About
Goldfinch Editing Services offers editing and proofreading for organisations who want to build stronger connections with their readers.
We have experience across the business, non-profit and government sectors in Australia, and the industry sector in the UK.
The Goldfinch mantra is simple: Clarity. Consistency. Creativity. Connection.
Who we are
The editor behind the little yellow bird is Justine Dixon Cooper AE (she/her), an accredited editor and specialist in plain English.
Justine's experience spans it all: from rewriting text to typesetting it. In the last 20 years, she has transformed all manner of business documents and digital products – from guides and codes of practice, to articles, reports, web pages and apps.
Her passion lies in the social justice arena, whether it be reworking contracts for people receiving care services or simplifying public reports so the recommendations can be more widely understood. Her constant aim: ensuring writers and readers alike can achieve their goals.
Justine is a professional member and board director for IPEd, the editing association for Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. She was also on the working party that updated the IPEd Standards for Editing Practice in 2024.
To learn more, please click through to her LinkedIn profile.
Goldfinch Editing Services is based in Australia but has worked with clients in countries around the world. Check out the map below (thanks to MapChart.net).
Why you might need an editor
Even the most experienced writers benefit from an editor reviewing their drafts. Check the acknowledgements of any bestselling novel and you're likely to find the author thanking the publishing team for their transformative input.
At the most basic level, we will catch the typos that your word processor isn't quite up to – a 'their' in place of a 'there', for example.
But beyond grammar and punctuation, we're also experts in using language for maximum impact. We know how to adjust your wording so your audience has the best chance of understanding your message and acting on it. We know when to leave a passive verb and when to fire it into the sun.
More broadly still, we can work wonders with structure and design. As the subject matter expert, you might have been writing the same type of [report / letter / contract] every week for years. But have you considered whether you could order and present the information more effectively?
Or are you stuck in the rut of convention? "We've always done it this way ..."
In the busy working week, you may not have the time to stop and think about the way you're communicating. So let us step in and give you a hand.
With our help, your text will be shorter, clearer and more polished. And we might just show you a new approach that will save you time when you're next writing.
What people say about us
We don't like to – ahem – crow about our successes, but we are proud of the work we do for our clients.
Here are a few of the lovely comments we've received about our editing and proofreading services.
1 Company director
I have come to know many editors during a varied career, but the only person I recommend is Justine.
2 Author
When I read the revised file, I found myself saying out loud, "That’s exactly what I meant!"
3 Website owner
Justine is the easiest person to deal with. She ran with our ideas and achieved the perfect balance of stylish, helpful content.