"...an indispensible book...excellent practical guide to the art of effective oral communication"

from the Foreword by Malcolm Hazell CVO AM, former Official Secretary to the Governor-General

The central idea underpinning this speechwriting guide for government is that a speaking event is a human interaction between the speaker and the audience members rather than a one-way transfer of information.

So this guide provides practical guidance on the craft of speechwriting with emphasis on supporting the speaker and engaging with audiences.

Approaches and techniques to support the speaker are outlined in Chapters 3 and 4, and ways to engage the audience are explored in Chapters 5 and 6.

Chapter 1 provides a general context for preparing government speeches in Australia, while Chapter 2 details the speech preparation process and techniques to deliver speech drafts of an acceptable quality on time.

Overall, the guide supports novice or experienced speechwriters in:

• understanding the negative perceptions some Australian audiences have regarding government speakers and using this to prepare better speeches
• engaging the audience at the start and building interest so audience members are receptive to the key messages presented later
• preparing speeches that persuade and influence
• reflecting the audience’s mood, expectations, knowledge, values and concerns, without diminishing the speaker’s honesty or credibility
• adjusting the language of government so it is meaningful to the audience * adjusting speeches to suit specific categories of government speakers
• helping the speaker to leave a positive and memorable impression
• writing for the voice (speaker) and the ear (audience)
• identifying themes, structures, tone, messages and content for the speech which assist in the preparation and in audience engagement
• understanding the use and preparation of speaking notes and full speeches
• varying the style and content for different events such as a keynote or policy address, after-dinner speech or a fundraiser for charity
• addressing technical topics in ways which engage the audience.

The guidance presented here has been honed through the preparation of more than 1000 speeches. It includes feedback from training courses to ensure the guide covers the concerns of first time speechwriters.

In releasing this guide to government-related speechwriting, I want to share my knowledge of this craft and my passion for communication excellence to support the reader to make good choices and enjoy preparing speeches.

James Groves