The Public Speaking Lab: Public Speaking Practice in Sydney
Public speaking that gets results
Build confidence through regular public speaking practice, practical exercises and personalised feedback.
The Speaking Lab is for people who want more opportunities to actually speak in front of others, experiment with different techniques and become more confident, engaging communicators.
You do not need to be an experienced public speaker. Sessions are practical, supportive and designed to get you on your feet.
Public Speaking Lab Location: Surry Hills, near Central Station
Price: Early Bird $240 · Standard $295 · Last-Minute $345
2026 Dates: 19 November
2027 Dates: 16 January, 27 March, 29 May, 31 July, 18 September, 13 November
For exact times, venue details and current availability, visit the course booking page here.
Practise Public Speaking With An Expert
Public speaking improves through practice.
The Speaking Lab gives you regular opportunities to speak in front of other people, receive useful feedback and work on the areas you want to improve.
Sessions can include:
Presentations and speeches
Impromptu speaking
Storytelling
Body language and stage presence
Vocal delivery
Audience connection
Confidence under pressure
Speaking clearly and naturally
The emphasis is on doing rather than sitting through another lecture about public speaking.
What Happens at The Speaking Lab?
Each session includes practical speaking exercises, individual speaking challenges and opportunities for feedback.
You might practise a short presentation, tell a story, respond to an unexpected question or experiment with different ways of delivering the same material.
Exercises change between sessions, so you can attend regularly and continue working on different parts of your communication.
Who Is The Speaking Lab For?
The Speaking Lab is suitable for people who want to:
Become more confident speaking in front of groups
Practise presentations before delivering them at work
Improve stage presence and body language
Become more engaging and natural when speaking
Get better at thinking on their feet
Receive feedback on their communication
Practise speaking regularly in a supportive environment
You can attend whether you are relatively new to public speaking or already speak regularly and want more practice.
How We Teach Public Speaking
Our training is practical rather than theoretical.
You’ll spend time speaking, trying different techniques and receiving useful feedback, rather than simply listening to someone talk about public speaking.
The focus is on real situations: presenting to a room, speaking in meetings, responding under pressure, telling stories, holding attention and communicating ideas clearly.
Our goal is to help you become a more confident, engaging and natural communicator — without turning you into a rehearsed or overly polished presenter.
Learn with Dave Crisante
The Speaking Lab was created by Dave Crisante, founder of The Speaking Lab and The Sydney Comedy School.
Dave is an award-winning comedian, former ABC and SBS journalist, former political speechwriter and communication trainer who has trained thousands of people in public speaking, comedy and communication.
His training focuses on confidence, stage presence, storytelling, audience connection and the practical behaviours that make someone more engaging when they speak.
Learn from Dave Crisante
All public speaking courses are designed by Dave Crisante.
Dave is an award-winning comedian, founder of The Sydney Comedy School and The Speaking Lab, and a former ABC and SBS journalist.
He has trained thousands of professionals, researchers and leaders to become more confident communicators, and has delivered workshops for organisations including Microsoft, Canva, LinkedIn, CSIRO, Adobe and Black Dog Institute. Public Speaking Course Sydney _…
Drawing on a career spanning journalism, speechwriting, comedy and corporate communication, Dave specialises in helping people become more confident, engaging and influential when they speak.
What Students Say
“I went to one of the Speaking Lab sessions and it was amazing to have a safe place to practise our public speaking and learn from others. I'm super interested on attending more sessions since it's a different topic every time.”
— Daniela Rendón“Had a fantastic public speaking session with Dave, it wasn’t scary at all, he was extremely welcoming and the environment was very supportive, we had a lovely group.”
— Eleanor Ford“Great public speaking course with host Dave. Plenty of useful theory and repetition of practice. Recommend to anyone looking to build speaking skills and/or confidence.”
— Sam
Other Ways to Improve Your Public Speaking
Looking for regular practice? Join The Speaking Lab.
Prefer personalised support? Book 1:1 Public Speaking Coaching.
Looking for public speaking and communication training for your team? Explore our Corporate Workshops.
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