Consulting and Training

YOUR MESSAGE MATTERS

We offer training to help public servants and 'non-communications' experts create high quality communications products without having to outsource.

Empower your teams to be able to distill complex policy and program information into clear, impactful communications products.

OUR COURSES

All courses and workshops:

  • can be full or half day sessions and full day sessions can be delivered in two half day blocks
  • are delivered in person at your office using byo laptops so you can work on content that is meaningful to you
  • are capped at 15 participants to ensure dedicated attention in group exercises
  • include online resources and tools to assist with after course implementation of skills 
  • weave in practical activities to embed learning and ensure you leave with a practical product you can use in your work 

Communications Intro: 101

An introducation for APS and executive level staff in how to distill complex complex information into impactful communications products such as placemats and presentations.

Course contents 

  • Communications products overview: your message matters
  • The importance of strategic planning
  • Basic design principles: colour, layout, balance, alignment, negative space
  • Information distillation: how to write concisely for maximum impact
  • PowerPoint tips and tricks: speed up your workflow

Advanced Communications: Adobe InDesign and Illustrator

Become a pro at information distilling, and converting your complex policies and research into impactful products using advanced tools in the Adobe Creative Cloud suite.

Course contents 

  • Basic design tips and tricks
  • Adobe Illustrator 101: artboards, vectors and image trace, masks, colour swatches, infographics, brushes and gradients 
  • Adobe InDesign 101: workflows and workspaces, layers and parent pages, document settings, frames, paragraph and character styles, and brochures and long documents, print flow and setup

* Note: you will need to have access to Adobe Creative Cloud on your byo laptop to participate in this course

Manager Workshop: Why invest in Communications and Design?

A 1-hour workshop for managers (EL2 and above) to understand how investing in communications capabilities enhances your work.

Course contents 

  • Making a good first impression:  strong, professional messages
  • Communications products overview: placemats, presentations, video, infographics
  • Cost and time benefits of building in house capability
  • Realistic strategic planning: time management and investment
  • Editing and clearing: key things to look out for in design products
  • Examples and case studies: the advantages of strong comms products in practice

Contact us for information about how you can customise the course to suit your needs.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

  • An interactive and engaging experience

    We don't just lecture, we use a variety of delivery methods and creative approaches.

  • Teachers who are experts in communications

    Dedicated course convenor with cross-cutting experience in the APS in policy, data and communications roles.

  • Tips, skills and useful resources

    Tips, skills and resources (including templates) that you can use immediately to convey clear messages.

BOOKINGS

To book, send an email to hello@allaracreative.com.au or fill in the contact form below.

OUR TEAM

We both bring a wealth of experience in the Australian Public Service in policy, communications, and data roles. We understand the intricacies of your work AND we know the importance of getting the designs right so that your message is delivered, heard, and makes an impact. 

We are passionate about sharing our skills and knowledge so that we can increase the capability across the public service - and not just for those super talented and vital communications experts, but also generalists and specialists. 

  • RUTH OETTLE

    Ruth has had more than a decade of experience in the Australian Public Service with roles at Questacon and the Commonwealth Departments of Treasury, Infrastructure, Communications, and Industry. 

    Ruth is a excellent science communicator with a proven track record. She developed more than 50 powerpoint presentations to complement Dr Alan Finkel's speeches for nationwide audiences and increased following of Australia’s Chief Scientist’s social media channels by 50%. Ruth was also the lead communications officer for the Department of Industry's COVID-19 Ventilator Taskforce.

    Ruth has a natural way of taking extremely complex information and distilling it in a way that everyone can understand, even non-experts. Maybe this comes from her time as a travelling Questacon performer for the 'Smart Moves' program! 

    Ruth's strengths are developing PowerPoint presentations and slidedecks, social media, and online tools such as Canva. 

    Ruth also works as a producer for ABC Radio Canberra and is a Scout Australia leader in her spare time - clearly passionate about sharing her knowledge with other people.

    Ruth has a Bachelor of Arts and Economics from the University of Tasmania and a Masters of Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science from Lund University in Sweden.

  • JESSICA WRIGHT

    Jess has worked in communications and policy roles in the Commonwealth Departments of Education, Industry, and Infrastructure, Treasury and Prime Minister and Cabinet. She has also worked as a communications consultant for the international philanthropy, Oak Foundation. 

    Jess is skilled in taking long reports and documents and distilling them into at a glance placemats or one page factsheets. Jess was responsible for the communications products for the 2022 Department of Industry Incoming Government Briefing, produced and designed the Office of Northern Australia's Our North, Our Future 2021-2026: Targeted Growth progress report. 

    Jess has also implemented comprehensive communications campaigns and strategies for a range of programs including the Australian Science Policy Fellowship Program, the Northern Australia Development Program, and the National Awards for Local Government - increasing awareness and application numbers for all from their previous years. 

    Jess' strengths are in placemat development, Adobe Illustrator and InDesign, videography and photography.

    Jess has a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Photojournalism from Webster University in Geneva, Switzerland and a Masters of Philosophy in International Education and Development Studies from the University of Cambridge in the UK. 

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