Our services

Facilitation training

Are you an organisation looking for facilitation skills training for your staff?

Renée Madsen is a Certificate IV qualified trainer with a wealth of knowledge about facilitating groups of all kinds, from community forums to internal team meetings. Renée's facilitation training is unlike any that your staff have done before. Good facilitation comes from the heart, not only from the head. This training will give your team practical tools, phrases and insights to better understand their own style as a facilitator, and how to help a group to achieve its purpose. Examples of topics included in our training: - How to structure a session for maximum results and attendee engagement. - Managing group dynamics and difficult situations. - Own individual facilitation style and self-awareness as a facilitator.- Combining presentation skills with facilitation skills to manage audience Q&A and discussion. We have a network of specialist trainers who can cover: - Engaging respectfully with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander audiences. - Managing extreme nerves when public speaking. - Organisational psychology and theory behind team interactions. Training topics are tailored to your staff's work and existing skill levels. We'll work with you to design a program in-person or online that will engage your staff and create lasting results for your team and your organisation. Contact us to talk about your ideas for your team's facilitation training. Scroll down for testimonials from our training clients or read more about Renée's facilitation qualifications and experience.
Learn how to balance the juggling act that is good facilitation! Image: istock/Su Gopal
"Great facilitation is an art and Renée excels at it. Fantastic to work with Renée on upskilling 35 of our internal team at Moreton Bay Regional Council to achieve enhanced community outcomes. Such a great opportunity for a refresher in facilitating for an outcome. Short, sharp, really effective training."
Leila CollinsCommunity Planning and Development Manager, Moreton Bay Regional Council
"Renée designed and delivered a six-month training program in presentation and facilitation skills for over 25 participants from the Local Government Division of our state government department. Renée's training was perfect for our division. She demonstrated a thoughtful, enthusiastic and thorough approach to training delivery, and her relaxed training style really hit the mark for the team. It is hard to find someone to deliver training in a way that resonates with a diverse range of people from different seniority levels, and Renée excelled here. The high attendance rate at the training sessions and the very positive feedback from all participants showed how valuable Renee's teaching and coaching has been in building the knowledge and practical skills of our staff."
Claire van Wel Manager (Acting), Qld Government Department of State Development Infrastructure Local Government and Planning
"Renée provided training in online facilitation skills for over 20 participants from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) and partner organisations. Our staff are very experienced in face to face presenting, but the new world of virtual video conferencing requires a different set of skills. All participants rated Renée highly, and feedback from attendees showed that participants got a lot out of the training. Renée was able to deliver training to our specifications within a tight timeframe, and provided attendees with one on one mentoring sessions after the workshop, along with detailed workbooks and templates."
Isabel BryceSenior Communications Officer (Agribusiness), Qld Government Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
"This is the best presentation training I have ever done. It's practical, useful, and I can put it all into practice."
"Everyone should take this course. It was so informative and everyone would benefit from this in their role and improve their chances on bettering their career.”
“I can see the growth from the people that struggled with confidence improve greatly, due to the knowledge and practical skills they have been able to apply to their work from taking part in these sessions.”
Training participants, Local Government Division,Qld Government Department of State Development Infrastructure Local Government and Planning
"Renée was a great presenter - really straightforward with a lot of knowledge on the topic. The content was really relevant to my work situation and I can see how I can implement it in my workplace and evaluation practice." "I now feel much more confident about facilitating discussions and handling potentially tricky situations.” "Excellent use of Zoom and other tools to engage in an online context. Practical examples were modelled by Renée - e.g. good phrases and responses to use in a meeting.”
Training participants, Australian Evaluation Society (AES)
"Thanks for the inspiration, Renée. Such mature, inclusive facilitation training, full of real life examples you've experienced. You even 'fessed up to 'things you would do differently next time'. Such a warm, ego-free approach, helping us all understand each other's experience more, which will inform our teaming up on facilitation in Moreton Bay Region."
Gail PriceCommunity and Cultural Programs, Moreton Bay Regional Council

Facilitation skills training clients include

Facilitation skills for people who dominate the meeting

Ever wished you had one of these signs in a meeting? Read Renée's article on effective facilitation skills for people who dominate the conversation.

About the trainer

Renée Madsen is a freelance facilitator based in Townsville, North Queensland. Renée facilitates meetings with diverse stakeholders and individuals to draw out the group's collective knowledge, make better decisions, and create positive change. Renée facilitates all types of meetings, from stakeholder workshops and community consultation forums to Board meetings and team meetings. Renée's warm and inclusive facilitation style leaves people feeling heard and inspired while achieving results and maximising efficiency. Renée holds an Advanced Diploma of Group Facilitation – Australia’s highest accredited qualification in this field – and a Certificate in Engagement from the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2). Renée is also trained in complex agreement negotiation and creating safe discussions through trauma-informed practice.
Read more about Renée's facilitation skills and connect with her on LinkedIn.

Our facilitation skills training experience

  • Six-month online training program for almost 30 Local Government Division staff from Queensland Government Department of State Development Infrastructure Local Government and Planning (DSDILGP), to help them blend presentation skills with facilitation skills and engage audiences.
  • In-person training workshops for 35 community engagement staff at Moreton Bay Regional Council to refresh their skills in facilitating outcome-focused discussions.
  • Online training workshops for 25 program evaluation professionals as part of the Australian Evaluation Society's training program to upskill members of the evaluation profession in facilitating reflections meetings.
  • Online training workshops for over 20 staff members and partners of Queensland Government Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) to build their skills in facilitating more online meetings post-covid.
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