When to engage
When a policy, service, programme or place needs input from people affected, or participants can help shape the approach itself.
How the work is approached
The scope is tailored to your decision, timeframe, community and available evidence.
Community consultation, stakeholder mapping and interviews, participation planning, co-design and engagement communications.
- Step 01
Clarify influence
Agree the decision, what is open to change and how feedback will be considered. Review previous engagement before asking people to contribute again.
- Step 02
Plan participation
Map communities and access barriers. Choose a mix of interviews, workshops, outreach and written or digital options suited to the context.
- Step 03
Listen and analyse
Facilitate respectful participation, record consent and analyse themes alongside differences and gaps in participation.
- Step 04
Close the loop
Provide an accessible findings report and explain how input informs the decision, including what cannot be acted on and why.
Possible outputs
- Engagement, stakeholder and access plan
- Clear invitations, participant information and consultation materials
- Community findings, recommendations and a feedback summary explaining how input was considered
- Engagement plan and participation approach
- Discussion guides and accessible engagement materials
- Facilitated sessions and thematic findings
- Feedback summary and recommendations
Scope, outputs, responsibilities, timing and fees are agreed before work begins.
Relevant experience
Examples include work from Alisha Abate’s previous Council roles and independent practice. Each account explains the contribution and context.
- Wheatsheaf Road
Community conversations informed a creative brief and coordinated delivery.
- Intercultural Maribyrnong: participation shaping policy
Community participation informed intercultural policy development.
- First Nations leisure access: co-design with community partners
Co-design with community partners informed leisure access.
Related support and resources
How this connects with other support
Engagement can include facilitated workshops, interviews and other participation methods. Co-design is useful when people can help develop the approach itself.
You can start with the service name that feels closest to your brief. We will clarify the right combination before agreeing the work.
Practical articles for your brief
Local government planning, community wellbeing, housing, public spaces and community services.