Public Relations in Melbourne

Australian Public Relations is based in Southbank, on the edge of the CBD, so meetings in Melbourne happen face to face, at our office or at yours. We work with organisations that need clear, careful communication: an announcement handled properly, a difficult story answered accurately, or a reputation that reflects the work behind it.

Our office is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, and we reply to every enquiry within one business day.

Melbourne’s economy is broad, and so is the communication work it generates. We work with professional services firms, universities and research bodies, health and community service providers, cultural, sporting and events organisations, property and construction businesses, manufacturers, industry associations, not-for-profits and local government.

What these organisations share is that their reputation affects their next decision: a tender, a funding round, a planning approval, a new hire or a partnership. Public relations here is less about attention for its own sake and more about being understood correctly by the people who matter.

Communication in Victoria runs alongside a set of state laws and frameworks that shape what can be said, when and by whom. The ones that most often touch our work include:

• Defamation Act 2005 (Vic). Victoria adopted the 2021 national defamation reforms, including the serious harm element. Where a story may be defamatory, we work alongside your lawyers before responding publicly.
• Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic). Serious workplace incidents carry notification duties to WorkSafe Victoria, and public statements must not get ahead of them.
• Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic). Communications with Victorian government bodies may later be released, which is worth remembering when anything is put in writing.
• Local Government Act 2020 (Vic). Victorian councils must maintain a community engagement policy, which shapes how projects involving councils are consulted on and communicated.
• Victoria’s lobbyist register and code of conduct. Where a matter involves representations to state ministers or officials on a client’s behalf, these rules may apply, and we discuss that with you before any work begins.

Melbourne has its own daily mastheads, broadcast newsrooms, a strong community and suburban press, and a large network of trade and industry titles. The city’s news agenda often differs from Sydney’s, and a story that is local here may be national news elsewhere, or the reverse. We plan announcements with that in mind and choose the outlets that reach the audience you actually need.

In Melbourne we work in person wherever it helps: planning sessions, briefings with your executive team, media training at your premises or ours, and support on the day of a major announcement. Day-to-day contact runs by phone, email and video, so the work keeps moving between meetings.

All our services are available in Melbourne, including media relations, crisis communications, media training in Melbourne and stakeholder and community engagement for Victorian projects.

Jim Oliver, Consulting Partner. Jim is a public relations adviser with extensive experience in media and communications. He helps businesses, organisations and individuals shape their story, manage their reputation and communicate clearly with the media and the people who matter to them, whether the goal is building a profile or handling a difficult moment. Read Jim’s profile.

We also work with clients in Canberra and Sydney, as well as Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart and Darwin.

Make a confidential enquiry