Advocacy for Local Government — Making Your Voice Count

When the Stakes Are High, Communication Is Everything

Local government is unlike any other environment I work in.

Elected members, mayors, shire presidents, CEOs, and senior staff operate at the intersection of community expectation, political reality, and governance obligation — often simultaneously, and usually under public scrutiny. The ability to communicate with clarity, confidence, and credibility isn’t a nice-to-have in this environment.

It’s mission critical.

Whether you’re presenting a budget recommendation to council, fronting a community consultation meeting, advocating for your shire’s needs to state government, or simply trying to get a contentious motion across the line — how you communicate determines whether you succeed.

What Is Advocacy in a Local Government Context?

Advocacy is the art of presenting a case so compellingly that the right people take the right action.

In local government, that might mean securing state or federal funding for critical infrastructure. It might mean persuading a divided council to support a long-term community plan. It might mean a community development officer building genuine trust with residents who’ve never felt heard before.

The common thread? Every one of those outcomes depends on someone standing up and communicating with conviction, credibility, and skill.

That’s what this program develops.

Who This Program Is For

This program is designed specifically for the local government environment and the people who operate within it — elected members including mayors and shire presidents, chief executive officers, senior staff and directors, community development officers, and any staff member whose role requires them to communicate, consult, or advocate on behalf of their organisation or community.

You don’t need to be a senior leader to benefit. If your role involves people — and in local government, every role does — this program has something for you.

What You’ll Develop

Good advocacy isn’t just about being a confident speaker. It’s about understanding your audience, structuring your message, managing the room, and knowing how to handle the moments when things don’t go to plan.

In this program you’ll develop the skills to present your case clearly and persuasively to any audience, structure arguments that build to a compelling conclusion, use meeting procedure to your advantage — not against you, handle difficult questions and hostile environments with composure, read a room and adapt your communication style accordingly, and build the kind of credibility that makes people lean in when you speak.

Why Local Government Is Different

I’ve trained people from virtually every sector — corporate, government, mining, health, education, sport, and community organisations. Local government has its own distinct culture, its own procedural framework, and its own unique pressures.

Elected members aren’t employees. CEOs serve both their council and their community. Community development officers often work with people who are vulnerable, frustrated, or simply unheard. The advocacy skills required in this environment need to be nuanced, flexible, and grounded in genuine understanding of how local government actually works.

That’s exactly what I bring. With qualifications in Business Law, Corporate Governance, and Company Directorship — and over 35 years working with councils, boards, and community organisations across Australia — I understand the terrain you’re navigating.

The Walk Tall Difference

My tagline is “The short guy who helps you Walk Tall.”

In local government, walking tall means showing up to the hard conversations with the skills and confidence to make a difference. It means your community, your council, and your colleagues knowing that when you stand up to speak — it’s worth listening.

That’s what this program delivers.

To find out more about advocacy training get in touch directly.