Generative AI Skills for Government Masterclass
Generative AI is reshaping how government works – but being AI ready means more than awareness. Most public sector professionals have had little structured guidance on how to use it confidently, safely, and to real effect.
This practical masterclass is designed for government professionals who want to move beyond awareness and build genuine capability, regardless of the generative AI platform you use. Delivered by an expert facilitator across two focused half-days, it covers how generative AI works, how to use it well through effective prompting, and – critically – where it falls short and what that means for responsible use in a government context. Participants then apply what they have learned directly in the tools they already use every day: Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
This Masterclass is an honest, practical program grounded in the realities of public sector work, including the governance obligations, accountability expectations, and risk considerations that matter when you are working in government. Participants leave with skills they can apply immediately, judgment they can rely on, and confidence to engage with AI as a genuine tool for better, faster, more effective work.
Key learnings
Build a strong foundational understanding of what generative AI is, how it works at a conceptual level, and where it sits in the current technology landscape
Apply effective prompt engineering techniques to get consistent, useful outputs from AI tools
Identify the key limitations of generative AI, including hallucinations, bias, and accuracy risks, and apply appropriate judgement when using AI-generated content
Navigate the governance, ethical, and responsible use considerations relevant to AI use in a government context for better judgement
Use generative AI to enhance productivity in everyday workflows across Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook
Evaluate AI opportunities and risks within your own organisational context and contribute informed perspectives to agency-level AI adoption conversations
Julie Wilson
Senior Trainer, Minerra Analytics
With a proven track record in consulting, business analysis, Agile coaching, and organisational design, Julie brings a rare blend of technical literacy, human‑centred thinking, and operational pragmatism. Her AI work focuses on helping teams move beyond experimentation into meaningful adoption, building capability, reshaping workflows, and designing governance that is safe, scalable, and genuinely empowering.
Julie is known for demystifying AI in a way that resonates with executives, practitioners, and specialists alike. She teaches people how to think with AI, not just use it. Her frameworks for AI‑supported analysis, decision‑making, and story elaboration have become core components of her consulting practice and her training delivery.
As a Consultant Trainer, Julie equips learners across Agile, product ownership, and business analysis with the skills to integrate AI into their day‑to‑day work. Participants consistently describe her sessions as energising, practical, and transformative, the kind of learning that changes how they work the very next day.
Julie Wilson
Julie is a transformation strategist who helps organisations unlock the real power of artificial intelligence by making it practical, human, and immediately usable. She has become a trusted guide for leaders navigating the shift from traditional ways of working to AI‑enabled, people‑powered organisations.
With a proven track record in consulting, business analysis, Agile coaching, and organisational design, Julie brings a rare blend of technical literacy, human‑centred thinking, and operational pragmatism. Her AI work focuses on helping teams move beyond experimentation into meaningful adoption, building capability, reshaping workflows, and designing governance that is safe, scalable, and genuinely empowering.
Julie is known for demystifying AI in a way that resonates with executives, practitioners, and specialists alike. She teaches people how to think with AI, not just use it. Her frameworks for AI‑supported analysis, decision‑making, and story elaboration have become core components of her consulting practice and her training delivery.
As a Consultant Trainer, Julie equips learners across Agile, product ownership, and business analysis with the skills to integrate AI into their day‑to‑day work. Participants consistently describe her sessions as energising, practical, and transformative, the kind of learning that changes how they work the very next day.
Julie’s recent work includes designing AI‑augmented business analysis pipelines, building organisational AI governance models, coaching leaders on responsible adoption, and developing hands‑on training experiences that blend human expertise with AI capability. Her philosophy is simple: AI should elevate people, not replace them, and every organisation can become more capable, more creative, and more human when technology is used well.
Whether she is facilitating a strategic workshop, coaching a leadership team, or teaching emerging practitioners, Julie brings clarity, warmth, and a deep commitment to helping people thrive in an AI‑accelerated world.
Your event experience
Practical skills, not just theory: Participants will apply AI tools to real tasks during the session and leave with techniques they can use the next day, not just conceptual knowledge
Balanced, government-relevant content: The program covers both the opportunity and the risk, giving participants the confidence to act and the judgment to act wisely, with governance and accountability considerations woven throughout
A supported first step: Self-directed activities mean participants apply their new skills to something relevant to their own role, with facilitator support, making the learning personal and immediately transferable
Anyone in the public sector with an interest in building gen AI capability, including but not limited to:
- Policy & program professionals
- Project & coordination roles
- Administrative & executive support
- Data, research & analysis functions
- Finance & procurement officers
- Regulatory & compliance roles
- Senior advisors & team leaders
- Directors & assistant directors seeking team capability uplift
Agenda
Online Masterclass with 2 Half-Day sessions | 9:30am – 12:30pm AEST
Module One: Foundations of Generative AI
Opening remarks & introductions
- Facilitator welcome and program overview
- Participant introductions and context-setting
- Ground rules for the day
Introduction to Generative AI
- What generative AI is and how it works: an accessible, non-technical overview
- The current landscape: key tools, capabilities, and where the technology is heading
- How Gen AI differs from earlier forms of AI and automation
- What this means for government work and the public sector workforce
Break
Getting Started with AI Tools: Prompt Engineering in Practice
- Introduction to commonly used generative AI tools
- The fundamentals of effective prompting: clarity, context, and iteration
- Prompt structures that work: roles, instructions, examples, and constraints
- Common prompting mistakes and how to avoid them
- Live demonstration and guided practice: participants try prompting techniques in real time
Understanding the Limitations of Generative AI
- Hallucinations: what they are, why they happen, and how to detect them
- Accuracy, bias, and the risk of over-reliance
- Governance considerations for AI use in government: policy, accountability, and transparency
- Responsible use principles: what good practice looks like in a public sector context
- Group discussion: where does AI help, and where should caution apply?
Reflection, Q&A & close of Module One
- Key takeaways from the morning
- Open Q&A with facilitator
- Preview of Module 2
Close of Module One
Module Two: Applying AI in Practice
Opening remarks & recap
- Recap of Module 1 key concepts
- Questions arising since Module 1
- Overview of Module 2 objectives
Practical Applications of Generative AI: Word, Excel & Outlook
- How AI can support writing, editing, summarising and drafting in Microsoft Word
- Using AI to work with data, formulae and analysis in Microsoft Excel
- Applying AI to email drafting, summarisation and scheduling in Microsoft Outlook
- Hands-on exercises: participants work through practical examples in each application
- Productivity patterns: building AI into everyday workflow rather than using it ad hoc
Break
How Generative AI Can Assist Your Organisation
- AI use cases and opportunities relevant to government agencies
- From efficiency gains to improved decision-making: where the evidence is strongest
- Practical considerations for AI adoption in your team or agency
- Group Discussion: participants share their own context – what opportunities and barriers do they see?
- What good AI governance looks like at the agency level
Individual Activity: Apply Your Skills
- Participants choose a task relevant to their own role and apply the skills and tools covered across both sessions
- Facilitated support available throughout
- Structured reflection: what worked, what to refine, what to try next
- Optional share-back: participants invited to share insights with the group
Wrap-up, Action Planning & Close
- Key takeaways from across both sessions
- Personal action planning: one thing to try, one thing to investigate, one thing to share
- Resources and next steps
- Final Q&A and facilitator close
Close of Module Two & Close of Masterclass
Pricing
Save until 10 July
+GST
Early bird pricing
Save $400
Save until 7 August
+GST
Early bird pricing
Save $200
Save until 4 September
Early bird pricing
Save $100
Standard pricing after early bird
+GST
Price after early bird savings
Bring your colleagues and save with a group discount | Groups of 5+ attendees save 10% Groups of 10+ attendees save 20%
Highly detailed hands-on learning which helps build confidence and knowledge”
Kelly Lockwood
Learning Technology Officer, Australian Antarctic Division, March 2026, Using PowerBI to Communicate Effectively with Data
I have attended a few Hatchery courses and have found them all very high quality, engaging and beneficial to my learning and development.”
Jodie Tennant
Assistant Director, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, May 2026, Introduction to Data Skills
Simple and easy to follow with engaging content with outstanding facilitators. Highly recommend.”
Bronagh Rooney
Administration Officer, Queensland Corrective Services, December 2025, Excel Foundations for Government
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