Facilitation Skills Training

Build your team's confidence to lead better conversations.

Great meetings don’t just happen, they’re guided.

Create and Evaluate’s Facilitation Skills Training helps teams develop the confidence, awareness and practical tools to lead discussions that achieve results.

Designed for staff who regularly work with groups, committees or community stakeholders, our training blends facilitation theory with hands-on practice to create lasting skills and confidence.

We design tailored training programs and 1 on 1 coaching sessions that build internal facilitation capability within your organisation. Each training session is tailored to your team’s experience, goals and challenges, and delivered by facilitators who model the same principles they teach.

Training modules include:

Facilitation basics – beginner or refresher.
Structuring sessions and choosing activities for maximum engagement and outcomes.
Managing group dynamics and navigating difficult conversations.
Understanding individual facilitation styles and strengths.
Balancing presentation and facilitation skills.
Encouraging participation and managing Q&A with confidence.

Our network of specialist trainers can cover:

Engaging respectfully with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander audiences.
Managing nerves and building confidence in public speaking.
Understanding team dynamics through organisational psychology.

Programs are delivered in-person or online, with flexible session lengths to suit your team’s schedule and learning style.

Client testimonials

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 Collins, Community Planning and Development Manager at City of Moreton Bay

Renée designed and delivered a six-month training program in presentation and facilitation skills for over 25 participants. Renée’s training was perfect for our division and her relaxed training style really hit the mark for the team. The high attendance rate and 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, Qld Government Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers

Renée provided training in online facilitation skills for over 20 participants from our department and partner organisations. All participants rated Renee highly, and feedback 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 Bryce, Senior Communications Officer (Agribusiness) at Qld Government Department of Primary Industries

“This is the best presentation training I have ever done. It’s practical, useful, and I can put it all into practice.”
“I now feel much more confident about facilitating discussions and handling potentially tricky situations.”
“The training really strengthened my confidence in structuring sessions that are engaging, clear and outcome focused, to directly support our program delivery.”
Facilitation skills training participants

Our facilitation skills training is trusted by

Experience

Create and Evaluate has worked with government departments, universities and community organisations across Queensland to strengthen staff capability in facilitation and engagement.

Our training is consistently praised for being practical, confidence-building, and directly applicable to real workplace settings.

Our track record in facilitation skills training includes:

Building skills and confidence to deliver engaging presentations and facilitate effective discussions.

Supporting First Nations workers to facilitate groups in mental health, alcohol and other drugs (MHAOD)

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers from our Principal Consultant Renée Madsen:

Do I need to be a 'natural leader' or an extrovert to be a good facilitator?

Not at all. Facilitation is a set of learned techniques – planning and preparation, deep listening, staying neutral – not a personality trait. Good facilitators come in all styles. In our training, we’ll talk about the importance of being yourself when you facilitate, understanding your own individual facilitation style, and making it work for you and the group you’re facilitating.

Is this training for beginners or people with some experience in facilitating?

This training can be adapted for all levels of experience. Having more experienced people in the room with less experienced people can encourage peer learning and build a ‘community of practice’ that will last long after the training session is over. If needed, the training can also be delivered in two parts: ‘foundational learning’ for beginners and ‘building your toolkit’ for more experienced facilitators.

Is this training focused on theory, or will I get to practice?

You’ll get plenty of opportunities for hands-on practice to apply what you’re learning, with the type of practice tailored to what your group is comfortable with. This could include practical exercises, small group discussions, sharing experiences and yarning, trying out facilitation techniques, or role plays if they suit the group, all done within a supportive and safe training environment.

Will you teach us how to handle difficult situations or conflict in the room?

Absolutely. We’ll talk about things you can do before the difficult situation even happens, possible drivers of difficult behaviours, dealing with conflict and hostility, and getting back on track when people are dominating the conversation or going off-topic.

You may be interested in my blogs on managing conflict in groups and dealing with someone someone dominating the meeting.

What materials or resources do we receive in the training?

You’ll receive a handbook to keep that includes everything we covered in the training, plus one-page ‘cheat sheets’ you can use to refresh your memory when preparing to facilitate, or take with you to your next facilitation session.

Have more questions? Visit our full FAQ page or contact Renée.