Overview
The VLGA worked for many years to assist local governments and their communities to find ways to discuss, engage and decide what is best for their neighbourhood. We have two marvellous tools for local governments and communities to use, our Lets Talk guide and the International Association for Public Participation Toolkit (IAP2).
Community engagement can be defined as ‘providing opportunities for people who are affected by or interested in a Council decision to participate in the decision making process in order to enhance the resulting decision, plan or project’. The key benefit of community engagement is to improve and enhance outcomes through more informed decisions.
It is about sharing information and involving the community and key stakeholders in the decision making process. It includes the implicit commitment that the community’s contribution will influence the decision.
Community engagement does not replace elected representatives’ responsibility for decision-making. The purpose of gaining input from the community is to enhance Council’s decision-making.
Open and Inclusive Government
Councillors represent all of their citizens. The framework for effective public participation is based on some important principles. The organisation will:
- Always be clear and open about its intentions and actions
- Always be prepared to listen to people
- Have proper processes for information gathering and citizen exchange
- Recognises the diverse groups to enter debates
- Will accept criticism
- Will encourage and support structures and processes for community participation and consultation
- Recognise the needs of the culturally and linguistically diverse community
The Model
The International Association of Public Participation has developed the IAP2 framework and toolkit and these form the basis for this participation framework.
The model uses a spectrum to determine the scope, tools and techniques for conducting public participation in each of the following areas:
- Inform
- Consult
- Involve
- Collaborate
- Empower
The Toolkit includes a series of techniques which can be employed to assist in achieving your public participation goal.
Strategic Plan
Community Development is informed by Outcome B of the Strategic Plan, whereby local communities and local governments will work together to be strong, sustainable, and active in creating their own futures through transparent, accountable and democratic governance. People will have the opportunity to be involved in and influence decisions that affect them.
VLGA Approach
One of the resources that have been developed is Let's Talk, a supplementary edition to the highly-valued Best Value Community Consultation Resource Guide. Let's Talk shifts the focus to ‘participatory democracy’ with an emphasis on ‘relationships’ and ‘conversations’ not just methodologies. It also sets out ‘principles of good consultation’.
Rather than duplicating past resources, Let's Talk offers extensive examples of ‘interactive or two-way’ consultation methods ranging from questionnaires to ‘new & innovative’ methodologies.
Current Activity
We work directly with local governments to assist in their community engagement strategies and regularly run workshops for both community groups and local governments in techniques and tools for community engagement.
VLGA Contact
Director Policy & Public Affairs
Darren Ray
T: +61 3 9349 7902
E:
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