This 3.5-hour face-to-face workshop, delivered by Enliven Victoria, introduces participants to the core principles of plain language—Relevant, Findable, Understandable, and Usable—aligned with international standards. Combining theory and hands-on application, the session provides practical tools to improve communication clarity and accessibility. Participants will edit real documents and leave with immediately applicable skills to enhance service delivery and community engagement. Suitable for up to 20 participants, the session is tailored to organisational needs and facilitated by two experienced trainers.

Purpose

This workshop is designed to build the capability of staff in clear, effective, and accessible communication. It introduces the principles and practice of plain language, with a focus on making information easier for people to find, understand, and use.

Participants will:

• Learn the four internationally recognised principles of plain language: Relevant, Findable, Understandable, and Usable
• Develop practical skills to convert technical or complex content into accessible language
• Strengthen communication quality across policies, programs, and public-facing materials

This training supports broader goals around improving health literacy, accessibility, and equity in service delivery.

Target Audience

This training is ideal for:

• Health promotion officers
• Project managers and program leads
• Communications professionals
• Staff involved in writing reports, policies, community education, or service information

The workshop is suitable for both beginners and those looking to sharpen or formalise their plain language practice.

Key Learning Topics

Participants will explore:

• Plain language principles aligned with ISO 24495
• Best practice techniques for structuring and simplifying content
• Real-world examples of how plain language improves audience engagement
• Application of skills through hands-on editing of relevant documents

Format

• Delivery Mode: Face-to-face
• Duration: 3.5 hours
• Facilitation: Delivered by 2 Enliven Victoria trainers, including Janneke Port and Tia Farrell

Dates

• Various dates

Facilitators

• Janneke Port and Tia Farrell, experienced trainers from Enliven Victoria, specialising in health literacy, plain language, and equity-centred communication. Their facilitation is grounded in practical experience and aligned with international standards.

Practical Application

The workshop is highly interactive:

• The first half introduces theory and best practice
• The second half focuses on applying skills to real documents, with participants working individually or in pairs to revise content using a plain language lens
• Participants receive a practical workbook for continued use

Benefits

Participants will:

• Improve clarity and accessibility of their written communications
• Gain confidence in applying plain language across a variety of formats
• Strengthen audience engagement and reduce barriers to information access
• Support SEPHU’s commitment to inclusive, equitable, and accessible service communication

Registration and Contact Information

• Maximum Participants: 20 per session

To book, please register here. For any other enquiries, please contact Ken Young, Consumer and Community Engagement Partnerships Lead at Kenneth.Young@monashhealth.org  or 0408 341 795.