Policy development
Policy staff within the Corporate Governance, Risk and Compliance Services actively manage the ongoing development and review of University policies and procedures. This includes managing and maintaining the processes for policy and procedure development and ensuring that the content:
- complies with legislation
- is relevant, effective and appropriate in nature and scope
- is of high quality
- complies with the policy framework.
Policies currently being developed or reviewed are listed on the Policies and procedures under review webpage, to provide members of the University with an opportunity to contribute to the review process.
Policy development process
Policy development is a collaborative process that includes content expertise from relevant business areas and policy expertise from the Policy Unit, and may also include content development support from either the business area or the University Governance Unit.
The process for major policy change, including policy reviews, consists of ten stages that make up a generally sequential policy development cycle. There is a separate, shorter Process for minor or administrative policy changes. This process allows these changes to be moved through the development and approval process quickly, and is managed by staff in the Policy Unit.
| Stage | Description |
| Initiating a change | A change in policy may be initiated as a result of changes in internal or external requirements. Consider whether the issue needs to be addressed via a change in existing policy or procedure or development of new policy or procedure. If the change is initiated from outside the Policy Unit, the Policy Unit must be advised as early as possible. |
| Identify stakeholders | A policy development team should be formed to undertake the policy development process. Ensure that business areas that may be affected by the suggested policy changes are consulted early in the process. This will enable any relevant constraints, issues and opportunities to be identified and addressed and will help with the implementation stage. |
| Research and development | Undertake research and development to assist in ensuring that appropriate policy decisions can be made. This should include understanding the suggested policy change in the context of the University policy framework, and articulating the relevant policy principles and issues in the form of a briefing paper. |
| Endorsement to proceed | The briefing paper should be submitted to relevant stakeholders or committees seeking direction on any matters requiring advice and to obtain endorsement to proceed with the proposed change. |
| Drafting | Policy and procedure should be drafted using the available templates, and following policy style and the Editorial Style Guide. |
| Consultation | Formal consultation with the broad University community is undertaken to enable the draft policies and procedures to be tested with a range of staff and students to identify any gaps or flaws. |
| Approval | The approval process ensures that policy is officially approved and given effect. Policy and procedure is only valid if approved by the appropriate channels. |
| Promulgation | The specific communication required after a policy or procedure have been formally approved. |
| Implementation | The implementation requirements are formally the responsibility of the Implementation Officer. However, specific implementation requirements may be the responsibility of individual staff members or business areas. This stage includes the implementation of the practical strategies to effectively implement the policy or procedure requirements. |
| Review | Policy and procedure are reviewed at least every three years, or more frequently where there are changing business requirements. The review process triggers a return to the Initiate change stage of the policy development cycle. |
