About our communications and stakeholder programs

Each of these programs is designed to enhance your knowledge and skills in a specific area of capability.

Our programs

The Commission offers the following programs:

Briefing APS Decisions makers and Ministers

Target audience: SES Band 1 and EL

This program provides an active experiential learning environment for public service leaders wanting to hone briefing skills and establish productive relations with decision makers.

Find out more about Briefing APS Decisions makers and Ministers.

Conflict resolution

Target audience: APS 3 -6 and EL

Learn how to identify and address early signs of conflict, gain knowledge of different behaviours, use a range of effective interpersonal communication skills and develop strategies to reduce stress and ease the impact of change.

Find out more about Conflict resolution for APS 3-6.
Find out more about Conflict resolution for ELs.

Developing Cabinet submissions

Target audience: SES Band 1 and EL2

This program provides techniques in preparing compelling cabinet submissions that win endorsement.

Find out more about Developing Cabinet Submisisons.

Enrich your representational skills

Target audience: APS 4 - EL2

Unlock the skills, protocols and etiquette behind strong representation and develop the motivation and confidence to become an effective advocate for your agency.

Find out more about Enrich your representational skills.

Essential writing for APS employees

Target audience: All levels

These programs will deepen your awareness of Commonwealth writing and style guides will further develop your knowledge of effective writing. They will also assist you to write clear, well argued and comprehensive documents according to APS requirements.

Find out more about Essential writing for APS 1–4 levels.
Find out more about Essential writing for APS 5–6 levels.
Find out more about Essential writing for Executive Levels.

Giving and receiving feedback

Target audience: APS 3 - EL2

Giving and receiving feedback is designed to help you develop the skills, knowledge and awareness to participate comfortably and effectively in this essential area of employee communication.

Find out more about Giving and receiving feedback.

How to write high impact speeches

Target audience: APS 3 - 6 and EL

A high impact speech engages the audience on an emotional and intellectual level. In the APS environment speeches can also deal with sensitive political subjects and are written in close consultation with Ministers and other key stakeholders.

Find out more about How to write high impact speeches for APS.
Find out more about How to write high impact speeches for ELs.

Influencing skills for APS and for EL's

Target audience: APS 3 - 6 and EL

One of the most important professional skills is the ability to communicate effectively and influence persuasively in interpersonal exchanges, meetings, presentations and briefings.

Find out more about Influencing skills for APS Levels.
Find out more about Influencing skills for ELs.

Minute taking skills

Target audience: All levels

Discover the qualities of a good minute taker, explore different minute presentation styles and learn how to prepare and follow up after the meeting.

Find out more about Minute taking skills.

Preparing content for the web

Target audience: APS 4 - 6

This course shows you how to rapidly and easily develop content that best meets the needs of websites users.

Find out more about Preparing content for the web.

Preparing Ministerial responses

Target audience: APS 5 - EL

Preparing Ministerial responses equips you with enhanced skills to understand the different types of Ministerial responses and successfully perform this task to the particular guidelines and protocols required by Ministers’ offices.

Find out more about Preparing Ministerial responses.

Preparing Senate Estimate briefs

Target audience: APS 5 - EL

Preparing Senate Estimates briefs equips you with enhanced skills to successfully perform this task to the particular guidelines and protocols required by Ministers’ offices.

Find out more about Preparing Senate Estimate briefs.

Preparing to appear before parliamentary committees

Target audience: All SES

This program, presented over two half days, will build your confidence and skills in public presentation and personal communication.

Find out more about Preparing to appear before parliamentary committees.

Presentation skills

Target audience: All levels

This highly practical and participative one-day workshop is designed to equip APS staff with the skills and confidence they need to give presentations to workplace colleagues or clients.

Find out more about Presentation skills.

Report writing in the APS environment for APS and ELs

Target audience: APS 5 - EL

Report writing in the APS environment identifies those skills and works through the steps and issues to consider when writing a report.

Find out more about Report writing in the APS environment for APS
Find out more about Report writing in the APS environment for ELs.

Responding to questions on notice and preparing question time briefs

Target audience: APS 5 - EL

The ability to strategically gather and investigate information from a variety of sources is a fundamental prerequisite for many APS employees. 

Find out more about Responding to questions on notice and preparing question time briefs.

Smart reading skills

Target audience: All levels

The ability to strategically gather and investigate information from a variety of sources is a fundamental prerequisite for many APS employees.

Find out more about Smart reading skills.

Stakeholder engagement

Target audience: Executive Levels

In this comprehensive program you will develop a strategic understanding of dealing with stakeholders, some highly practical communication skills and will be introduced to The Six Step Model for Stakeholder Engagement which is unique to this program.

Find out more about Stakeholder engagement.