APS Brief Writing Essentials

A full-day workshop building the core skills to write briefs that support good decision-making.

This workshop develops participants’ ability to organise ideas, distil complex information, and write with the precision, clarity, and influence a good brief demands. Participants learn to consider ministers as the end users of their briefs and build the planning and writing skills to produce briefs in plain, unambiguous language that engage the reader and support the decision they’re written for.

Duration: Full day  ·  Delivery: Online or Face-to-face  ·  Cohort: 8-20 participants

Aligned to the APS Craft Capability Framework and APS Workforce Strategy 2025.

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Short Courses → APS Brief Writing Essentials

What your team will learn

The skills to plan, write, and review briefs that support good decisions.

Participants learn to consider ministers’ needs as the end users of their briefs and build the ability to organise, plan, and use information to write in plain, unambiguous language. They learn to engage the reader so the brief’s purpose is clear from the outset, and explore how effective brief writing can shape the reader’s response. The workshop also covers how to review and refine briefs, using both stylised and conventional writing skills.

What we cover

    • Writing for ministers — Considering the needs of ministers as the users of your briefs.
    • Planning and structuring briefs — Organising, planning, and using information to write in plain and unambiguous language.
    • Engaging the reader — Writing to help the reader understand the purpose of the brief.
    • The impact of effective writing — Exploring how effective brief writing shapes the reader’s response.
    • Reviewing and refining briefs — Reviewing and applying skills for stylised and conventional brief writing.

Workshop format

A full day, delivered to your team as a closed cohort.

McMillan’s APS Brief Writing Essentials workshop gives participants practical activities to build brief-writing skills from the ground up, covering everything from understanding ministers’ needs to reviewing and refining finished briefs. Participants apply these skills to real-world examples throughout the day.

At a glance

    • Length: Full day
    • Audience: All — tailored to audience as required
    • Delivery: Online (live, facilitated) or Face-to-face
    • Cohort size: Minimum 8, maximum 20 participants
    • Approach: Facilitated instruction and practical activities

Who the workshop is for

Suitable for team members at any level — tailored to the seniority and function of your cohort.

APS Brief Writing Essentials is designed for team members at any level who write or contribute to briefs as part of their role. We tailor content and examples to your cohort’s seniority and function before delivery.

Typical cohorts

    • Staff responsible for writing briefs for ministers or senior decision-makers
    • Staff new to brief writing building foundational skills
    • Whole teams wanting a shared, consistent approach to brief writing

When this workshop is a good fit:

    • Staff need to write briefs that are clear, precise, and fit for purpose
    • You want a consistent standard of brief writing across your team
    • Staff would benefit from practical, real-world practice writing and reviewing briefs
    • You’re supporting staff who write for ministers or senior decision-makers

How we deliver

Evidence-based training grounded in adult learning principles, applied consistently to every engagement.

1. Initiate

Confirm outcomes, audience, schedule, and success measures.

2. Design and tailor

Shape content and scenarios to your workplace.

3. Deliver

Interactive, practical sessions online or in-person.

4. Evaluate and close

Capture feedback, measure impact, document improvements.

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Let's talk about your training needs

Tell us who you are and what you’re after — Ben or Lauren will get back to you.

Prefer to call? Phone us on (02) 6230 0266.

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