Course

QTC Education - Service Planning November

Nov 6, 2025 - Dec 4, 2025

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Full course description

About this course

Service Planning

This course offers a comprehensive exploration of service planning within a council's integrated planning framework, providing participants with the knowledge and tools to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of council services.

Over six structured modules, participants will delve into key topics such as service planning principles, service prioritisation, financial management, risk assessment, and performance monitoring. The course also emphasises the critical roles of elected members and council officers in the service planning and budgeting process.

Through practical case studies and interactive workshops, learners will gain hands-on experience in developing, monitoring, and reporting on service plans, ensuring they are well-equipped to contribute to strategic and operational success in local government.

*The full cost of this course is $1500 GST excluded. The Department of Local Government, Water, and Volunteers and QTC will be subsidising 100% of your registration fee. Subsidy has already been applied to the course fees, and is free for council staff and staff in the Department of Local Government, Water, and Volunteers.

If you have any questions or general enquiries, please contact us at qtceducation@griffith.edu.au

November
2025
2 hours per week
Delivered over 4 weeks
Virtual sessions
 
With industry facilitator
0
Fully subsidised

Course Snapshot

What are the course learning outcomes?

Learning Outcomes: 

  • Relate service planning principles to a councils' integrated planning framework 
  • Understand the role of elected members and officers in the council service planning and budgeting process 
  • Understand different components of service plan including service levels, financials and risks 
  • Explore the importance of service reporting, monitoring and assessment to achieve effectiveness and efficiency 
What core topics are offered?

The course will consist of six modules in total. Please find below the topics that will be covered. 

Module 1

  1. Setting the scene 
  2. Service Planning introduction 

Module 2 

  1. Prioritising Council services 
  2. Current service reporting approaches 
  3. Understanding service levels 

Module 3 

  1. Developing service plans 
  2. Understanding the cost of services 

Module 4 

  1. Service performance monitoring and reporting
  2. Reviewing services 
  3. Incorporating service planning in the budget process 

Module 5 

  1. Case study activity 

Module 6 

  1. Case study continued 
  2. Workshop recap 
Who is this course suited to?

This course is suited to council management and staff directly and indirectly involved is service planning related activities including business improvement teams, governance officers and council directors and managers looking to gain insight into local government service planning by implementing a service planning framework to guide decision making.

What are the course credentials?

Participants will earn a digital badge upon completion of the course which can be shared across various online platforms so you can showcase your demonstrated skills and achievements.

Please note, to be eligible for a digital badge you must attend all sessions and complete all associated learning content/activities.

What does my course schedule look like?

The course will be delivered over 4 weeks and consist of weekly 2-hour virtual sessions. Please find the specific details below. 

Week  Session/Delivery
Week 1  Virtual session: Thursday 6 November, 10am - 12pm AEST
Week 2 Virtual session: Thursday 13 November, 10am - 12pm AEST
Week 3 Virtual session: Thursday 27 November, 10am - 12pm AEST
Week 4 Virtual session: Thursday 4 December, 10am - 12pm AEST

Commitment to all sessions within this course is essential for an optimised learning experience.

If you have any questions or general enquiries, please contact us at qtceducation@griffith.edu.au

Who are the course facilitators?

Dr Ayesha Scott

Dr Ayesha Scott is a Senior Lecturer in Finance and Financial Planning at Griffith University. Ayesha’s research agenda is interdisciplinary, and spans financial and social inclusion, consumer vulnerability, banking ethics, violence against women, and personal/household finance. Her focus is on improving individuals’ wellbeing and social inclusion across financial systems and society. She is regularly asked to speak on these topics and her work has generated media interest within New Zealand and Australia.

 

Dr Steffen Westermann

Steffen is a lecturer and researcher in Financial Planning. His PhD research looked at the behavioural and psychological determinants of financial wellbeing and advice seeking in the Australian retirement savings context. More broadly, he is interested in personal finance, including financial inclusion, capability, and wellbeing, responsible investment preferences, as well as how to prepare individuals for retirement through financial education and advice, considering challenges, such as the effects of climate change. His previous research has focused on CSR and the investment performance of Australian REITs.