ACT Budget Workshop

Introduction to the ACT Budget, how to read it and some advice for writing submissions.

This workshop provides an overview of the ACT budget processes and supports our members to be able to navigate key documents and write budget submissions.

We will first cover a broad overview of how public sector budgets work by stepping through the politics of budget-making and the role of key actors in creating it. This includes the different roles and priorities of politicians and public servants in crafting a budget. We will then work through how the budget is structured, with some practical advice for reading and understanding the different documents that end up in the budget.

The second half of the workshop works through the practical elements of developing a budget submission by breaking down how policies make it into a budget. This includes looking at the timeline for the development of budget proposals, what the public sector and government cover in their internal submissions and some practical notes on writing budget submissions.

 

About the facilitator: 

Jacob Priergaard a social policy researcher who joined ACTCOSS in June 2025. Jacob began his career in the Australian Public Service, working on social security and then health policy. While in the public service, he worked on a variety of social policies and programs including the implementation of the Child Care Subsidy, developing more humane compliance policies in the aftermath of Robodebt, and supporting international engagement on climate change and health. Jacob was the Director of safety and quality in healthcare during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic before moving to the Crawford School of Public Policy at ANU to undertake a PhD. His research looks at how public institutions shape policies that impact disadvantaged people. Jacob is an expert in public policy and Australia’s welfare state and has delivered research and executive education for multiple government agencies on these topics. He maintains an association with the Crawford School of Public Policy.

Jacob joins ACTCOSS as a generalist Senior Policy Advisor and is leading ACTCOSS’ work on the 2025-26 ACT Budget.

Pricing  

*All prices exclude GST. 

Member price	$100.00
Non-Member price	$150.00
Government Employee price	$250.00

 

ACTCOSS may be able to reduce or waive fees for consumer representatives, people experiencing disadvantage or small community organisations. Please contact ACTCOSS and we’ll do our best to offer support to participate.