Get Elected

The ultimate guide for candidates

by Ruth McGowan

To date, there has been a lack of easily available information on how to campaign for the three levels of government across Australia. Information is hard to find and although there are play-books written for candidates in the major parties, this is often tightly guarded as ‘secret political-party business’. So, Ruth decided to write Get Elected, the first national book on ‘how to campaign’ which presents a step-by-step guide to winning public office at a local, state or federal level.

Get Elected draws on research and successful case studies such as the Indi campaign and other state, local and federal campaigns. The practical tips come from Ruth’s own experiences as a trainer for workshops and courses on ‘how to run your campaign’ as well as her work as a Candidate-Coach.

Cathy McGowan launched the guide on April 4th 2019, in Parliament House, Canberra with the call to action ‘Don’t get mad – get elected!’

“To the many people who feel disillusioned and disappointed about the state of politics and find it hard to imagine a way forward, this guide is for you. In Get Elected, Ruth unpacks a step-by-step ‘recipe book’ of what it takes to plan, run and win a successful campaign for candidates and for the people who will help them succeed” Cathy McGowan MP

Get Elected is divided into four parts which take the reader through the decision-making, planning and running stages of a campaign and ends with a consideration of ‘what next?’ The useful advice, tips and checklists provide a practical and easy-to-read guide which makes Get Elected accessible for anyone considering public office. For large or small scale campaigns, the principles are similar, and the guide provides advice on how to scale up or down a campaign depending on the size of the office the candidate is attempting to win.

Ruth’s book is available for free download from her website.