Project objective
We’ve updated our Community Engagement Policy to make our consultation processes more transparent and easier to understand.
We are engaging our community to ensure that the renewed Community Engagement Policy is reflective of community needs and aspirations.
We want to understand the level of community support for the Policy and how it defines when, why and how we’ll engage our community to inform Council decisions.
Project Impacts
Community Vision Bayside 2050
This project also aligns with key priorities in Community Vision Bayside 2050.
Council operations and accountability
4.4. Involvement: Bayside City Council prioritizes strong active resident involvement in all civic, social and cultural activities and will nurture the structural and technological supports to maximise that involvement. Community groups and Council to work
Stakeholders and community
This stakeholder assessment is a generalised understanding of sections of the community that have a connection to the project or matter. This information is used to understand the types of tools and techniques that will achieve the strongest and most effective outcomes for engagement and communication.
Impact: What level of change will the stakeholder / community segment experience as a result of the project / matter
Interest: What level of interest has been expressed or is anticipated
Influence: Reference to the IAP2 Spectrum.
Stakeholder | Impact | Interest | Influence |
| Organisations who have an existing relationship with Council (eg: 'Friends of' groups; sporting clubs; service clubs; traders associations) | H | H | Involve |
| Individuals who regularly participate in engagement and governance | M | M | Consult |
| General community | L | M | Consult |
| Indigenous community / Traditional land owners | M | M | Consult |
| 'Harder to reach' community members including young people, seniors, lower socio-economic families, seniors, CALD communities | M | L | Consult |
| Seniors (considering 55 - 70, and 70+ separately) | L | L | Consult |
| Lower socio-economic communities | L | L | Consult |
| People with a lived experience of disability | M | M | Consult |
Selected tools and techniques
The tools and techniques selected for this project are informed by the project content, stakeholders and type of feedback sought.
Key tools for communicating the project
- Have your Say website and direct email distribution
- Council's e-newsletter This Week in Bayside
- Direct emails to key stakeholder groups.
- Social media, especially 'sponsored' posts to increase audience
- Digital screens in Council facilities
Key methods for gathering feedback
- Online engagement through Have Your Say, including opportunity to ask questions, as well as provide feedback
Decision making process
The Policy is being informed by:
- Requirements from within the Local Government Act 2020 and guidelines from Local Government Victoria.
- Community feedback
- Best practice and industry expertise, including the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2)
Council endorsed a draft Community Engagement Policy 2025 at is April meeting for the purposes of community consultation. We are seeking feedback from our community between 7 May - 9 June 2025. Following this, revisions will be made to the draft Policy, as required. A proposed Community Engagement Policy is expected to be considered by Council at its July meeting.
Please press the blue +Subscribe button to recieve project updates, including when the Policy will be considered at Council meetings.
More information
If you would like more information please contact Vanessa Bradley: vbradley@bayside.vic.gov.au
