University undertakes to assure quality and impact for all its research activities. The review is independent of the CPP and is co-ordinated by the Associate Dean, Dr Steve James, Faculty of Arts, University of Melbourne. If you have things you would like to say about our work I am sure Steve would be happy to pass these on to the review committee.
 
If you're not on the mailing list to be notified about news and events happening in the Centre for Public Policy, do make sure you join. I most certainly hope to see you at CPP sometime soon!


Professor Mark Considine
Director
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