2023 AGD Pacific Legal Policy Twinning Program

Deadline: 3-Feb-23

The Australian Attorney-General’s Department (AGD) is inviting Pacific island countries to apply to participate in AGD’s Pacific Legal Policy Programs in Canberra.

AGD uses a competitive application process to select participants for both the Pacific Legal Policy Champions Program and the Pacific Legal Policy Twinning Program (the Pacific Legal Policy Programs).

The Pacific Legal Policy Programs aim to build the capability of Pacific law and justice agencies to develop and implement policy to respond to criminal activity and improve community safety, contributing to regional stability and security and supporting economic growth. These programs are part of Australia’s commitment to building legal capacity in the Pacific region. It complements the bilateral and regional legal assistance provided by AGD through the Pacific Police Development Program.

Types of Programs

• The Policy Champions Program
  • The Policy Champions Program will be delivered in Canberra from 17 to 28 April 2023. There are ten places available on this program.
  • Placement
    • The Policy Champions Program aims to build the capacity of Pacific law and justice officers to develop rigorous public policy proposals and enable them to be ‘champions’ for good policy development practices.
    • The intensive two-week program includes a Train-the-Trainer component where participants will be trained and supported to deliver the Pacific Legal Policy Development Course (the Course) to their home agency and across government. Participants will explore legal policy-making processes and best practice models through presentations and discussions with expert legal policy officers, subject matter experts and government stakeholders on priority policy issues from across the Australian Government and academia.
• The Twinning Program
  • The program will be delivered from 1 May to 9 June 2023. During the first two weeks, the Twinning participants will undertake the Legal Policy Champions Program. There are two places available on the Twinning Program.
  • Placement
    • The Twinning Program provides a unique opportunity for high-potential Pacific law and justice officers to undertake a two month placement in AGD to improve their legal policy skills, and progress an identified policy project specific to their home agency.
    • Successful applicants will be placed and work out of AGD’s offices in Barton, Canberra for eight weeks.
    • In addition to completing the Policy Champions Program and Pacific Legal Policy Development Course (the Course), they will provide a rigorous training program to improve participant skills in legal policy development and legislative reform.

Selection Criteria

• The Policy Champions Program
  • Applicants must meet the below selection criteria. They must:
    • work for a policing, law and justice agency or in a government legal policy role in a member country or territory of the Pacific Island Law Officers Network which is eligible for Official Development Assistance
    • have at least two years of work experience in a legal policy environment and demonstrate an interest in continuing a career in legal policy (a lesser time period may be considered for police)
    • demonstrate how participation in the Policy Champions Program will assist them in their current role (that is, why they are a suitable participant) and how they will use these skills on their return home
    • demonstrate how participation in the Policy Champions Program will assist their home country and agency improve its capacity to develop policy and legislation
    • demonstrate strong initiative and personal drive
    • be able to work and engage in an English language environment, and
    • be committed to a two week placement in Canberra between 17 to 28 April 2023.
• The Twinning Program
  • Applicants must meet the below selection criteria. They must:
    • work for a law and justice agency or in a government legal policy role in a PILON member country
    • have at least two years of work experience in a legal policy environment and demonstrate an interest in continuing a career in legal policy
    • demonstrate how participation in the Twinning Program will assist them in their current role
    • (that is, why they are a suitable participant) and how they will use these skills on their return home
    • demonstrate how participation in the Twinning Program will assist their home country and agency improve its capacity to develop policy and legislation
    • demonstrate the importance of a nominated legal policy or law reform project which is a priority for their agency that they seek to progress through the Twinning Program and explain the role they have (or intend to have) in that project
    • demonstrate strong initiative and personal drive
    • be able to work and engage in an English language environment, and
    • be committed to a two month placement in Canberra between 17 April 2023 and 9 June 2023.

For more information, visit Australian Government.