In 2023 the Department of the Senate is offering targeted training programs for public servants and representatives from not-for-profit organisations. Sessions will be offered in-person and online. See further information about registrations and visiting Parliament House.

APS training

Introductory sessions: 

• About Parliament
• Senate fundamentals

Specialised sessions: 

• The legislative process
• Senate committees - Inquiry Process
• Senate committees - Estimates
• Senate oversight of delegated legislation
• Engaging with the Senate - Senior Executive Service training
• Consideration of bills by the parliamentary scrutiny committees

Not-for-profit training

The Senate is introducing online training programs targeted at not-for-profit organisations whose work involves understanding, monitoring or interacting with the Senate. Further information about registrations and visiting Parliament House is included below the session outlines.

List of not-for-profit organisation sessions: (online)

• Introduction to how the Senate works
• Introduction to Senate committees
• Introduction to the legislative process

APS training

About Parliament

10.00am–12.00pm

This session provides an introduction to Australia’s parliamentary system and explores the roles and functions of the Senate and House of Representatives. Topics include the constitutional powers of the parliament, keeping track of parliamentary business and an overview of the legislative process and committee system.

Format: In-person and online
Cost: $160 per person

Target audience: APS Graduates and those new to the public service

Dates: 21 February and 25 July

Senate fundamentals

10.00am–12.00pm

This session is designed to provide public servants who may be unfamiliar with the Senate with an introduction to the Senate’s role, work and functions. It examines the Senate’s Constitutional powers and includes an overview of how the Senate’s legislative and scrutiny work is carried out in the chamber and through Senate committees. Participants will learn how to access information to assist them in monitoring and understanding the Senate’s work.

Format: In-person and online
Cost: $160 per person

Target audience: APS Graduates and those new to the public service

Dates: 27 February and 16 August

The legislative process

10.00am–12.00pm

This session is designed to give public servants a general understanding of the legislative process and provide some strategies for monitoring and facilitating the progress of bills through the Parliament. It provides an overview of the legislative process, the amendment of bills, the role of Senate committees, disagreements between the two houses, and royal assent and commencement.

Format: In-person and online
Cost: $240 per person

Target audience: APS officers engaged in developing or monitoring legislation

Dates: 5 April and 22 August

Senate committees – Inquiry process

10.00am–12.00pm

This session is designed to introduce the Senate’s committee system to public servants who prepare submissions, evidence, or other information for Senate committees. It provides an overview of the powers and operation of different types of Senate committees. Participants will receive practical strategies for monitoring and engaging with different aspects of the committee process.

Format: In-person and online
Cost: $240 per person

Target audience: APS officers who monitor or prepare submissions or briefings relating to Senate Committee inquiries

Dates: 16 March and 30 August 

Senate committees – Estimates

10.00am–12.00pm

This session is designed to support public servants who monitor the estimates process or who prepare information for their department or agency for estimates. It takes a detailed look at the estimates cycle, including the questions on notice process, and provides users with practical skills and resources to engage in all aspects of the estimates process.

Format: In-person and online
Cost: $240 per person

Target audience: APS officers who monitor or provide information for Senate estimates

Dates: 3 February, 17 May and 11 October 

Senate oversight of delegated legislation

10.00am–12.00pm

This session is designed to provide public servants involved in drafting delegated legislation and explanatory statements with a detailed understanding of the tabling, consideration and disallowance of delegated legislation. Participants will also receive practical guidance for working with the Senate Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation Committee and the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights. Topics include the disallowance timetable, consequences of disallowance, and the expectations and work practices of the scrutiny committees.

Format: In-person and online
Cost: $240 per person

Target audience: APS officers engaged in drafting and monitoring delegated legislation

Date: 4 May

Engaging with the Senate - Senior Executive Service training

10.00am–12.30pm

This session for SES officers focuses on the accountability of public servants to Parliament. Topics covered include the relationship between the public service, ministers, and the Parliament; the role of the Senate in the accountability process; parliamentary privilege as it relates to the operation of Senate committees and the estimates process. Participants will discuss the committee inquiry process, with particular focus on preparing written evidence and presenting oral evidence at committee hearings.

Format: In-person and online
Cost: $300 per person

Target audience: Senior Executive Service officers

Dates: 31 January, 16 May and 10 October

Consideration of bills by the parliamentary scrutiny committees

10.00am–12.00pm

This session is designed to provide participants with an understanding of the technical scrutiny of bills undertaken by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights and the Senate Scrutiny of Bills Committee. Topics include the scrutiny principles and laws against which the scrutiny committees assess legislation, their expectations in relation to explanatory materials accompanying bills, their reporting processes, and the main sources of guidance and support for negotiating the passage of legislation through the legislative scrutiny process.

Format: In-person and online
Cost: $240 per person 

Target audience: APS officers engaged in drafting or monitoring primary legislation

Date: 26 September

Not-for-profit training

Introduction to how the Senate works

10.00am–12.00pm

This session is designed to introduce representatives of not-for-profit organisations to the Senate’s role in our parliamentary system and provides an overview of how the Senate’s legislative and scrutiny work is carried out. By focusing on opportunities for public engagement with the Senate’s processes,  participants will learn how to access information to assist them in monitoring,  understanding and engaging with the Senate’s work.

Format: Online
Cost: Free

Target audience: Representatives from not-for-profit organisations

Date: 12 April

Introduction to Senate committees

10.00am–12.00pm

This session is designed to introduce representatives from not-for-profit organisations to the Senate’s committee system. It will explore the purposes, powers and operation of different types of committees. Participants will receive practical information about engaging with Senate committees including preparing submissions and providing evidence at committee hearings.

Format: Online
Cost: Free

Target audience: Representatives from not-for-profit organisations

Date: 12 July

Introduction to the legislative process

10.00am–12.00pm

This session is designed to provide representatives from not-for-profit organisations with a general understanding of the legislative process. It will explore the process for considering, amending and deciding on bills in the Senate and House of Representatives. Participants will receive practical information about monitoring the progress of bills through the Parliament, with a particular focus on bills in the Senate.

Format: Online
Cost: Free

Target audience: Representatives from not-for-profit organisations

Date: 1 November 

Further information

Participation

All our training sessions will be delivered in a hybrid format. Online sessions will be conducted via WebEx and you do not require a WebEx account to participate. Links to online sessions and connection information will be provided to participants prior to the training. Details on attending training in-person will be sent once registrations have closed, five business days prior to the session date.  

For further information about in-person or online participation, please contact the Training Team on (02) 6277 3648 or by email to senate.training@aph.gov.au.

Payment, cancellation and refund policy

Prices are current as of 22 December 2022.

All registrations, cancellations and amendments for training sessions close at 5 pm AEST five business days prior to the session date.

No refunds will be issued for cancellations received after these deadlines or for non-attendance.

Payment instructions will be issued once registrations have closed. Payment is due prior to attendance.

The Department reserves the right to cancel sessions at any time. In this event, participants will be advised of this cancellation as soon as possible and no fee will be charged.

Privacy statement

The Department of the Senate collects, holds and uses your personal information to administer the event that you have registered for and for associated support, and to respond to your enquiries or feedback.

The department may also use your details to inform you of other relevant training and events that are provided by the department.

The department will not share your details with any third parties.

By registering for an event, you consent to the department collecting, holding and using your personal information for the purposes outlined above.

Visiting Parliament House

Information about visiting Parliament House, including parking arrangements, accessibility and security screening, is available at https://www.aph.gov.au/Visit_Parliament/Plan_your_Visit.

Contact information

For bookings and further information, please contact the Senate Procedure and Research Section by email to senate.training@aph.gov.au or phone on (02) 6277 3648.