Artificial Intelligence: Better prompt engineering for AI

The prompt is the steering wheel of AI — it determines direction, speed, tone, and safety. In government, where accuracy, neutrality, and public trust are non-negotiable, a vague or poorly framed prompt can lead to inconsistent messaging, factual drift, or unintended bias. A well-crafted prompt steers you closer to your expected destination.
This workshop goes beyond the usual “just use Co-Pilot!” to exploring the different approaches to a prompt can deliver better, more targeted or safer communication outputs. It goes beyond asking AI to write, design or edit something for you and build a framework to. You’ll be introduced to the keys to framing your requests, using prompt constraints to your advantage and the anatomy of a good prompt.

Content

• Planning:
  • Diagnosing why prompts fail or produce bias
• Drafting:
  • Using prompt constraints (“Avoid assumptions about socioeconomic status…”)
  • The anatomy of a good prompt: context, role, constraints, tone, and output type
  • Designing prompts for plain language, tone, and audience sensitivity
  • The prompt formula to use
• Refining:
  • Refining context, tone, and output structure
  • Targetting your text and tone
• Reviewing:
  • Testing prompts for misinformation or factual drift
  • Maintaining government tone and trust
• Embedding:
  • Creating prompt variations for different audiences
  • Creating prompt variations for different applications
  • Prompt libraries for government scenarios
  • Educating staff about better prompt management
  • Communicating best practice across teams, departments and agencies

Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will have:

• A depth of understanding on the structure of high-quality prompts.
• Explored a range of applications for AI within the field of communication.
• Tips on how to enhance your own interactions with Co-Pilot and other AI engines and platforms.
• An approach to build repeatable prompt workflows and prompt chains for multi-channel outputs including briefing summaries, media releases, and social content.
• An understanding of prompt testing methods and documentation practices to create compliant, efficient, and trustworthy AI writing processes for public engagement teams across state and local government.

Who Should Attend

• Managers and leaders in the government communications space who are interested in improving their AI skills as well as those members of their teams
• Communication staff looking to build best practice into AI use in their department, agency or team
• Government officers new to AI, looking to build their skills in the AI space

Benefits to You and Your Organisation

Many government employees are being encouraged to use Microsoft Co-Pilot with no communication direction. Your staff will learn the time-saving principles of prompt writing, while also being mindful of risk and privacy issues that your department, Agency or project team needs to adhere to.

Group Bookings

**For groups of five or more, IPAA SA can tailor the training to suit your organisation. Group bookings may also be eligible for a preferential rate. Complete the form, and our team will be in touch to discuss options. **