For PR firms and communications units in organizations, hiring new talent into the workforce is crucial to keeping up with emerging technologies that are changing the industry. Unfortunately, Australia is currently undergoing a talent and skills shortage. According to the National Skills Commission’s Internet Vacancy Index, there was an 82% increase in job vacancies for PR professionals between January 2020 and April 2022. This is partly due to the rising demand from corporate Australia, non-profit, and government sectors.
Employers need to look at the growing pool of talent from Australia’s universities to try and solve this skills shortage. While it may seem like bringing fresh grads up to speed can cost a lot in terms of training, their unique and tech-savvy perspectives will be instrumental in growing the future PR role.
Insights into the importance of scrutinizing candidates’ backgrounds are in our article titled “Eight great tips to help you recruit the best new team members.” Doing this will clarify their previous work experience and where your candidates may have studied.
Fortunately, Australia has many prestigious universities offering PR courses, which means you can access qualified PR talent for your workforce — as long as you know where to look.
Top Australian universities with the best PR courses
Below, we’ll look at some of the top universities in Australia that have the best PR courses:
Monash University
Monash University in Melbourne offers an excellent media communication program where students can specialize in public relations. Monash grads specializing in PR are especially well-read in public relations and communication theories, with experience managing organizational issues and crafting crisis management plans.
Monash University ranks 44th globally and 2nd in education quality in Australia. Founded in 1958, the university is home to major research facilities such as the Monash Science Technology Research and Innovation Precinct (STRIP) and 100 other research centers. Based on student feedback in the student-founded online document sharing platform Studocu, Monash is ranked as one of Australia’s best universities overall.
Studocu lists over 17,000 documents relevant to the Monash student community, including lecture notes and mandatory course assignments, showcasing the rigorous training the university provides. With a population of over 6,000 students, Monash University ranks highly in reputation, facilities, safety, and diversity among over 11,000 universities listed.
RMIT University
The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) was founded in 1887. What once began as a night school has become one of Australia’s best-known institutes. It currently ranks 4th among Australia’s universities for its communication and media studies and 40th globally for the same course. RMIT grads in Bachelor of Communication (Public Relations) are equipped with the necessary skills for an increasingly globalized and technology-driven world of public relations.
Students are trained in writing techniques, media and stakeholder relations, and strategy and industry research, developing problem-solving and creativity skills throughout the course. In 2022, the Bachelor of Communication (Public Relations) course was awarded Silver for Public Relations Program of the Year in the Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA) Golden Target Awards.
Queensland University of Technology
Founded in 1989, the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) ranks in the world’s top 200 universities and is home to more than 40,000 students, offering more than 400 courses and extensive research programs. Students can specialize in public relations in courses such as the Bachelor of Communication qualification. QUT grads in public relations are taught to create and plan campaigns, using advertising and strategic public relations to effectively communicate and engage with employees, customers, communities, and governments.
QUT also actively partners with creative agencies to provide a transformative educational experience and research for students. QUT prides itself on delivering real-world education. Working with relevant companies ensures students are equipped with cutting-edge creative and digital thinking to strive in the future workforce.
Great sources of potential PR talent
These are only some of the top universities in Australia that offer the best PR courses — and, subsequently — the best PR talent potential for media and communications employers looking for fresh hires. For more insights on professional development in communication careers and business management, read our other posts at Cutting Edge PR.
Kim J. Harrison has authored, edited, coordinated, produced and published the material in the articles and ebooks on this website. He brings his experience in professional communication and business management to provide helpful insights to readers around the world. His wide-ranging career includes roles as a corporate affairs manager, consultant, author, lecturer and business manager. Kim has received several international media relations awards and a website award. He has been quoted in The New York Times and various other news media, and has held elected positions with his State and National PR Institutes.
