Design better policy. Deliver stronger outcomes.
Good policy is not developed in isolation.
Today’s policy professionals are navigating increasingly complex environments shaped by competing priorities, rising community expectations, reform pressures and the need to build trust in decision-making.
Applying Engagement Principles to Policy Design is a practical course designed to help professionals embed engagement principles throughout the policy lifecycle — supporting more informed, implementable and community-informed policy outcomes.
Whether you work in policy, strategy, reform, regulation, planning or public sector leadership, this course provides practical tools and frameworks to strengthen how engagement informs policy development and decision-making.
No formal engagement background is required.
Prerequisite
This course doesn’t have any prerequisites.
This is a standalone specialised course and does not attract credit points towards the Certificate of Engagement.
Course Benefits
Apply engagement best practice with confidence
Build the capability to integrate engagement principles into policy design in a structured and practical way.
Design more inclusive, community-informed policy
Ensure policy reflects diverse perspectives, including those of communities most impacted by decisions.
Engage at the right time for maximum impact
Identify the most effective points in the policy lifecycle to involve stakeholders and communities.
Navigate complexity with practical strategies
Manage competing priorities, conflicting perspectives and real-world constraints with confidence.
Communicate decisions clearly and transparently
Explain outcomes and trade-offs in a way that builds understanding and trust.
Deliver stronger, more credible policy outcomes
Develop policy that is informed, defensible and able to stand up to scrutiny.
Learning outcomes
Participants will explore how to:
- Apply engagement principles across the policy lifecycle
- Identify when and how engagement should occur
- Strengthen stakeholder and community input into decision-making
- Balance technical expertise with community perspectives
- Design more transparent and inclusive policy processes
- Improve trust, communication and implementation outcomes
- Respond more effectively to complex and contested policy environments
Who is this course for?
This course is designed for policy professionals and advisers working across all levels of government (no prior engagement training is required):
Policy professionals shaping decisions
For those developing or contributing to policy, legislation or regulatory reform across all levels of government.
Advisers navigating complex environments
For professionals providing strategic advice on policy issues involving multiple stakeholders, competing priorities and public scrutiny.
Practitioners integrating engagement into policy
For those responsible for embedding engagement into policy processes to support more informed, transparent and credible outcomes.
About the Trainer
Ellen Samuels is Executive Manager and Director of Communication Link and Link Learning, with over 20 years’ experience in communication, engagement, program evaluation and education management. She has worked across complex policy engagement projects including voluntary assisted dying legislation, planning system reform, heritage management reform and energy sector transition. Ellen is passionate about accessible, equitable and authentic engagement practice.
