Southbank, MelbourneCanberraSydney
Public Relations Agency Melbourne, Canberra & Sydney
Australian Public Relations is a public relations agency based in Southbank, Melbourne, handling media relations, reputation and crisis communications for clients in Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney.
Jim Oliver, Consulting PartnerPublic relations adviser with extensive experience in media and communications
We reply within one business day.
Public relations work where every sentence counts
We concentrate on the parts of public relations where a careless line costs the most: what is said to journalists, what is said in a difficult week, and what your stakeholders remember afterwards.
Each engagement is scoped to the problem in front of you rather than sold as a package. Some clients need a single announcement handled well. Others want a steady adviser across a year of media, issues and stakeholder work. See the full list on our public relations services page.
- 01Media relationsAnnouncements, media releases, briefings and interview requests, handled with newsroom deadlines in mind.
- 02Reputation managementA clear view of how you are seen, and a plan to close the gap between perception and practice.
- 03Crisis communicationsHolding statements, spokesperson support and a steady rhythm of updates when something has gone wrong.
- 04Corporate communicationsAnnouncements to staff, boards, investors and partners, from restructures to results.
- 05Issues managementSeeing an issue before it becomes a headline, and deciding whether, when and how to respond.
- 06Media trainingPractical interview preparation for executives and spokespeople, on camera, on radio and in print.
- 07Stakeholder and community engagementConsultation that gives people a genuine say and leaves a clear record of what was heard.
- 08Content and thought leadershipOpinion pieces, speeches and articles that put your expertise on the record under your own name.
How an engagement works
Public relations goes wrong when nobody agrees what success looks like. We settle that first, in writing.
You approve every word that goes out under your name, and you always know who is speaking to which journalist and why.
A confidential conversation
Tell us what is happening and what you need. We listen, ask questions and say plainly whether we are the right fit.
A written scope
We set out the objective, the audiences, the work involved, the timeframe and the fee before anything starts.
The work
We prepare the messages, materials and media approaches, brief your spokespeople and manage the contact with journalists.
Review
We report on what ran, what moved and what we would change, so your next decision is better informed.
Who you work with
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.
Where we work
Our office is in Southbank, Melbourne. We work with clients in person and remotely in each of these cities.
Melbourne
Office: 117A Queensbridge Street, Southbank VIC 3006
Face-to-face planning, media training and briefings across the CBD and suburbs. Public relations in Melbourne
Canberra
Serving clients in the ACT
Communications where Parliament, agencies and national bodies set the pace. Public relations in Canberra
Sydney
Serving clients in New South Wales
Media and reputation work in the country’s largest media market. Public relations in Sydney
We also work with clients in Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart and Darwin, meeting by video or travelling when the work calls for it.
Free guide and template
What Does a PR Agency Do?
Jim Oliver explains what a public relations agency actually does day to day, how PR differs from marketing, how fees are usually structured and how to judge whether the work is paying off.
Media release template
A one-page structure for a media release that journalists can use: headline, dateline, lead paragraph, quote, boilerplate and media contact, with notes on each part.
Questions about public relations
Short answers to the questions we hear most. The full guide goes further.
What does a PR agency do?
A PR agency manages how an organisation communicates with the media, the public and the people it relies on. Typical work includes media relations, issues and crisis communications, corporate announcements, media training and stakeholder engagement. The aim is to earn attention and trust rather than pay for it.
How much does PR cost?
Cost depends on the scope, the timeframe and how much hands-on work is involved. Defined projects, such as a launch or a media training session, are usually quoted as a fixed fee, while ongoing work is often charged as a monthly retainer. We confirm the scope and fee in writing before any work begins.
What is the difference between PR and marketing?
Marketing promotes products and services to customers, usually through paid channels such as advertising. Public relations manages reputation and relationships with a wider group, including journalists, staff, investors, government and the community, and relies mainly on earned coverage and direct communication. The two work well together when their messages line up.
Can you help with crisis communications?
Yes. We help prepare holding statements, brief spokespeople, handle media enquiries and keep staff and stakeholders informed while a situation unfolds. We can also help you plan ahead, so the first hours of a crisis are not spent working out who says what.
Talk to us in confidence
Tell us what you are facing, whether it is an announcement next month or a journalist’s call this afternoon. Enquiries are treated in confidence and we reply within one business day.