When to engage
When a team, partnership or community group needs a purposeful workshop, an independent facilitator or support with competing priorities.
How the work is approached
The scope is tailored to your decision, timeframe, community and available evidence.
Workshop facilitation, meeting facilitation, complex problem-solving and shared direction.
- Step 01
Prepare with purpose
Clarify the session’s purpose, participants, decision authority and areas of disagreement. Agree access needs and boundaries.
- Step 02
Design the session
Prepare an agenda, prompts and participation methods that give people different ways to contribute.
- Step 03
Facilitate discussion
Make room for quieter voices, surface assumptions and distinguish agreement from unresolved issues. Adapt to the group without losing the purpose.
- Step 04
Document next steps
Capture decisions, outstanding questions, responsibilities and follow-up. Check that the record reflects the discussion.
Possible outputs
- Session preparation and agenda
- Independent facilitation
- Decision record, responsibilities and next steps
- Session design and agenda
- Independent workshop or meeting facilitation
- Discussion and decision record
- Actions, responsibilities and follow-up plan
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.
- University of Melbourne: commissioned gender equity workshops and analysis
Designed and delivered workshops connecting gender equity tools with practical learning.
- Facilitation & advisory: groups, committees and networks
Supported groups, committees and networks through facilitation and advisory contributions.
Related support and resources
How this connects with other support
A workshop may be one part of a wider engagement process. If the decision needs input from people beyond the room, facilitation can be combined with participation planning, research and a findings report.
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
Council teams, public agencies, community organisations, cross-sector partnerships and built-environment projects.