Influential Writing for Government (Online)
This short course covers how influential and effective writing can generate a range of positive outcomes for government. Using a workshop format, it covers proven, practical techniques needed by government employees at all levels.
Enrol
5 March - 5 April 2024 - Online
Delivered over a three-week learning sprint, this virtual course is made up of interactive webinars, digital learning and practical and reflective activities.
3 weeks self-paced with live, virtual workshops
Online
Online
$1200
Accelerate your career, learn new skills and expand your knowledge.
First in Australia for research excellence and impact.
Top 50 in the world. 2020 QS World University Rankings.
Overview
Learn how influential writing generates positive outcomes for government, improving productivity, lowering costs, enhancing reputation, and making better decisions. Our workshop equips government employees at all levels with proven techniques to maximize these benefits for you, your team, organisation, and the broader community. Gain valuable knowledge and learn new writing techniques based on leading research in neuroscience, persuasion, audience engagement, and adopting a growth mindset. This course consists of two half-day workshops and an experiential learning opportunity for optimal learning and flexibility.
Course content
- This workshop is structured around the best practices for influential writing in a government context. These practices draw upon the collective experience of what works for senior professionals, including current and former senior executives from the public service and private sector, combined with expertise from within UNSW.
- Why effective writing in government matters and how to maximise the benefits of influential government writing for you, and your team, organisation and community.
- The core skills of effective writing in government, including practical frameworks used by senior executives for understanding your audience, engaging with stakeholders, and planning and drafting government documents for maximum influence and impact.
- An overview of the key types of government writing, including ministerial and agency head-level briefs, ministerial correspondence, government reports, speeches, minutes and internal documents.
Participants will benefit from the highly interactive workshop design features, drawing on the rich knowledge contained within each cohort’s professional experiences, including:
- a highly practical experiential learning opportunity that takes place between the two half-day workshops
- the opportunity to record and apply workshop learnings, then reflect on the benefits of doing so; and peer-to-peer learning frameworks and activities, which double as a valuable network-building opportunity.
Learning outcomes
Skills, competencies and knowledge gained through this course.
This course covers:
- the best practice frameworks for all forms of government writing
- how to apply those best practices in the context of a real, relevant and current piece of written work that's relevant for your role
- high-level guidance on some of the main forms of government writing together with further reading and reference material for situations where this information will be helpful.
By completing this course, participants will be able to:
- describe the importance of effective writing in the Australian government context
- understand and apply the core skills required to write influentially and impactfully for government
- explain the role of neuroscience and the principles of persuasion in attaining optimal audience impact
- outline frameworks for understanding one’s government audience and techniques for planning and delivering influential written work
- identify the key types of government writing and how to apply the core skills to each type of document
- understand the importance of adopting a learning mindset and principles of deliberative practice, and apply the core skills of effective government writing in a range of contexts
- implement the benefit of practical experiences gained during the workshops, including a highly practical experiential learning opportunity, reflective practice frameworks and peer-to-peer learning activities.
In addition to a highly engaging, expertly facilitated workshop experience, attendees will receive:
- a detailed participant handbook containing valuable reference materials
- an individual action planner to record actionable insights for use in the workplace
- a highly relevant pre-reading resource on influential writing to help set learning objectives ahead of the first half-day workshop.
Who should attend
The workshop content and activities is designed primarily for a public sector audience (especially for those working in the Commonwealth and ACT public sectors).
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites.
Facilitator
James Fletcher
James Fletcher is Managing Director of Alta Pete Consulting – a consultancy specialising in public sector leadership development, training workshops and executive coaching. James has designed and delivered highly successful writing for government programs for public sector audiences.
James’ extensive practical industry experience includes:
- Senior Executive Service manager of a legal branch.
- extensive consulting experience in executive coaching, facilitation and training as well as mediation and workplace dispute resolution.
James holds a range of legal, executive coaching, training and leadership qualifications.
Cancellation policy
Courses will be held subject to sufficient registrations. UNSW Canberra reserves the right to cancel a course up to five working days prior to commencement of the course. If a course is cancelled, you will have the opportunity to transfer your registration or be issued a full refund. If registrant cancels within 10 days of course commencement, a 50% registration fee will apply. UNSW Canberra is a registered ACT provider under ESOS Act 2000-CRICOS provider Code 00098G.