Knowledge > Community Engagement > Community Engagement

Community Engagement

What's it about?

Community engagement is about people being involved in decisions that affect their lives.

When governments engage citizens and communities in decisions, this is participatory democracy at work. Community or stakeholder engagement is just as important in the private sector - whether it is the way a health service, surf club or major corporation makes decisions.

How does it work?

Community engagement is about so much more than holding public meetings when an issue becomes controversial. There will be times when holding a public meeting is necessary and appropriate. But often there are far more effective options in producing good dialogue, leading to a better decision.

Community engagement activities are more purposeful and easier to plan if considered the beginning of the project, at the same time as the project plan. Early steps are to:

• Clearly understand and state the decision being made
• Decide what is negotiable and what is not negotiable in the decision
• Identify all the stakeholder groups, community groups and people who will be affected by the decision.

More information is on the Getting Started page.

How Thorne Partners can help

Kimbra White can help you plan for the most appropriate community engagement at the beginning of your project and develop a community engagement plan. As the project progresses, Kimbra can provide a range of facilitation services.

Contact Kimbra to discuss how developing a community engagement plan can help you meet your objectives.