1. CONSIDERATIONS AND STRATEGIES FOR MANAGING PUBLIC COMMENT Speaking Wisely:

2. Acknowledgements I acknowledge we are on Aboriginal land, traditionally the home of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation. Redfern Legal Centre acknowledges all the people who contributed to the publication – it would not have been achieved without them.

3. Disclaimers We are not media specialists so this publication is not the final word on any particular situation. It is collection of prompts, outlines and strategies to put you on notice and manage risk but not to answer every question. It is because we are not media specialists that we developed the publication – we also needed a tool - more about this later.

4. How “Speaking Wisely” came about As we have heard today, using the media wisely but loudly can be very effective. Redfern Legal Centre has in the last few years renewed its own commitment to driving systemic change and using public comment as an important tool of doing so Risk management is also an item that many of you from community legal centres will appreciate is a NACLC accreditation issue.

5. How does a risk manager manage risk Achievable policies and procedures Training for staff Record keeping Vigilance Having a knowledge oneself of the risk issues. As the risk manager for Redfern Legal Centre, with a rejuvenated public comment commitment and new forms of media springing up, I saw a need for checklists, guides, handy information, and more.

6. Existing resources were scattered With due respect to good resources, eg Arts/ Law Centre and Law and Justice Foundation of NSW websites, information was scattered and/or patchy. None of it was gathered in single source with useful tools for checking off risk or keeping records. We started pulling together bits of information and started throwing them into a kit for our own use. From that we have arrived at the publication today – if it was of use to us than it is likely that it will be of use to you and perhaps other community advocates.

7. What ‘Speaking Wisely’ provides The kit provides:  An overview of why you need a policy and questions you can use to develop one that works for you.  Checklists for areas of risk such as defamation, breaching copyright, unlawful discrimination, publishing information about child victims, protecting legal professional privilege, and contempt of court. Copy and use as needed.  A summary of the law behind the checklists.  Some illustrative case references and sample scenarios.

9. More about the kit ‘How to’ guides in discussion or checklist form for:  Planning your media strategy for any particular issue  Organising events such as a launch of a report  Media releases including a pro forma  Facebook, Twitter, Blogs and RSS

10. How to I get a copy We only have some samples printed off for you to look at today. Please do not take them away. I (may) have a copy on a laptop for anyone who would like to browse more closely during the next break. Otherwise it will be on our website www.rlc.org.auwww.rlc.org.au It is designed to be printed off, in part or whole, in black and white. The risk management checklists are repeated in a booklet at the end of the document for easy copying and use.

11. A work in progress on our website Feedback is welcomed. Our apologies to anyone who feels we may have not adequately acknowledged them as a source. If you have corrections to suggest please let us know - we want this to be a useful and accurate resource. The website version will be a basic pdf. If anyone needs it in another format please contact us on info@rlc.org.au

12. Conclusion Thanks again to all the PLTs, colleagues and pro bono help in getting this to publication The aim of the publication is not to scare you but to allow you feel confident you are on solid ground and well prepared:  to drive forward with strong public comment in search of social justice outcomes,  While keeping your organisation’s brand high and insurance premiums low.

13. Finally Redfern Legal Centre hereby formally launches ‘Speaking Wisely: considerations and strategies for managing public comment.” Elizabeth Morley, Principal Solicitor, Redfern Legal Centre www.rlc.org.au info@rlc.org.au Facebook Twitter