Introduction to Outcomes Based Budgeting

Are you looking to move your budgets past simple mathematics, and improve your project outcomes?

With the needs of people at the centre of investment decision making, it is becoming increasingly difficult to develop budgets. Learn the skills of outcome based budgeting in this introductory course.

Course information

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Course content

This course explores a new depth to government budgeting - with focus not on the cost of inputs, but the outcomes achieved for society. Learn how to design strategic plans that inform budget priorities and resource allocations; develop performance indicators; use outcome hierarchy methodology; and implement 'one page management' systems.

Learning outcomes

At the completion of this outcomes based budgeting course you will:

• Understand what a budget is, who decides it, how it works, how it affects them and how to have a meaningful input to it
• Be equipped with the basic concepts and tools of modern program and outcomes-based budgeting
• Be introduced to key budgeting texts, guidebooks and working examples of modern program and outcomes-based budget documents
• Be able to demystify government budgeting by simplifying the jargon and structure of budget statements both at a whole of government level and at an agency program and activity level
• Be able to assist public officials to understand the close relationship between their agencies strategic plan and its budget document
• Understand the fundamentals of outcomes based budget management

Course prerequisites

This outcomes based budgeting course has no prerequisites and is open to all members of the public.

About the presenter

Professor Percy Allan AM lives in Sydney and advises on public policy, finance, and management. He has helped national and local governments globally to reform their financial management. He has reviewed and advised over 30 local councils on their financial sustainability. In 1996 Percy was awarded an Order of Australia for his contribution to public sector reform while he was Secretary (Head) of the NSW Treasury and Chairman of the NSW Treasury Corp (between 1985 and 1994). These included adopted modern accounting and budgetary processes, the corporatisation of state trading enterprises and the conceiving of IPART.

He was previously a Visiting Professor at the Macquarie Graduate School of Management and now holds a similar position with IPPG. He also founded and chairs the Reform Club, a non-partisan public policy forum sponsored by the ASX that meets quarterly to hear and question senior ministers and officials about their plans for improving public services. He is chairs and coordinator of the newDemocracy Foundation’s annual review of the quality of government decision-making.