Rollercoaster.  How to be a bloody good policy officer

A book called roller coaster by salli cohen

A fresh take on policy—insightful, practical, and engaging

Welcome to the exciting, challenging, tough yet rewarding world of policy.  Author and policy expert, Salli Cohen has created an easy to read and entertaining policy guidebook that demystifies policy, brings clarity to the complexity of policy systems and provides real-world insights and stories that apply whether you are starting your policy career in a public service or in a policy driven organisation.

Why you’ll love it

Rollercoaster declutters misconceptions of and assumptions about policy

Rollercoaster unravels the complexity of policy

You’ll learn about policy and its development through real stories and experiences

You’ll gather tools, tips and guidance to pop into your policy kitbag

You’ll get excited about riding the policy rollercoaster – and you’ll build the courage to hold on tight when you find yourself hanging upside down in the carriage, slipping from beneath the seatbelt.

Ready to buy

Rollercoaster is not a dull how-to policy manual. Rather Cohen drops in large dollops of wisdom, evidence and experience, guiding and challenging us along the roundabout process of policy in its different settings.

 Dr Maggie Jamieson

Rollercoaster is a policy bible. Cohen writes in a way that is accessible to all and includes valuable sections at the end of each chapter with key takeaway messages and calls to action.

Dr Lorraine Cherney,   Deputy Director, Regulatory Practice, ANZSOG

I am gobsmacked by this little beauty! It invoked joy, oozed passion, and is full of bloody good tips — sensible stuff that I’ve already applied (and I’m not even a policy officer!). Cohen brings a combination of humour and smarts to Rollercoaster that is innately her. It is as compelling as good fiction, and so remarkably valuable to us all doing good work, whatever that work may be.

Ali West, Director, Vibrant Frog, Certified B Corporation

What readers are saying:

A black silhouette of a pair of ear buds on a white background.

Rollercoaster is not a dull how-to policy manual.  Rather Cohen drops in large dollops of wisdom, evidence and experience, guiding and challenging us along the roundabout process of policy in its different settings.

Dr Maggie Jamieson

A black silhouette of a pair of ear buds on a white background.

Rollercoaster is a policy bible. Cohen writes in a way that is accessible to all and includes valuable sections at the end of each chapter with key takeaway messages and calls to action.

Dr Lorraine Cherney,   Deputy Director, Regulatory Practice, ANZSOG

A black silhouette of a pair of ear buds on a white background.

I am gobsmacked by this little beauty! It invoked joy, oozed passion, and is full of bloody good tips — sensible stuff that I’ve already applied (and I’m not even a policy officer!). Cohen brings a combination of humour and smarts to Rollercoaster that is innately her. It is as compelling as good fiction, and so remarkably valuable to us all doing good work, whatever that work may be.

Ali West, Director, Vibrant Frog, Certified B Corporation

A black silhouette of a pair of ear buds on a white background.

Rollercoaster is a reminder that the best communicators make the complex seem simple. Cohen cares about what works, which is why wherever you look, you will see plain English and strong values, with integrated implementation and evaluation. She writes with total street cred, having walked the policy walk in numerous and diverse settings. Policy matters to Cohen because people and justice matter to her. 


This is an entirely engaging and entertaining piece of work, and a substantial contribution that, like the rest of her career, makes a real difference.


Enjoy the word pictures and quotable quotes, which you WILL be telling your colleagues about for the longest time.

Craig Kelly, CEO, AnglicareNT

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Meet the author

Salli Cohen is a policy expert based in Darwin, Australia. Following 20+ years in the Northern Territory Public Sector working with state, territory, Australian Government and international governments, for purpose, Aboriginal Community Controlled and the private sectors, Salli established her own business, The Policy Room, with the goal to enhance individual and team policy capacity and capability. She regularly shares her knowledge through coaching and volunteer mentoring.


Salli’s experience encompasses public, strategic, organisational and operational policy, strategic development and engagement, driving organisational and cultural change, capacity building, front-line service delivery, and complex problem solving and negotiation. Salli is driven by identifying solutions for positive change, fostering safe, engaging and productive work environments and creating opportunities for people to enhance their policy craft. Her experience is supported by a Master of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith University, and an Executive Master of Public Administration, ANZSOG and the Charles Darwin University. She is the chair of the ANZSOG NT Chapter, a member of the National Regulators Community of Practice NT and a member of IPAA NT.