Content

  • Understanding what is public policy, and the range of forms it can take
  • Ability to critique and identify a range of different policy documents, including briefing notes and cabinet submissions
  • Identify when a policy document can be useful, and how they can be enhanced
  • Understand the principles of clear writing
  • Gain a familiarity of the conventions and style of writing for the public sector
  • Using case studies and practical exercises develop your policy writing skills

Outcomes

  • Understand a broad range of different policy documents
  • Practically apply the principles and ideas that shape good policy writing
  • Understand the features of a good policy document
  • Have a practical experience of writing policy

Who Should Attend

This course is pitched public servants who are in mid career/senior roles, such as policy managers, senior policy advisors, and senior managers seeking to develop and improve their policy skills

Benefits to You and Your Organisation

  • Help you produce more effective policy documents
  • How to write documents for a range of different audiences
  • Help improve the quality of policy outputs from your organisation or agency

Learn about our speakers

Tim O’Loughlin

Lecturer, College of Business, Government and Law
Flinders University

Tim's professional life started as a political staffer, culminating in his appointment as chief-of-staff to Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs. This was followed by 15 years in commercial roles in the petroleum sector. He then worked for another 15 years in four different roles in the South Australian Government public service. The last two of these roles were as CEO of the Department of Transport and Urban Development and as Commissioner for Renewable Energy. Tim has been teaching in university public policy schools for the past 12 years.

Upcoming course availability

In person

May 2026

Tuesday, 19 May 2026

Register now

Format
Face-to-face

Duration
9:00am - 4:00pm (8:45am registration)

Inclusions
Workbook, resources, refreshments, morning tea and lunch

Location
Level 6, 12 Pirie Street, Adelaide SA 5000
(please refer to course reminder email sent closer to course date)
View map

Costs
Personal Member $575
State Govt Employee Member $615
Corporate Member $625
Non-member $725

Register now

Fill out my online form.

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