Content

  • The purpose of data analysis, and what it is trying to achieve.
  • Different analysis techniques and methods – trend, growth, benchmarking, ratio analysis.
  • Gathering and constructing datasets.
  • Common traps and pitfalls in undertaking data analysis.
  • How to use analysis to identify key drivers, and understand cause and effect.
  • The use of data analysis in presenting reports and proposals.
  • Techniques for presenting data in tables and charts.
  • The types and quality of data.

Outcomes

  • Understand a range of analytical techniques and both how and when they can be applied.
  • Put analytical techniques into practice through various relevant case studies.

Who Should Attend

This course is ideal for anyone who is required to understand trends, patterns and evidence that may be contained in data and anyone who is required to provide, present or contribute data to reports, submissions and proposals designed to help others make decisions.

Benefits to You and Your Organisation

  • You will be introduced to data analysis and presentation methods that can be used immediately to improve the structure and clarity of quantitative information.
  • Accessing a range of analytical techniques can enable agencies to make the most of the data already available to them reducing the time and cost involved in developing evidence based policy.

Learn about our speakers

Mark Priadko

Principal
ABFA

Mark Priadko helps his business clients think clearly through complex situations and opportunities.

Mark has worked for over 15 years as a freelance contractor and consultant based in Adelaide, South Australia.

Clients include organisations from all levels of government (state, federal and local), Universities, and other for-profit and not-for-profit organisations. His love of learning, his experience and understanding of finances and strategy, and his curiosity lead him to insights into how organisations and their various functions and projects can be progressed or improved.

Mark Priadko works with his clients to more clearly understand their organisations helping them make quality decisions often in complex situations. Mark is engaged by his clients in a range of ways including:
• Independent thinking - to perform detailed organisational and financial analysis and deliver reports containing findings and recommendations and to produce business cases, proposals or business plans designed to improve the organisation
• Training and Development - to develop and deliver training in courses on topics like Financial Management, Strategic Thinking, Constructing Business Cases, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving and Analysing and Presenting Data.
• Facilitated thinking - To facilitate the thinking and planning necessary to help an organisation develop strategic and business plans, business cases/proposals and approaches to reporting.

Mark has developed and delivered a range of training courses for publicly offered programs and tailored courses specific to client requirements. Tailoring of training takes into account specific organisational requirements, processes and reporting formats as well as the development of case studies relevant to the organisation.

Courses and training materials have been developed for:
• Financial Management (including managing budgets and financial plans)
• Strategic Thinking
• Preparing reports and business cases
• Analysing and presenting data
• Critical thinking and problem solving
• An Introduction to Project Management
• Innovation and Creativity.

Clients include public sector Departments (State and Federal), Local Councils, Universities, Large Infrastructure Companies and not-for-profit organisations.

The first half of his professional career led him to Executive roles in South Australian Treasury and Finance. He has a deep knowledge of government decision-making processes and public sector financial management. The second half of his career has seen Mark work with a range of clients, largely public sector, on initiatives to improve their organisations or develop their staff. Mark has public sector clients based in Adelaide, Canberra and Hobart.

Mark’s former responsibilities in Treasury and Finance included providing advice on the State Government’s financial strategy, legislation and policies, overseeing whole of government banking, financial reporting and related financial systems and working with agencies as part of the annual budget process and weekly Cabinet processes.

Mark also worked for in BHP Billiton as a team leader involved in establishing teams in the Shared Service Centre in 2000 and 2001.
Mark has an Honours Degree in Economics and a Graduate Diploma in Marketing.

Mark is married (to Gemma for over 24 years) and has three adult/teenager children. He also serves as a volunteer board member for Arid Recovery Pty Ltd (conservation and research organisation) and as a trustee for the Julie Farr McLeod Benevolent Fund (supporting services to the disability community).

Upcoming course availability

Online

March 2025

2 x Half Day - 17 & 24 March 2025

Online

June 2025

2 x Half Day - 6th & 13th June 2025

Format
Online

Duration
2 half-days, 9:00am - 12:30pm
(8:45am registration)

Competency framework
First Line Manager Common/Core (ASO2-ASO5)
Middle Manager Common/Core (ASO6-ASO8)
(This competency framework is provided as a guide only)

Inclusions
Digital Workbook and Resources

Location
Online via Cisco Webex

Costs
Personal Member $515
State Govt Employee Member $555
Corporate Member $565
Non-member $645

This course can be delivered In-Agency. Contact us to discuss the delivery of this course within your department.

  • “What I learned will influence how I present data in future, especially using graphs and 'picto charts' most appropriately (not to overuse or misuse). I will be able to more effectively "tell a story with data" about what is truly happening; and am better equipped to assist decision makers to make better informed and more transparent decisions.”

    Janetta

    Department for Innovation and Skills

  • “Mark is so enthusiastic he makes a potentially dry topic enjoyable and interesting. It is great to be able to draw on the expertise of such an individual.”

    Ceris

    PIRSA

  • “I felt the explanations of the theoretical side was then applied to practical examples. This very much helped my learning of the material and illustrated the application of this knowledge in how it could be used in a real-life setting.”

    Peter

    South Australia Police

  • “My presentation and explanation of my data tables will be much improved.”

    DHS

    GRANTS SA

  • “I believe many people would get great benefit in undertaking this course. It is great for data people (those who analyse data in their work), but I believe it would also be useful to managers/decision makers in improving their understanding of how data analysis is done and where it comes from.”

    Peter

    South Australia Police