Persuasion for Policymakers
Understand how to persuade and influence government decision-makers and stakeholders.
2 November 2026
$1990.00 (inc GST)
What you will learn
Gain contemporary skills and knowledge for your job now.
The ability to persuade and influence is an essential skill for policymakers and public managers. Whether it’s presenting advice to a senior decision-maker, influencing a group in a meeting or convincing colleagues to support an initiative, the ability to persuade is pivotal to effective public leadership.
This micro-credential will arm you with the skills you need to persuade and communicate effectively. You will be introduced to the latest thinking in the fields of social psychology, communication, and the art of rhetoric.
It is ideal for professionals working in or with governments, including NGO's, who are seeking a greater understanding of the theoretical concepts and practical strategies needed to craft persuasive communication.
Explore the foundations of persuasion and examine critical skills needed for effective communication
Study core elements of the communication process, including storytelling, and learn to apply 'sticky principles' to your work to effectively communicate your ideas.
Gain tools to better understand the art of rhetoric
Analyse classic rhetorical frameworks and explore their relevance to contemporary policymaking and public management. Assess and compare case studies that demonstrate effective use of rhetorical techniques.
Examine how power, influence, and authority shape decision making in government
Compare and contrast power and influence, and use established theoretical models such as the six sources of influence to build rapport and trust. Examine the seven bases of power to unpack how personal power differs from positional power.
Understand the importance of narrative and storytelling to governance
Draw on key concepts, including the pyramid principle, to structure arguments and write persuasive public policy stories. Learn to develop narrative storyboards that will help you plan your communication techniques.
Analyse and present a real-world example of persuasion in public policy
Use the techniques you've learned in this course to present an example of persuasion in public policy or government. You'll deliver a thoughtful analysis that demonstrates a strong understanding of the art of persuasion.
This micro-credential is offered by the Melbourne School of Government. Sign up to the School’s monthly e-news for course, research and event updates.
Please view the video below to learn more about this course.
Who you will learn from
Learn from skilled academics and professional experts who will share invaluable knowledge you can use in your job.
Hamish Park
Teaching Specialist
Hamish Park is a Senior Fellow at Melbourne Law School, Director of Melbourne Leadership Group, and a Board Director at Monash Health. With a 25-year management consulting career, he spent over a decade inside the Victorian State Government, serving three premiers in senior advisory and Chief of Staff roles. He holds a Master’s in Management from Harvard University and Commerce and Arts degrees from the University of Melbourne. He is a certified leadership coach and accredited DISC practitioner.
More from this series
Take multiple courses to deepen your knowledge or stack towards a full degree.
The Craft of Government series
Designed by leading experts from the Melbourne School of Government, this series of micro-credentials will equip you with the analytical skills needed to understand the complexities of public management. You'll enhance your ability to think and plan strategically, develop your knowledge of public policymaking, and learn to work confidently with governments to solve society's most pressing challenges.
Explore more from the Craft of Government series:
- Government Budget Essentials (Micro-credential)
Fees
For individuals
To take Persuasion for Policymakers as a stand-alone Melbourne MicroCert, you'll pay the normal course price.
$1990.00 (inc GST)
Please contact Student Support to discuss discounts and payment options for University of Melbourne staff or alumni, or to pay by invoice.
For teams
If you have three or more team members who are keen to upskill with Persuasion for Policymakers, get in touch to discuss pricing. For large groups, we can also deliver and contextualise this course exclusively for your organisation.
Dates
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Course details
This micro-credential is ideal for professionals in the public, not-for-profit and NGO sectors, or those in the private sector who work with governments, and are seeking to develop capability in this core management skillset.
There are no formal eligibility requirements to enrol in this course, but it is recommended you have either an undergraduate degree or at least three years of professional experience in a relevant field (such as policy design/development, program implementation, management, evaluation, or corporate services).
This micro-credential has been developed by the Melbourne School of Government in consultation with industry and government partners, to ensure it responds to the real-world needs of the sector.
Learning has been designed to match the leadership and capability frameworks of the Australian and Victorian Public Services.
This course will equip you with a deeper understanding of key rhetorical devices, different modes of persuasion, and psychological tactics needed to successfully influence public policy in the complex world of government.
By the end of this micro-credential, you'll be confident in:
- Crafting persuasive communication, such as policy briefs, submissions and presentations
- Using storytelling to make ideas and proposals more memorable
- Influencing and achieving buy-in on policy and projects from decision-makers and stakeholders.
This 6-week course is designed for working professionals. Our fully online self-guided learning gives you the freedom to learn when it suits you.
Every week you'll have 2.5 hours of guided learning. Our interactive multimedia approach includes readings, expert interviews, podcasts and videos, guided reflections, and interactive exercises. There is a focus on applied learning and 3 x live masterclasses will develop your hands-on skills.
Here's what Persuasion for Policymakers will cover.
Week 1: An introduction to persuasion
Week 2: The art of rhetoric
Week 3: Power and influence
Week 4: Storytelling in government
2 assessment tasks (due in week 2 and week 6)
Your total time commitment will be approximately 42 hours.