Public Relations Courses

Public relations is a career path that will never go out of style. Companies in all industries employ people in public relations and with prevalence of social media, it’s more important than ever that businesses are connected with and accountable to their customers. During a typical day, you could be creating social media posts, writing a press release, meeting with industry contacts, and organising a news story for broadcast.

The number of jobs in public relations is set to grow strongly in the coming years, with the average Public Relations Officer earning $85,000 p.a. in Australia. Enquire about a PR course to see how you can join this lucrative profession.

Career Outcomes

Through completing a Public Relations course, you can find employment in the following roles:

• Marketing Manager
• Public Relations Manager
• Product Manager
• Direct Marketing Officer
• Public Relations Officer
• Digital Marketing Coordinator
• Social Media Manager
• Content Marketing Manager

Types of Courses

Certificate:

If you want to gain introductory knowledge related to all things Marketing and Public Relations, a Certificate level qualification may be perfect for you. These nationally recognised qualifications, usually have no formal entry requirements – so they’re perfect if you currently don’t have any existing qualifications or experience in this area.

Diploma:

A Diploma will go further than a certificate and explore more topics in greater detail. This will better prepare you for the workforce, enhancing your skills and knowledge in all areas of Public Relations. Depending on the course you choose, you can also learn about social media marketing, branding, and marketing communications.

Degree:

A Bachelor Degree is typically a three-year course when studied on a full-time basis. A qualification at this level will cover all areas of Public Relations in great detail to ensure you graduate completely job ready. Once you complete your degree, you can either start applying for jobs immediately or complete a postgraduate qualification to increase your opportunities.

Postgraduate:

A Postgraduate course is usually completed after a Bachelor Degree, or when an individual has sufficient experience in a chosen area. The purpose of this type of course, is to gain specialised knowledge in a certain area. During this course, you won’t cover any of the basics or fundamentals as it’s assumed you’ll already have this knowledge.

Complete Your Course Online or In-class

There are many courses to choose from in this subject area, so depending on the course you select, you’ll be able to study either online or in-class. Online delivery is perfect if you need complete flexibility when studying, as this mode allows you to study when and where you like – without the constant pressure of deadlines. Alternatively, in-class is more suitable for hands-on learners who would thrive in a more structured environment.

Job Outlook – Public Relations Professionals

• The median annual salary (before tax) for a full-time employee is $91,443
• The average age of a PR professional is 34
• A Bachelor Degree is the most common level of educational attainment, with 64.9% of people holding this level of qualification.
• Females account for 73% of all workers.

Important skills for a PR Professional:

The five most valuable skills for this profession as listed on the Australian Governments’ Job Outlook website are speaking, active listening, critical thinking, reading comprehension and writing.