Policy making involves choices between competing social concerns, which means there are likely many sources of evidence relevant to policy development, each addressing different social concerns and which policy makers must consider and value. Successfully integrating evidence into policy requires not only good evidence to begin with but policy makers must have the necessary skills to collect, critically evaluate and discriminate between multiple bodies of evidence and the communication and engagement skills to move that knowledge into uptake and action. This course has been developed to support those in government to operate effectively at the interface between policy and research and between policy and practice.

While researchers undertake extensive training  around producing and critically evaluating evidence, policy makers typically receive little or no relevant training but are assumed to have the required skills or the ability to acquire the skills on the job.  Equipping policy makers with the requisite skills to use evidence ultimately will lead to better decision making, better policies and consequently better social outcomes. It is also likely to make good policy reforms more feasible by helping to overcome political obstacles to reform.

The course provides policy makers with training and skills in finding, critically appraising and applying current best evidence from relevant research into the policy making process, to support evidence based decision making. It will also provide training and skills on moving that evidence across domains, for example from research to policy and policy to practice, addressing the relevant contexts as it moves across various stakeholders.

Those who undertake the Evidence Based Policy and Knowledge Brokering course will emerge with an array of skills and competencies needed to work effectively as policy makers and to apply evidence based decision making. Not only will participants be able to find and interpret both qualitative and quantitative research, but will be better equipped to engage in discussion with various stakeholders that undertake research relevant to their area of policy or programming

The Evidence-Based Policy and Knowledge Brokering Training course is a two-day course developed for:

• Policy makers in government
• Policy Officers/managers in NGOs, not-for-profit sector and advocacy and
• Representative organisations.

The Evidence Based Policy and Knowledge Brokering Training course is a two-day course developed for policy advisors and makers in government and non-government settings.

The course draws on a wide variety of research, theories and concepts from which to explain and critique the policy cycle and the process of evidence based policy development.  It draws on examples from a wide variety of research modes, disciplines and tools to increase policy makers and advisors ability to source, summarise and critique all types of research.

The course also uses a mix of case studies, concepts, tools and resources drawn from a range of contexts, sectors and disciplines to explore the scope and variety of knowledge brokering forms, processes and purposes specifically from a policy perspective.

At the end of the course participants will be able to:

• Understand the various concepts and frameworks explaining and critiquing the policy cycle and evidence based policy development.

• Understand the difference between various kinds of research and the fundamental guiding principles of each.

• Utilise tools to better understand, summarise and critique research.

• Explain the role and scope of knowledge brokering, transfer and exchange, translation and mobilisation and apply the concepts, definitions and models to a policy context

• Identify and critique current knowledge brokering activities and practices and how they can be further supported or expanded for the purpose of utilising research in policy and practice.

• Identify new networks, pathways and activities to facilitate knowledge brokering

The Evidence Based Policy and Knowledge Brokering course delivery dates and locations are brokered based on need. This ensures we deliver the courses people want in the locations where they are needed.  To register your interest in this course please complete the short form and indicate the course and location you’re interested in and your contact details. We will advise you and provide further details when a course has been scheduled.

Course Fees

Full Rate: $990 AUD         NGO Reduced Rate: $850 AUD

Rate includes all food and training materials for the two days.

If you currently work for an NGO and will be registering for the training through an NGO you are eligible for the NGO reduced rate.

Further information regarding course logistics as well as course outline will be provided upon payment of course fees.

Step 1 – Register your Interest in a course

Our course delivery dates and locations are brokered based on need. This way we ensure that we deliver the courses people want in the locations where they are needed.  You can register your interest in this course any time and we will notify you once this has been scheduled.

Step 2 – Register to Attend a Course

Once the course you have registered interest in has been scheduled with a date and location we will notify you.  From here you need to select the course you would like to attend, complete and submit the online registration form.  Once your registration form is processed, you will receive a confirmation email within 48 hours with an attached invoice for course payment.  Once payment has been received you will receive essential course information to prepare you for the two day course.

If a specific course is full, you can register to be on our waiting list for that course.  If you are on our waiting list, we will alert you if a place becomes available.  The waiting list will be maintained on a first in, first served basis.  We will advise you by both email and phone if a place has become available and the offer will be open for 48 hours before it defaults to the next person on the waiting list.  If you would like to be placed on a course waiting list please email training@knowledgebrokeringgroup.com.au.

Payment of the course is completed by invoice and bank transfer. Please ensure your name is included in the title of the bank transfer as well as the title and month of the course you are undertaking. Payment must be received no later than 14 days prior to the course date. Any registrations completed between 14-7 days prior to the course will only be confirmed once payment has been received.

Withdrawing from a course
The following cancellation policies apply to all Knowledge Brokering Group training courses:
The Knowledge Brokering Group reserves the right to cancel an applicant’s place in a course if the balance of the course fee is not received at least 14 calendar days prior to the commencement of the course.

If a cancellation of a reserved course booking is received by the Knowledge Brokering Group less than 14 calendar days preceding the course commencement date, 50% of the total course fee will be non-refundable. Special circumstances may apply and must be verifiable with medical and/or other certificates to justify a late cancellation and full reimbursement.

Cancellations are accepted in writing.

The Knowledge Brokering Group will allow a participant to defer their participation to a subsequent course without penalty only once, if notice is received at least 14 calendar days prior to the advertised start date for the course originally enrolled in. Alternatively, course enrolment can be transferred to another person, without penalty. If you would like to discuss either option, please contact training@knowledgebrokeringgroup.com.au

Non-attendance
No refund will be made for non-attendance on the day of training. We welcome a substitute participant if you cannot attend. In the case of non-attendance due to illness, participants may reschedule to a later course at no charge if supported in writing by their organisation.

Change to courses
All effort is put in to ensure that training courses proceed as originally marketed. Although it has not happened yet, circumstances outside of the Knowledge Brokering Group’s control may prevent this from happening. The Knowledge Brokering Group reserves the right to change a presenter and/or the training course outline at anytime through the marketing of a training course. Please be assured that if this occurs, any changes made will be done with the fullest confidence that the integrity of the training be maintained as well as with full notification of participants.

The Knowledge Brokering Group respects your privacy and takes diligent action to ensure all client details are protected. Information collected is used for course registration purposes only. No information will ever be released to another party.