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
Define purpose and governance
Agree the decision, milestones, accountability and the role of stakeholder input.
Step 02
Map relationships
Identify affected groups, delivery partners and decision-makers. Consider influence, interests and missing perspectives without treating a map as fixed.
Step 03
Design the approach
Match engagement methods and timing to each group, with access support, clear messages and escalation arrangements.
Step 04
Plan follow-through
Set responsibilities for relationship management, recording issues, reporting back and evaluating the approach.

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
Stakeholder map and relationship analysis
Engagement strategy and activity schedule
Roles, messages and issue-management approach
Reporting and review measures

Scope, outputs, responsibilities, timing and fees are agreed before work begins.

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.