Fifty Acres, Author at Fifty Acres - Page 2 of 9

Training workshops – Victorian Election

Be prepared ahead of the 2026 state election in Victoria In the lead up to elections, it is important for your organisation to be aware of the players, identify your election ask, and consider how you can continue to engage post election. We have training workshops available to help your prepare, which can be customised. […]

Budget submission in? Time for socialising

With so many budget submissions lodged with federal and state governments each year, the difference between being considered or overlooked is socialisation. Meeting with Ministers, MPs and their advisers one on one to outline how your organisation can help the government to fulfil their policy objectives. Here’s our five top tips on how to […]

Arinex and Fifty Acres Unite to support Women Deliver Conference

One of Australia’s largest conference conveners, Arinex has joined with the nation’s leading engagement agency specialising in the not for profit sector, Fifty Acres to help deliver the global Women Deliver being hosted at Melbourne Convention Centre 27-30 April 2026. According to The Arinex Group CEO Maree Di Pasquale, they will provide the operational precision […]

Packages available to socialise your budget submission

Socialising your budget submission With so many budget submissions lodged with federal and state governments each year, the difference between being considered or overlooked is socialisation. Let us help you secure meetings with key targets, provide insights on the Parliamentarians or advisers you will meet with, and assist with follow ups. We have included packages […]

Strategic communications in 2026: What Has Changed — and What Still Works

Strategic communications in 2026 will look very different from last year. It is no longer just about pushing a message; it is about navigating systems and designing processes that listen, learn, and respond. The biggest shift of the past year is not just new platforms or formats, but how communication functions are being built around […]

Government Engagement Blog: Importance of lived experience – how to translate stories into policy action

Lived experience has become one of the most powerful currencies in government engagement. Ministers reference it in speeches. Departments seek it out in consultations. Parliamentary inquiries increasingly ask for it by name. However, lived experience on its own does not change policy. Stories move hearts, not systems. To create real impact, lived experience must be […]

Do you know who your stakeholders are?

Many make the fatal error of assuming who their stakeholders are, reaching out to the same stakeholders they have contacted since the organisation was established, or assuming how their stakeholders want to be contacted. With any communication strategies, in stakeholder engagement, it is important to regularly gain a realistic perspective of who your stakeholders […]

The untapped power of backbenchers: why they quietly shape government decisions

When organisations think about government engagement, the instinct is almost universal: aim high. Ministers. Shadow Ministers. Committee Chairs. The people with titles that sound decisive. However, much of the real influence in government doesn’t sit at the Cabinet table. It sits one row back. Often underestimated and frequently overlooked, backbenchers play a far more important […]

How to audit your communications in the new year

New-year planning often jumps straight to what’s next — new campaigns, new messaging and new priorities. What’s frequently missed is pausing to reflect on what worked in the last year, what didn’t, and how the world around us has changed. Before rolling into another year of activity, an audit provides clarity, confidence and a much […]

Proposed Parliamentary Sittings 2026

Please refer to the above for the proposed federal parliamentary sittings calendar for 2026, which has just been tabled this afternoon by the leader of the House of Representatives, Tony Burke. While it’s still technically subject to change, based on previous years, it is unlikely to be altered — so it’s a good early indicator […]

What Happens After You Hit ‘Submit’?

Understanding the pathway of pre-budget submissions For many organisations, lodging a pre-budget submission feels like the final step in a long process. In practice, it is only the starting point for a complex sequence of internal assessments across Treasury, departments and ministerial offices. Having a realistic sense of what happens next can help organisations design […]

Socialising your submission with the right stakeholders: How communications can support and amplify a budget submission after it’s been lodged

Every year, organisations across Australia pour enormous effort into preparing their federal budget submissions — gathering evidence, crafting recommendations, and aligning their proposals with government priorities. But once the submission is lodged, many assume the work is done. In reality, this is when the real communications effort begins. A well-crafted budget submission is only effective […]