To: Relevant Minister’s name, title
& Department
From: Your name
RE TITLE/SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS BRIEFING
PURPOSE
What are you hoping this briefing will
achieve? What outcome are you looking for? e.g. to provide information, to seek
approval, to implement a change
CRITICAL DEADLINE
/ / Not
all issues have an deadline. If your issue does, then you have to explain why.
SUMMARY OF ISSUES
This is where you make your main points/argument
– save context/background for the next section.
This section should be a logical
progression of ideas.
Use plain English and follow the
referencing conventions of this assessment Flinders University.
Use full sentences in dot points. Points
should be clear and concise.
Content in this section should be in
addition to, and not reiterate the information provided under Purpose above.
Any Issues/risks must be identified in
order or priority (i.e. political/sensitive/critical issues). Do the issues
impact on any other agency? Financial implications?
Are there any identified/significant
risks or issues or potential solutions for the Minister to note?
Provide a summary of each of the relevant issues the Minister may wish to consider in responding to the recommendations.
BACKGROUND
Outline any background that is directly
relevant to the recommendations or purpose of the brief. This background
information should focus on providing details which are critical to allowing
the Minister to be fully informed.
Background material should not duplicate
Summary of Issues, but provide background context only.
Additional or relevant, but indirect background information, should be provided in attachment form.
ATTACHMENT(S)
List relevant attachments that you will
add to the end of the briefing. Stat why they are relevant. e.g. reference list,
other document, letter response for the Minister to sign
ADVICE FROM OTHERS
List of names, position and
organisations for the people you have hypothetically consulted
These are likely people you have
referenced in the Summary of Issues and Background sections (e.g. Industry
Experts/Leaders, Academics, NGOs, other Gov Departments)
FUNDING COMMENT
Estimate the total costs or saving of
your initiative.
If there are no funding implications,
then put N/A.
Describe how you arrived at the figure (i.e.
resources required) and sources of funding (existing budget or additional funding)
RECOMMENDATION(S)
What you would like the Minister to do
with this information
Links directly to the purpose of the
briefing
Must be a logical action from the
information you have provided
Examples: The Minister…
approves the proposed project
approves the proposed expenditure…
approves the proposed revisions to the
social policy…
makes the attached statement to the
media in support of…
signs the attached letter to support…
IMPORTANT NOTES:
Do not exceed 2 pages. Anything beyond 2
pages will not be graded (Excluding references)
Delete all the red sections, maintain
the black formatting. Do not change the font size or the formatting.
Brevity is the key. Write in short
sentences that contain one idea.
REFERENCES
APA references as per style guide