The Australian Professional Speakers Academy

If you are just starting out as a Professional Speaker or aspire to be one, The Australian Professional Speakers Academy is the perfect vehicle for you. You will learn all about how to become a success in the speaking profession and business from some of NSAA's leading lights.

Download SpeakersAcademy_Brochure_2012.pdf

A Brief Overview of Academy

Key Objectives:

• To provide delegates with the skills and strategies for success as proven by those who have succeeded

• To become a pathway of excellence for associates, members, professional members and non-members of NSAA

• To provide aspiring speakers with a credible fast track to success in this business

• To thoroughly address the six key areas of professional speaking

• To inspire participants to grow through strategic relationships formed as a result of attending and graduating from the Speakers Academy

• To raise the standards of the professional speaking industry

• To further grow the industry that attracts and books our NSAA members

Synopsis of the Speakers Academy:

The purpose of the Australian Professional Speakers Academy is to provide a structured learning program centred on the essential knowledge, skills and strategies necessary for long-term success in the speaking profession in Australia. The program will provide participants with a strategic pathway that can advance their professional speaking given individual efforts and commitment over time.

It is divided into six modules:
Topic Development – What will you speak about?  In what areas are you or will you seek to become an expert?
Authorship & Product Development – How will you package your expertise and/or intellectual property and make it available to your market?
Sales & Marketing – How will you market and sell your product(s)?
Your Business Model –What is the best business model for you to achieve your goals?
The Speaking Profession – What do you need to know about the speaking industry and what it takes to operate as a professional in this industry.
The Speaking Craft – What you need to master to command the attention of today’s audiences.

Australian Professional Speakers Academy 

Program Design & Structure

This program is being continually modified and refined to reflect changing industry trends and to offer greater flexibility to participants.   The reviews of Academy from participants continue to be glowing. For example: “Without Academy, I probably would have got to where I am now but I reckon it would have taken me three times as long and I would have made twice the number of mistakes with ten times the heartaches.” “Applying the lessons I learned in Academy, I get paid well and sleep at nights. I don’t have to worry where my next business is coming from. That’s the bottom line of what it’s done for me!” The main benefits of Academy for the participants are:

• Industry-specific knowledge not available anywhere else.

• Access to professional speakers willing to share their expertise and experience.

• The opportunity to network with other speakers on similar learning paths.

The Academy model works this way:

• On paying their registration, participants will receive the pre-reading.

• They will be able to attend and participate in Academy Webinars.  These will be conducted by experienced speakers on specific modules.  There will be a minimum of one webinar per module per year; but there will be more if required.  Previous webinars which have been recorded can be accessed by registrants.

• Once they have attended at least one webinar on each module participants are eligible to attend a Graduation Day.  Graduation Days will be offered to meet demand in each capital city. They will be held at a central venue with catering provided conducted by one (or two) experienced speakers.  At this day, each graduate will introduce themselves to the group with a short description of how they are addressing each area of their development as a speaker. They will receive their Academy Certificate at this event.  The Graduation Days may also include Forum Training.

Strategy:

The Australian Professional Speakers Academy is one of several deliberate and planned national strategies of the NSAA Board to help build NSAA as an organisation of stature.
The success of academy graduates will be a positive impact  across much of our industry.  It will take NSAA a step closer to becoming the centre of excellence we desire that will cater for all level of experience.
The Australian Professional Speakers Academy is a registered business name in all states in which NSAA operates and has a trademark pending.

Academy Feedback

Here are just two of the many testimonials we have received from participants

“I have gained so much knowledge in the past few months that I do openly admit to feeling quite spoilt!
I have had a fantastic foundation laid through attending the National Speakers Association of Australia "Speakers Academy" in Brisbane last June 09. The generosity and ongoing availability of key NSAA leaders as mentors, industry advisors and encouragers has been a true blessing as I embarked on this fresh 'start up' enterprise. The growth in my business, and confidence, can be attributed largely to my initial and ongoing participation with the NSAA. The Speakers Academy I believe is unique in its content and affordability and the very nature of the integrity and generosity of the facilitators.
A special thanks to all involved with the Queensland Chapter for creating such a meaningful, comprehensive forum for emerging speakers. I consider it a privilege to endorse Speakers Academy.”
Tarran Deane, Gold Coast, Qld

“There is no better way to fast track your speaking success. Speakers Academy was a critical step in my growth as a speaker. I give it my highest recommendation – it will save you incredible amounts of time, money and energy as you learn from some of Australia’s best speakers. In a word, it is awesome!”
Blake Beattie, Sydney, NSW

Academy FAQ

I’d like to become a speaker, but I haven’t been paid to speak yet  Is it too early for me to attend?

If you are serious about becoming a professional speaker, the sooner you know what’s required the better.  That way, you’ll know where you currently stand and what you need to do to reach the necessary level of expertise.  Some speakers do Academy very early in their journey to being a speaker, then do it again after some time speaking (and are encouraged to do this with a discounted  graduate rate).