Content Templates & Examples

Three complete, annotated templates with real content. Each example shows the raw Markdown source, explains the structural choices, and flags conventions from the Style Guide. Copy the source, replace the placeholders, and publish.

Example 1: Briefing Note

A concise executive briefing on a government relations scenario. Ideal for pre-meeting preparation, rapid analysis, and client updates.

Front Matter

---
title: SA State Budget 2026-27 — Health Portfolio Analysis
status: draft
date: 2026-06-20
author: [Your Name]
reviewer: [Reviewer Name]
category: Government Relations
subcategory: State Budget
content_type: Briefing Note
difficulty: Intermediate
excerpt: Analysis of the 2026-27 SA State Budget health portfolio allocations, implications for healthcare-sector clients, and recommended engagement strategies.
tags_list:
  - sa-budget
  - health
  - government-relations
  - briefing
table_of_contents: true
---

Body

## Executive Summary

The 2026-27 SA State Budget allocates $8.2 billion to the health portfolio — a 4.7% increase on the previous year. Key areas of relevance to healthcare-sector clients include expanded telehealth funding, aged-care infrastructure grants, and the ongoing Health Performance Council reform agenda. This briefing identifies the three most significant budget measures, assesses stakeholder sentiment, and recommends engagement priorities.

> [!note] Purpose
> This briefing is designed for a 10-minute pre-meeting read. If you need detailed financial modelling, request the full Research Report.

## Key Budget Measures

### 1. Telehealth Expansion — $47M over 4 years

The government has committed $47 million to expand telehealth services beyond metropolitan Adelaide into regional and remote communities. This creates immediate procurement opportunities for digital health platforms, remote monitoring devices, and virtual care workforce solutions.

**Implications for clients:**
- RFPs expected Q3 2026 for telehealth platform providers
- Preference for interoperable solutions aligned with My Health Record
- Regional deployment targets require local partnership structures

### 2. Aged-Care Infrastructure Fund — $210M

A new $210 million capital works fund targets aged-care facility upgrades, including a mandatory transition to smart-building standards by 2028.

**Implications for clients:**
- Construction, facilities management, and health-tech sectors directly affected
- Smart-building standard creates compliance pathway for technology providers
- Competitive grant process — applications open August 2026

### 3. Health Performance Council Reform

The HPC's remit has been expanded to include private-sector service delivery performance — a significant regulatory shift.

**Implications for clients:**
- New reporting requirements for private healthcare providers
- Potential reputational exposure from public benchmarking
- Opportunity to engage early and shape reporting methodology

## Stakeholder Sentiment

| Stakeholder | Position | Priority |
|------------|----------|----------|
| SA Health | Supportive — driving the telehealth expansion directly | High |
| Opposition | Cautious — questioning aged-care funding adequacy | Medium |
| AMA (SA) | Supportive of telehealth; neutral on HPC reform | Medium |
| Aged Care Providers Association | Strongly supportive of infrastructure fund | High |
| Private Hospitals Association | Concerned about HPC benchmarking scope | High |

## Recommended Engagement

1. **Immediate (next 2 weeks):** Brief telehealth-sector clients on the $47M allocation and upcoming RFP timeline. Prepare capability statements aligned with My Health Record interoperability requirements.

2. **Short-term (next month):** Register client interest in the aged-care infrastructure grant program. Begin pre-application consultations with SA Health's capital works division.

3. **Medium-term (Q3 2026):** Develop a submission to the HPC's expanded methodology consultation. Position clients as constructive participants in the performance benchmarking framework.

## Key Contacts

- **SA Health — Capital Works Division:** Director, Infrastructure Grants
- **Department of Premier and Cabinet:** Health Policy Unit
- **HPC Secretariat:** Consultation inbox (submissions due September 2026)

> [!note] Source
> Budget figures sourced from the SA Government Budget Paper 3, released 19 June 2026. All allocations are confirmed. Stakeholder positions are based on public statements and direct engagement.

Structural Notes

• Executive Summary first — Busy readers may only read this section. Make it count.
• One measure per subsection — Each budget measure gets its own H2, making the TOC useful for navigation
• Implications as bullet lists — Scannable, action-oriented, client-focused
• Stakeholder table — Visual summary. Use tables only when comparing parallel data points
• Recommended Engagement with timeframes — The most valuable section for clients. Be specific and actionable.

→ See the full walkthrough in Write Your First Article

Example 2: Research Report

An in-depth analysis with methodology, data, and strategic conclusions. Ideal for polling analysis, sector research, and commissioned studies.

Front Matter

---
title: SA State Polling — April 2026 Trend Analysis
status: draft
date: 2026-05-02
author: [Your Name]
reviewer: [Reviewer Name]
category: Polling & Research
subcategory: State Polling
content_type: Research Report
difficulty: Advanced
excerpt: Analysis of South Australian state voting intention trends from the April 2026 DemosAU poll, including primary vote shifts, TPP projections, and demographic breakdowns.
tags_list:
  - polling
  - sa-politics
  - voting-intention
  - demosau
  - research
featured: true
table_of_contents: true
---

Body

## Abstract

This report analyses voting intention data from the DemosAU South Australian state poll conducted 22-25 April 2026 (n=1,247, margin of error ±2.8%). It identifies a 3.2-point swing toward the opposition since January 2026, examines demographic drivers, and assesses implications for clients engaged in government-facing sectors.

> [!info] Methodology
> Data collected via IVR and SMS-to-web methodology. Weighted by age, gender, education, and 2022 vote recall. Full methodology statement available from DemosAU.

## Key Findings

### Two-Party Preferred

| Party | April 2026 | January 2026 | Change |
|-------|-----------|-------------|--------|
| Labor | 52.4% | 54.1% | -1.7 |
| Liberal | 47.6% | 45.9% | +1.7 |

The narrowing margin reflects softening Labor support among regional voters (down 4.1 points since January) and Liberal gains in the 35-54 age demographic (up 5.8 points).

### Primary Votes

| Party | April 2026 | Change (since Jan) |
|-------|-----------|-------------------|
| Labor | 38.1% | -2.3 |
| Liberal | 35.4% | +1.8 |
| Greens | 11.2% | +0.4 |
| SA-BEST | 8.3% | +0.8 |
| Other | 7.0% | -0.7 |

### Demographic Breakdown

The most significant movement occurred in two demographic segments:

**Regional voters (outside Greater Adelaide):**
- Labor primary vote declined from 42.7% to 38.6% (-4.1)
- Liberal primary vote increased from 33.1% to 36.8% (+3.7)
- Cost of living cited as the dominant concern (47% of respondents)

**Aged 35-54 (households with children):**
- Liberal primary vote increased from 31.2% to 37.0% (+5.8)
- Education and health ranked as top-two issues
- This demographic showed the highest "undecided" rate in January (12%), suggesting recent conversion of previously uncommitted voters

## Strategic Implications

### For Government Relations Clients

The narrowing margin creates a more competitive policy environment. The government may accelerate pre-election spending announcements. Clients should:

1. **Prepare for both outcomes** — A change of government is now within the margin of error
2. **Engage the opposition** — Build relationships with shadow ministers whose portfolios align with client interests
3. **Monitor regional sentiment** — The regional swing is the most significant trend in this dataset

### For Market Entry Clients

Political uncertainty traditionally slows procurement decisions. The next 12 months may see:

1. **Accelerated approvals** as the government seeks to demonstrate delivery
2. **Increased scrutiny** of contracts awarded to non-SA-headquartered companies
3. **Policy continuity risk** — Opposition commitments may diverge from current government programs

## Demographic Deep-Dive: Regional Swing

The 4.1-point drop in regional Labor support is concentrated in three electorates:

| Electorate | Margin (2022) | Current Projection | Status |
|-----------|-------------|-------------------|--------|
| Finniss | LIB 1.2% | LIB 4.8% | Safe |
| Hammond | LIB 6.7% | LIB 9.1% | Safe |
| MacKillop | LIB 12.3% | LIB 14.2% | Safe |
| Mount Gambier | IND 0.7% | ALP 0.3% | Marginal → |

Note: these are all safe Liberal or independent-held seats — the regional swing is not translating into seat changes. However, it indicates a broader sentiment shift that may affect federal voting intention.

## Recommendations

1. **Commission follow-up qualitative research** — Focus groups in regional SA to understand the drivers behind the swing. Cost of living is the stated concern, but underlying factors may include service access and infrastructure perceptions.

2. **Prepare dual-track engagement strategies** — Clients with government contracts should develop relationship plans for both potential post-election scenarios.

3. **Monitor the 35-54 demographic** — This cohort swung significantly and may continue to move. Track their issue salience in subsequent polls.

4. **Brief federal-facing clients** — The state trend may signal broader electoral volatility. South Australia has historically been a bellwether for national sentiment shifts.

> [!note] Next Poll
> The next DemosAU SA state poll is scheduled for July 2026. Subscribe to the Ace Strategies polling digest for the latest data.

> [!warning] Limitations
> Single-poll analysis should not be treated as a trend. These findings represent one data point. Confidence increases with repeated measurements showing consistent direction. MOE of ±2.8% means some sub-group movements (particularly the Greens and SA-BEST primary shifts) are within the error margin.

Structural Notes

• Abstract — One paragraph summarising the entire report. Write last.
• Key Findings → Strategic Implications — Data first, then what it means. Don't mix analysis with findings.
• Demographic Deep-Dive as a separate section — The most interesting finding gets its own H2. Not every data point deserves equal treatment.
• Numbered recommendations — Actionable, prioritised, assigned to a timeframe or trigger event.
• Limitations section — Essential for research credibility. Always acknowledge methodological constraints.

Example 3: Case Study

A structured narrative documenting a client engagement — the challenge, approach, and outcome. Ideal for internal knowledge sharing, capability demonstrations, and proposal support.

Front Matter

---
title: Case Study — Aspen Medical Government Relations Engagement
status: draft
date: 2026-03-15
author: [Your Name]
reviewer: [Reviewer Name]
category: Government Relations
subcategory: Health Sector
content_type: Case Study
difficulty: Intermediate
excerpt: How Ace Strategies helped Aspen Medical strengthen its SA government relationships, align with health priorities, and position for procurement opportunities through an integrated government relations and communications strategy.
tags_list:
  - case-study
  - health
  - government-relations
  - procurement
  - sa-government
featured_image: /assets/repository/images/uploads/img-case-aspen.png
image_alt: Aspen Medical engagement team meeting
table_of_contents: true
---

Body

## Client Overview

Aspen Medical is a global provider of healthcare solutions, headquartered in Australia, with operations across defence, government, and commercial health sectors. The company sought to strengthen its position in the South Australian market, where it had limited government relationships and no active procurement pipeline.

**Client:** Aspen Medical
**Sector:** Healthcare services and solutions
**Engagement Period:** January 2025 — December 2025 (12 months)

> [!note] Anonymisation
> This case study is published with client consent. For confidential engagements, use the anonymised format: describe the sector and challenge without naming the client.

## The Challenge

Aspen Medical faced three interconnected barriers to SA market growth:

1. **Limited government awareness** — Key decision-makers in SA Health and the Department of Premier and Cabinet had no direct experience with Aspen Medical's capabilities
2. **No procurement footprint** — The company had not bid for SA government health contracts, and its tender track record was concentrated in Commonwealth and NSW markets
3. **Competitive incumbency** — Established providers held long-term contracts with SA Health, creating a perception of a closed market

The client's objective was to establish Aspen Medical as a credible, known, and preferred provider within 18 months — measured by meeting attendance with senior SA Health officials, inclusion in procurement invitation lists, and ultimately, contract awards.

## The Approach

Ace Strategies designed a three-phase government relations and communications program:

### Phase 1: Landscape Analysis & Positioning (Jan-Mar 2025)

- Mapped all SA Health decision-makers, including Secretary, Deputy Secretaries, and relevant program directors
- Analysed 18 months of SA Health procurement announcements to identify patterns in contract awards, supplier selection, and evaluation criteria
- Developed a capability narrative aligned with SA Health's stated priorities: regional service delivery, digital health transformation, and workforce sustainability
- Created a stakeholder matrix prioritising officials by influence, accessibility, and alignment with Aspen Medical's service portfolio

### Phase 2: Strategic Engagement (Apr-Sep 2025)

- Secured and prepared briefings for 14 meetings with SA Health officials, including the Secretary and three Deputy Secretaries
- Hosted a capability showcase attended by 22 government representatives, demonstrating Aspen Medical's telehealth platform and regional service model
- Drafted and placed three thought-leadership articles in sector publications addressing SA health challenges — establishing Aspen Medical as a constructive voice in the policy conversation
- Coordinated a site visit for SA Health officials to Aspen Medical's Canberra operations centre

### Phase 3: Procurement Activation (Oct-Dec 2025)

- Monitored SA Tenders and Contracts portal daily, flagging relevant opportunities within 24 hours of publication
- Prepared capability statements tailored to three specific RFPs, each aligned with evaluation criteria identified in Phase 1
- Provided real-time strategic advice during the tender response period — including clarifications on SA government procurement preferences and unwritten evaluation norms
- Managed post-submission engagement: follow-up meetings, additional information requests, and presentation coaching

## The Outcome

By December 2025, Aspen Medical had achieved:

| Metric | Baseline (Jan 2025) | Result (Dec 2025) |
|--------|-------------------|-------------------|
| Senior official relationships | 0 direct contacts | 14 officials engaged across 4 agencies |
| Procurement invitations | 0 active bid opportunities | Shortlisted for 3 tenders |
| Contract awards | 0 SA government contracts | 1 contract awarded ($2.4M telehealth pilot) |
| Pipeline value | $0 | $18M across 5 active opportunities |
| Media presence (SA) | 0 mentions | 3 thought-leadership articles, 1 news feature |

> [!success] Client Quote
> "Ace Strategies helped us to strengthen our relationship with the South Australian Government and raise awareness of our health sector solutions." — Andrew Parnell, Executive General Manager, Aspen Medical

## Lessons Learned

### What Worked

1. **Capability-first positioning** — Framing Aspen Medical as a solution to SA Health's stated priorities (rather than as a company seeking contracts) opened doors that cold outreach could not
2. **The showcase format** — A single event demonstrating capability to 22 officials was more effective than 22 individual meetings. Officials valued the efficiency, and peer presence created momentum
3. **Real-time procurement intelligence** — The daily tender monitoring identified an opportunity that closed within 14 days. The pre-prepared capability statement allowed Aspen Medical to submit a competitive response within the window

### What Could Be Improved

1. **Earlier procurement team integration** — Aspen Medical's tendering team was brought in at Phase 3. Earlier involvement (Phase 2) would have allowed capability statements to be refined against live procurement documentation
2. **Regional stakeholder mapping** — The engagement focused on Adelaide-based officials. Given SA Health's regional service delivery priority, earlier engagement with regional health networks would have strengthened the narrative
3. **Success metrics definition** — Agreeing quantitative success metrics at the engagement outset would have enabled more precise progress reporting to the client

## Applicability

This engagement model is replicable for:

- Healthcare-sector clients entering any Australian state market
- Companies with strong Commonwealth or interstate track records seeking to establish state-level government relationships
- Sectors where government procurement is the primary revenue pathway (defence, infrastructure, technology, workforce services)

> [!tip] Adapting for Your Client
> The three-phase structure (Landscape → Engagement → Activation) transfers to any government-facing sector. Customise the specific tactics (media, events, procurement monitoring) based on the client's industry and the target government's procurement culture.

Structural Notes

• Challenge → Approach → Outcome — The classic case study arc. Don't deviate.
• Quantified outcomes — The results table is the most powerful element. Always include baseline and result metrics.
• Lessons Learned — What worked + what could be improved = credibility. Perfection is suspicious.
• Client quote — A direct testimonial anchors the case study in reality. Use the quote callout style.
• Applicability section — Shows this isn't a one-off. Other clients can see themselves in the narrative.

Template Quick-Start

To create an article from any template:

1. Open the CMS at /admin/ and select Knowledge Base
2. Click "New Knowledge Base"
3. Copy the front matter block from the example above, paste it into the CMS front matter fields (or switch to raw Markdown view and paste everything)
4. Replace [Your Name] and [Reviewer Name] with real names
5. Copy the body content and paste into the body editor
6. Replace all scenario-specific content (names, dates, figures, quotes) with your own
7. Set status: draft
8. Save and begin editing

Next Steps

• Need formatting conventions? → Style Guide
• Unsure about a field? → Glossary
• Ready to publish? → Review & Publish Workflow