Table 1 Graduate Attributes for Honours Students Graduating with Competency in Health Policy.

Knowledge of policy environments, including:

understanding of the Australian health system, including knowledge of both Federal and State/Territory systems

a basic understanding of comparative international health policy

Knowledge of information and evidence, including:

the ability to identify and effectively use appropriate research to understand and analyse health policy

skills in evidence acquisition and analysis

a basic and technical knowledge in health services evaluation

a capacity to integrate qualitative and quantitative skills and information

knowledge and understanding of the social and political determinants of health and health policy

an understanding of the basic principles of health economics

Knowledge of policy process, including:

knowledge of both micro and macro level views of policy

knowledge of the legal, value, political and ethical influences on policy

awareness of the role of leadership in policy development and implementation

Knowledge of the didactic analysis of policy, including:

the ability to examine the congruence between values and intentions and actual policy

the ability to understand and analyse aspirational policy and the importance of constructive new ideas

practical knowledge of examples of policy failures and "real" policy

Skills for effective engagement of policy stakeholders, including:

knowledge and skills in advocacy and consultation

the ability to appreciate the value and ethical aspects that influence stakeholder views and positions

knowledge of the breadth of policy stakeholders and the diversity of their interests and influence