Introduction to behavioural science
Every day, the people we work with make decisions that are quick, habitual, and often invisible—even to themselves. Introduction to behavioural science is a practical half-day online workshop that helps us understand those decisions and design small, ethical “nudges” that make it easier for people to take the actions we are encouraging. Drawing on key behavioural principles such as reciprocity, scarcity, authority, commitment, liking, and social proof, we explore how to move beyond information-heavy approaches and support real behaviour change in our projects.
Is this course for you?
- Work in agriculture, natural resource management, or related sectors and want to support more consistent, lasting practice change?
- Find that simply providing more information is not enough to shift behaviour?
- Design programs, policies, or communications and want them to be more engaging and effective?
- Want a clear, practical introduction to behavioural science that we can apply immediately in our everyday work?
Why enrol?
- Learn the essentials of behavioural economics, including System 1 and System 2 thinking, and why people do not always respond to facts alone.
- Explore six core influence principles—reciprocity, scarcity, authority, commitment, liking, and social proof—and what they mean for enabling change in practice.
- See real examples (such as road safety campaigns, workplace safety programs, and water-use initiatives) that show how small design changes can shift behaviour.
- Work through a structured case study in small groups so we can practise choosing a target behaviour, defining our audience, and designing practical interventions.
- Leave with ideas we can trial straight away in our own projects, communications, and advisory work.
What you'll achieve
Across the three-hour session, we move through focused segments that build a clear, usable understanding of behavioural science in action:
- Introduction to behavioural economics, including fast and slow thinking, loss aversion, and why information alone rarely shifts behaviour.
- Reciprocity and scarcity, and how small gestures or limited-availability cues can increase engagement.
- Authority and commitment, showing how credible messengers and simple commitments improve follow-through.
- Liking and social proof, highlighting how connection and “what others like you are doing” influence decisions.
- Practical rules for running behavioural projects, including forming the right team and gathering useful data.
- Applied group case study work to identify a target behaviour, audience, data needs, and a testable intervention.
By the end of this course, you will have a clear introduction to behavioural science, a shared language to talk about behavioural principles with colleagues and stakeholders, and a set of concrete ideas you can adapt and test in your own work.
Who you will learn from
Dr John James is deeply passionate about enabling change and fostering innovation. With a wealth of experience, he specialises in helping organisations enhance the skills and capabilities of their teams in all aspects of extension and adoption. As an Adjunct Associate Professor with The University of Queensland, John brings a practical, hands-on approach to his work, bridging the gap between theory and real-world application. John is a keen supporter of the Australasia-Pacific Extension Network (APEN), having been a past President, the convenor for two international conferences, and is an APEN Life Member.
James West is an experienced consultant with 15 years’ experience applying behavioural economics solutions for clients around the world. He trained with academic and author Professor Robert Cialdini, and his insights were included in the New York Times bestselling book The small big. James brings a rich set of case studies from sectors such as utilities, finance, health, and government, and is passionate about translating behavioural science into practical tools for everyday project work.
Course details
- Format: Half-day online workshop.
- Date: TBA
- Time: TBA
- Investment: A$350 ex GST per participant.
Turn good intentions into real behaviour change
Take the next step in designing projects and communications that recognise how people really think and decide. Enrol now to gain the tools and confidence to apply behavioural science in our work, support better decisions, and enable real, measurable change.
Register your interest!
FAQs
What is the Introduction to behavioural science workshop about?
This half-day online workshop provides a practical introduction to behavioural economics and influence principles, tailored for those working in agriculture, natural resource management, and related sectors. We explore why traditional information-based approaches are often not enough, and how we can use simple, ethical nudges to support better decisions and behaviours.
Who is this workshop for?
This course is ideal for farm advisors, extension practitioners, program and project managers, researchers, policy staff, and others who design or deliver initiatives aimed at changing behaviour—whether that is on-farm practice, workplace safety, participation in programs, or environmental actions.
Is it only for people in Australia?
No, this course is open to anyone, no matter their location or nationality. While we expect most participants will be located across Australia, we’re looking forward to people from New Zealand and other countries joining in. We’ve scheduled the live sessions at 11:30 am AEDT to accommodate as many time zones as possible.
Can I register multiple people from my organisation at once?
Yes. Simply list all the participants’ names and email addresses in the appropriate fields of the registration form, and then provide the name and email address of the person making the booking in the final comments field, and the tax invoice will be sent to them.
Are places limited?
Yes. To make the workshop engaging and worthwhile, participant numbers are capped. This ensures plenty of opportunity for discussion and interaction with the trainers.
How is the workshop delivered?
The session is delivered live via Zoom. You’ll take part in interactive discussions and activities, with practical examples you can apply immediately in your work.
Do I need any special software or account?
No special software or account is required. You’ll receive a Zoom link by email before the workshop—just click to join. Please check beforehand that you have the latest version of Zoom installed on your computer.
What is the cost?
The registration fee is A$350 ex GST.
How can I pay?
We prefer payment by bank transfer, as this avoids processing costs. However, for your convenience, you can also pay by credit card (Visa, Mastercard, or American Express) through our secure Stripe payment gateway.
Are there any extra fees?
Only when paying by credit card, as Stripe charges a small processing fee that is automatically added to your total. For Australian cards, this is 1.7% + A$0.30 (inc GST). For international cards, this is 3.5% + A$0.30 (ex GST). These charges are passed on at cost so that we receive the full workshop or course amount. The total payable is displayed clearly before you confirm payment.
Why do you pass on Stripe fees?
As a small business, we prefer to keep our standard prices as low as possible and only recover processing costs from those choosing to pay by card. Paying by bank transfer avoids these fees entirely.
Is my payment secure?
Yes. All card payments are encrypted and processed securely by Stripe, a PCI-compliant global payment provider. We do not store or have access to your credit-card details.
How do I register?
Click the link below to secure your spot.
What if I can’t attend at that date and time?
If the scheduled date for this course doesn’t suit you, simply add your details to this form and we’ll let you know when the course is next offered.
Are refunds available?
We offer refunds up to seven days before the course date; after that point, refunds aren’t available. If something comes up within those final seven days, another person from your organisation is welcome to attend in your place at no additional cost. To arrange this, just email us the full name, role, and contact details of the substitute attendee and we’ll update the registration.
If you have any other questions, feel free to email us: info@enablersofchange.com.au. We’re here to help!