Advanced Policy Practice: Policy Design, Implementation and Evaluation

Design policy that delivers outcomes

Contemporary policy challenges rarely fit neatly into traditional policy processes. Policy makers are increasingly required to respond to complex social, economic, environmental and technological challenges that involve multiple stakeholders, competing priorities and significant uncertainty. 

This advanced policy training course is designed for experienced policy professionals who want to strengthen their capability in policy design, policy implementation, policy delivery and policy evaluation. 
Over two immersive days, you will explore how to design policy that works in practice by integrating systems thinking, stakeholder strategy, behavioural insights, implementation planning, evaluation and adaptive policymaking.

The course reflects contemporary policy practice and global trends in policy capability development, focusing on outcomes, delivery and impact rather than process alone.​  

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Course content

This advanced policy course will cover the following topics:

Policy design in complex systems

• Contemporary approaches to policy design
• Complexity and systems thinking
• Understanding policy ecosystems
• Designing interventions for real-world environments

Systems thinking and adaptive policymaking

• Mapping systems and interdependencies
• Identifying leverage points
• Managing uncertainty and emergence
• Adaptive policy approaches 

Behavioural insights and user-centred policy

• Understanding behaviour and decision-making
• Applying behavioural insights to policy
• Human-centred approaches to policy design
• Designing for implementation and adoption 

Stakeholder strategy and political awareness

• Advanced stakeholder analysis
• Political and organisational dynamics
• Building coalitions and support
• Managing competing interests 

Policy implementation and delivery

• Designing implementation-ready policy
• Delivery systems and governance
• Cross-agency coordination
• Policy delivery chains
• Managing implementation risks 

Evaluation and outcomes thinking

• Evaluation at the design stage
• Program Logic and Theory of Change
• Outcomes and impact measurement
• Learning and adaptation
• Evidence for continuous improvement 

Strategic policy communication 

• Executive and ministerial communication
• Developing compelling policy narratives
• Influencing decision-makers
• Communicating risk and uncertainty 

Learning outcomes

By the end of this advanced policy course, you will be able to:

• Design policy for complex systems and uncertain environments
• Apply systems thinking to policy challenges
• Develop implementation-ready policy solutions
• Integrate evaluation thinking into policy design
• Apply behavioural insights to improve policy outcomes
• Navigate stakeholder, organisational and political complexity
• Identify and manage policy delivery risks
• Develop stronger implementation and governance approaches
• Use program logic and outcomes thinking in policy development
• Communicate strategic policy advice with greater influence and impact  

Delivery style

This course is delivered through an interactive, workshop-based format that prioritises applied learning and real-world relevance. You will engage with contemporary policy case studies and practical exercises that reflect the complexity of current policy and reform environments. Learning is structured around practical tools, facilitated discussion and guided exercises designed to help you apply concepts directly to your own work.  

The delivery focuses on active participation, enabling you to build advanced skills through practice rather than theory alone. Through structured activities, you will work through complex policy scenarios, examining system dynamics, testing policy options, considering implementation risks, and strengthening your judgement in real-world policy settings. 

Learning activities may include:

• Real-world policy case studies
• Scenario-based exercises
• Policy simulations
• Systems mapping activities
• Facilitated discussion
• Peer learning and reflection
• Applied Policy Lab exercises 

Who should attend

This course is designed for experienced professionals who influence, design, manage or deliver policy.  

About this presenter

Professor Carol Mills is the Director of the UTS Institute for Public Policy and Governance (IPPG), Centre for Local Government (CLG) and Co-Director of the Centre for Sports, Business and Society (CSBS). Carol has held the CEO positions of Director General, Communities NSW and the Department of Arts, Sport and Recreation in the New South Wales public sector and was Secretary, Commonwealth Department of Parliamentary Services in Canberra. She has also been Deputy Director General in the NSW Departments of Housing and Ageing, Disability and Home Care, and was the inaugural head of the NSW Office of Community Housing.

Professor Mills has achieved outstanding results in driving major policy, program and organisational reforms in a series of challenging and high-profile roles. She applies a strong focus on improving customer service, risk management, governance and financial performance to achieve lasting business improvement. Her expertise is built on effectively combining strategic and practical approaches to management and change. She has extensive board and committee experience as both a member and chair, including a number of major cultural boards, the NSW Institute of Sport, Western Sydney Parklands Trust, Gymnastics NSW, the City Recital Hall, and the Sydney Western Harbour Business Improvement District. Carol has tertiary qualifications in Economics, Management, Public Policy and Philosophy, and is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and the Australian Evaluation Society.