The Community Panel will be a mini-Bayside with around 40 people representing all ages, backgrounds and Bayside suburbs.

The Panel will:

• Consider and discuss community feedback, research and information
• Develop recommendations to help inform Council’s key plans for the next four years
• Involve 40 Bayside community members
• Include a mix of people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities

You don’t need any prior knowledge or experience to take part. Your role will be to represent your community, so you only need to be willing to listen, read background information materials and discuss ideas with other Bayside residents on the Panel.

The panel will be briefed by Councillors, staff and external experts. Small group discussions will be guided by independent facilitators to make sure everyone feels supported and heard.

As a group, you’ll make collective recommendations to Council about its strategic plans for the next four years.

If you are interested in joining, but feel you may need some support to take part, please get in touch via email yoursay@bayside.vic.gov.au or phone the Community Engagement team on 9599 4801. We’ll be happy to discuss ways we can best support you if you’re selected as a panel member.

Time investment

Panel members will need to attend all eight sessions on selected Wednesday evenings and Saturdays between February and May 2025. The session times are listed in the Panel timeline on this page.

Each panel member will be paid $750 ($250 per phase) in recognition of their volunteer time and to cover any potential costs associated with their participation.

Most sessions are in-person at Bayside’s Corporate Centre in Sandringham, unless stated as online.

It's important for all panel members to attend every session, as each session is connected to ensure the plans are aligned and work towards realising the Bayside 2050 Community Vision.

We encourage everyone interested to apply. We understand that your availability may change by early next year but don't let that stop you from nominating.

Panel selection

From all nominations, 40 panel members will be independently and randomly selected to represent our community.

Independent consultants will manage the selection process. Council will not be involved.

The Panel will be selected to represent (as best as possible) the broad make-up of the Bayside community in terms of age, gender and the suburb where people live (or run their business), as well as a mix of housing situations, such as owning a home or renting. For example, 11% of Bayside’s population lives in Sandringham, so ideally 11% of Panel members will be from Sandringham.

Nominations close 10 November. We’ll let you know if you’ve been selected by 13 December.

A group of around 40 community members who will work as a team to consider and discuss community feedback, research and information and develop recommendations for Council.

The Panel will:

• Consider and discuss community feedback, research and information
• Develop recommendations to help inform and improve Council’s key long-term plans
• Involve 40 Bayside community members
• Include a mix of people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.

Following Victoria’s local government elections in October, Bayside will swear in a new Council in November.

The new Council’s first major responsibility will be to develop the Council Plan 2025 – 2029 and review the Financial, Asset, and Municipal Health and Wellbeing plans, with help from our community panel.

These plans ensure Council makes the most of funds collected through rates by appropriately managing our assets including roads, drains, footpaths, buildings, and open space, and providing community support and services.

The panel will act as a mini-Bayside, ensuring community views and priorities are embedded into these plans and bring us closer to realising the Bayside 2050 Community Vision.

Panel members will represent their community, meet other Bayside residents, and debate and decide what Council should concentrate on for the next four years.

If you’re selected as a panel member, you’ll be briefed by Councillors, Council staff and external experts to help you understand what decisions needs to be made.

Small group discussions will be guided by professional, independent facilitators to make sure everyone feels supported and everyone’s voice is heard.

The Panel will meet eight times (for a total of 34 hours). In this time the Panel will consider:

• Research about Bayside and its community
• Presentations from experts on relevant topics
• Community feedback from Bayside’s Future Plans engagement (3 June – 4 August 2024)
• Drafts of the Council, Financial, Asset and Health and Wellbeing Plans.

Panel sessions will involve group discussions, considering diverse viewpoints, identifying themes and priorities and preparing recommendations for Council to consider to improve its plans.

You do not need to have any prior knowledge: all the information you need will be provided at the sessions.

If you are interested in joining, but feel you may need some support to take part, please get in touch via email yoursay@bayside.vic.gov.au or phone on 9599 4801. We’d be happy to discuss ways we can best support you if you’re selected as a panel member.

There will be eight Panel sessions (a total of 34 hours).

Panel members will need to attend all eight sessions on selected Wednesday evenings and Saturdays between February and May 2025

Each panel member will be paid $750 ($250 per phase listed below) in recognition of their volunteer time and to cover any potential costs associated with their participation.

Most sessions are in-person at Bayside’s Corporate Centre in Sandringham, unless stated as online.

Phase 1: Financial and Asset plans

• Wednesday 12 February, 6pm to 9pm
• Saturday 22 February, 9:30am to 4:30pm
• Wednesday 26 February, 6pm to 9pm

Phase 2: Council Plan

• Wednesday 12 March, 6pm to 8pm (online – support available if required)
• Saturday 22 March, 9:30am to 4:30pm
• Wednesday 26 March, 6pm to 9pm

Phase 3: Health and Wellbeing Plan

• Wednesday 7 May, 6pm to 9pm
• Saturday 17 May, 9:30am to 3:30pm

Between the sessions, Panel members will be invited to watch or review information or reflect on the previous session (no more than 3-5 hours in total). Panel members will have access to a private, members-only website with a range of information.

Catering at in-person sessions will be provided. Please let us know if you have any special requirements to enable your attendance, such as accessibility requirements, carer support, interpreter/translator, technology support etc. We want our community panel to be as inclusive as possible.

Independent consultants will manage the selection process. Council will not be involved.

The Panel will be selected to represent (as best as possible) the broad make-up of the Bayside community in terms of age, gender and the suburb where people live (or run their business), as well as a mix of housing situations, such as owning a home or renting. For example, 11% of Bayside’s population lives in Sandringham, so ideally 11% of Panel members will be from Sandringham.

The Community Panel will present its recommendations to Bayside’s newly elected Councillors at the end of each stage.

Councillors will then consider the Panel’s recommendations, alongside the Bayside 2050 Community Vision, input from staff and other important information, to:

• Further develop the four-year Council Plan and Health and Wellbeing Plan, and
• Review and update of the ten-year Financial Plan and Asset Plan.

The Community Panel isn't your average one-off workshop. It's a more inclusive and in-depth process where we bring together the knowledge, thoughts and experiences of Bayside community members to help shape our future plans.

As a panel member, you'll get to collaborate with people of all ages, backgrounds and interests. Together, you’ll listen to interesting presentations, ask questions, and discuss important issues. You'll share your own insights about Bayside and hear about other’s experiences.

The series of panel sessions will give you the time, practical information, forums and resources you’ll need to provide recommendations on tricky challenges and strategic plans.

Our friendly facilitators will be there to make sure everyone is heard in a supportive and welcoming environment.

This is a fantastic opportunity to meet new people, learn more about your community, and play a part in shaping what the Council does for the next four years.

Who can apply?

Anyone who lives or runs a business in Bayside and is aged over 18.

The Panel will represent Bayside’s community, so we need people from:

• All suburbs
• All age groups from 18 years
• All gender identities
• All cultural backgrounds
• All abilities

Some people will not be eligible – see below

Who can’t apply?

You aren’t eligible to be a panel member if you’re a:

• Bayside Councillor or an immediate family member* of a Councillor (current or past five years)
• Bayside Council employee or an immediate family member* of an employee (current or past five years)
• State or Federal Member of Parliament, or an immediate family member of an MP (currently or past five years)
• Bayside Councillor or an immediate family member* of a Councillor (current or past five years)
• Bayside Council employee or an immediate family member* of an employee (current or past five years)
• State or Federal Member of Parliament, or an immediate family member of an MP (currently or past five years)

All things being equal, during selection, preference will be given to those who have not previously participated in a Panel or are a current member of a Council Advisory Committee or Reference Group.

More than one person from each household can apply, however only one person per household can be appointed to the Panel.