Public Sector Ethics

Available on-campus & online learning. Students participate in interactive, real-time classes. In a landscape where public servants and political leaders face complex ethical challenges and public sector scandals often seem to proliferate, how can we ensure integrity and accountability in public governance? This course introduces students to key debates in public sector ethics. It explores the responsibilities of public officials and how they negotiate complex and often contested or competing values in their relationships with politicians, citizens, and other stakeholders. Through practical examples and case studies drawn from both Australian and international contexts, students will apply ethical frameworks to analyse decision-making processes, professional conduct, and public sector practices. Core ethical theories will be connected to contemporary policy challenges, with a focus on how personal, professional, organisational, and social influences shape ethical behaviour. Students will also evaluate a wide range of relevant scholarly and professional sources to critically assess approaches to fostering and codifying ethical leadership and promoting integrity in government.