The Government writing handbook is a handy guide for everyone in the APS who writes. It is a companion to the Australian Government Style Manual (Style Manual), but with greater focus on the craft of writing.
Negotiation
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Upcoming events
This course is delivered from 13/10/2025 to 28/10/2025, by face-to-screen consisting of six 4-hour sessions.
This course is delivered on 16/10/2025, by face-to-face consisting of one 8-hour session.
This course is delivered on 23/10/2025, by face-to-face consisting of one 8-hour session.
This session will offer insights into the strategic imperatives shaping Australia’s engagement in the region and our foreign policy settings more broadly. Panellists will examine the shifting geopolitical landscape, including the rise of regional powers, evolving security dynamics, and the implications for Australia’s national interests.
This course is delivered on 12/11/2025, by face-to-face consisting of one 8-hour session.
This course is delivered on 27/11/2025, by face-to-face consisting of one 8-hour session.
This course is delivered on 11/12/2025, by face-to-screen consisting of one 8-hour session.
This course is delivered on 05/03/2026, by face-to-screen consisting of one 8-hour session.
This course is delivered from 17/03/2026 to 18/03/2026, by face-to-screen consisting of two 8-hour sessions.
This course is delivered on 17/03/2026, by face-to-screen consisting of one 7-hour session.
This course is delivered on 18/03/2026, by face-to-screen consisting of one 7-hour session.
This course is delivered on 18/03/2026, by face-to-screen consisting of one 6-hour session.
This course is delivered on 09/04/2026, by face-to-face consisting of one 8-hour session.
This course is delivered on 06/05/2026, by face-to-face consisting of one 8-hour session.
This course is delivered from 06/05/2026 to 20/05/2026, by face-to-screen consisting of six 4-hour sessions.
This course is delivered on 14/05/2026, by face-to-screen consisting of one 8-hour session.
This course is delivered on 18/05/2026, by face-to-face consisting of one 8-hour session.
This course is delivered on 03/06/2026, by face-to-face consisting of one 8-hour session.
This course is delivered on 10/06/2026, by face-to-face consisting of one 8-hour session.
This course is delivered on 18/06/2026, by face-to-screen consisting of one 7-hour session.
Courses
Takes an in-depth look at decision-making and the skills required to design, develop and deliver a briefing across a range of scenarios. Learn effective briefing techniques and workshop approaches.
Identify and examine internal and external work relationships, their relevance and the importance of achieving mutual success. Share and develop good ways to plan for and participate in meetings.
This program teaches the skills to respond to workplace and organisational conflict as a manager, including the tools to coach and support others.
Explore aspects of influence and the psychology of persuasion. Understand how verbal and physical language affects interpersonal exchanges, including negotiations, meetings and briefings.
This course examines aspects of influence and persuasion and the negotiation skills essential for managing and leading at the executive level.
This program will increase the confidence of managers in using formal authority to achieve business outcomes. It includes a series of workplace simulations and role plays.
Equip yourself with essential cultural capabilities and a deep understanding of Pacific cultures, societies, and economies.
The program strengthens the leadership capability of experienced senior executives to effectively deliver their key accountabilities.
Resources
This video is recorded from the November APS Academy's Craft Conversations event for Working in Government Craft month in October 2021.
The Government writing handbook is a companion to the Australian Government Style Manual with greater focus on the craft of writing.
Use this Allyship toolkit to better understand how to support behavioural change and cultural safety and to address racism and unconscious bias.
The event was focused on pathways to more culturally informed engagement and partnership with First Nations communities and was led by Sam Jeffries with Dr Rachel Bacon.
The relationship between ministers and officials is fundamental to our system of government. The foundation of that relationship, like any relationship, is mutual respect. Learn through insights from conversations at the political administrative interface.
This is a tool to assess the maturity of supports an agency has in place to build capability to effectively engage.
The Guidance sets out the behaviours for improving the way the APS puts people and business at the centre of policy, services and delivery.
The Style Manual is for everyone who writes, edits or approves Australian Government content. Use it to create clear and consistent content that meets the needs of users.
Recorded in March 2024, Sam Chard discusses how Integrity and judgement work together, and shares guidance on building the valuable skill of using judgement in decision making.
Good contract management is an essential component in achieving value for money for Australian Government procurements. The Australian Government Contract Management Guide provides practical process guidance at a practitioner level for Commonwealth officials who manage contracts.
Comcare’s evidence-based Good Work Design resources can better support health, wellbeing, work participation and productivity, while creating psychologically safe teams.
The Australian Public Service Commission provides practical tips and tools for engaging with stakeholders, particularly when establishing a taskforce.
In this video, APS staff from around the country answer the question: ‘What does working together in the APS mean to you?’
Martin Seligman presents the ‘PERMA’ model which steps through five elements essential to human wellbeing and flourishing: positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning and achievement.
The APS Reform Office has created a website with resources and links on how public service agencies are implementing APS Reform initiatives.
This video from AusIndustry Regional Managers provides practical ‘top tips’ for successful businesses engagement.
Professor Robert Cialdini developed what he describes as ‘six universal principles of persuasion’. These fundamental human states allow leaders to increase the likelihood of influencing others.
Lisa Lahey (2017) explores how leaders can transcend habitual patterns, and considers how to navigate change and complexity.
Brene Brown informs leaders how they can give constructive and honest feedback from a place of engagement, rather than judgment. She calls it ‘Sitting on the same side of the table,’ as someone.
Gabriele Oettingen presents the ‘WOOP’ model which is a practical, accessible, evidence based mental strategy that people can use to find and fulfil their wishes and change their habits.
This ‘Practice Group’ was created to foster and support the use of deliberative practices in government. It contains papers researched and written on public deliberation.