Community Engagement Strategy and Framework

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Last year, Council adopted the Shoalhaven City Council Community Engagement Strategy. We are now developing the Community Engagement Framework to support the strategy and develop a consistent, best-practice approach for the whole organisation to engage with Shoalhaven communities.

We need to know how our community wants to engage with Council, provide feedback and stay informed about projects and initiatives happening in the Shoalhaven.

Insights from our community play a crucial role in shaping our Community Engagement Framework, which supports our Community Engagement Strategy. By understanding preferences for communication and feedback, we can build consultation opportunities that are inclusive, transparent, and responsive to the diverse needs of our population.

How to get involved

Thank you for your feedback. This survey has now closed.

There will be opportunities to provide additional feedback once the Community Engagement Strategy is drafted.

To receive direct updates on this project, please subscribe through the 'Stay Informed' widget at the top right of this page.

Last year, Council adopted the Shoalhaven City Council Community Engagement Strategy. We are now developing the Community Engagement Framework to support the strategy and develop a consistent, best-practice approach for the whole organisation to engage with Shoalhaven communities.

We need to know how our community wants to engage with Council, provide feedback and stay informed about projects and initiatives happening in the Shoalhaven.

Insights from our community play a crucial role in shaping our Community Engagement Framework, which supports our Community Engagement Strategy. By understanding preferences for communication and feedback, we can build consultation opportunities that are inclusive, transparent, and responsive to the diverse needs of our population.

How to get involved

Thank you for your feedback. This survey has now closed.

There will be opportunities to provide additional feedback once the Community Engagement Strategy is drafted.

To receive direct updates on this project, please subscribe through the 'Stay Informed' widget at the top right of this page.

  • Community Engagement Strategy and Framework is now on Public Exhibition

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    The Draft Community Engagement Strategy and Framework is now on public exhibition with the community invited to provide feedback until Friday 31 January 2025.

    The strategy includes a framework that identifies stakeholder roles and responsibilities and determines when, how and who we engage.

    It also provides guidance to Council workers to ensure genuine community engagement is undertaken consistently and to a high standard.

    The strategy and framework have been prepared in consultation with communities and staff who are directly involved in the delivery of engagement activities.

    The draft document can be viewed here or through the document library on this webpage.

    You’re invited to review the draft and provide your feedback in one of the following ways:

    1. Make a submission via the documents on exhibition webpage.
    2. Complete the online survey here.

    Hard copies of the document can be found at the following locations:

    - Nowra Administration Building

    - Ulladulla Branch Office

    - Shoalhaven Libraries including Nowra Library, Milton Library, Sanctuary Point Library and Civic Centre Ulladulla.

    Consultation closes at 5pm on Friday 31 January 2025.

  • Community update on survey results

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    Thank you to everyone who participated in our survey about the Community Engagement Framework. We would also like to thank the Aboriginal Advisory Committee, Youth Advisory Committee and Inclusion & Access Advisory Committee for providing their invaluable insight into how we can best reach and engage with their communities.

    What we heard

    Aboriginal Advisory Committee:

    • Engage with the Aboriginal community early in the consultation process.

    • The best way to engage with them is by visiting meetings or events held with local Aboriginal businesses and by having a yarn with them.

    Youth Advisory Committee:

    • Environmental issues, recreational precincts and facility design & improvements are topics that mean the most to them and are projects that they want to have influence over.

    • When consulting with young people, their preferred method is via a survey, social media and in-person workshops.

    • Use existing channels at school to spread the word that consultation opportunities are available, provide opportunities during school hours for feedback and ensure information is shared at a literacy level of a young person.

    Inclusion & Access Advisory Committee:

    • Are interested in having influence over facility design & improvements and infrastructure projects.

    • In-person consultation is the preferred method of engagement but there are a range of tools to keep in mind. Such as transportation options, support staff, accessible facilities (such as ramps and toilets) and various delivery methods.

    Online survey:

    We had a total of 1,578 visitors to the project page and received 509 survey responses from both the online Get Involved survey and paper surveys available in Council facilities across the Shoalhaven.

    The overwhelming majority of responses were from people aged over 50, comprising 75% of the total respondents.

    Some of the ways you currently receive information from Council are:

    • Rates notice
    • Council website
    • Social media
    • Word of mouth
    • Community Consultative Bodies


    When Council seeks your feedback on projects and initiatives, you prefer to be informed via:

    • Social media
    • Community newsletter
    • Council website
    • Rates notice
    • Community Consultative Bodies


    You indicated that you would like to provide your feedback through:

    • Online surveys
    • Emailing council directly
    • Attending drop-in sessions or pop-up stalls
    • Face-to-face workshops


    The top three topics you are most interested in when providing feedback on projects are:

    • Local Development Planning and Construction Projects
    • Roadworks
    • Council Services and Fees

    Next steps

    1. A workshop will be held with the Community Consultative Bodies at the end of their next executive meeting in May.
    2. We will review all feedback in detail and draft a framework with the Community Engagement Strategy.
    3. The draft framework will be put on public exhibition in November for further community input.

    We appreciate your active participation and look forward to continuing our work together to enhance our communication and consultation activities. Subscribe to this project page for more updates and opportunities to get involved.

Page last updated: 02 Dec 2024, 04:40 PM