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The Government have set out a list of community engagement principles in a recent statement published on 14th March 2024. The principles are identified as forming a framework for best practice guidance for government officials to make informed decisions about who to engage with. Here Amanda H. takes a look at what these are and how they relate to community engagement.. #stakeholderengagement #planning #localplans #policy #land

Community engagement plays a crucial role in local government as it helps to build trust, foster collaboration, and empower citizens to participate in decision-making processes. By involving the community in government decision-making, local authorities can ensure inclusive and responsive governance that caters to the needs and preferences of all citizens. One strategy for building trust and fostering collaboration is to establish open lines of communication between local government officials and community members. This can be achieved by hosting regular town hall meetings, creating online platforms for citizen feedback, and engaging with community groups and leaders. Empowering citizens to participate in decision-making processes is another key community engagement aspect. Local governments can achieve this by providing opportunities for citizens to share their views, ideas, and concerns on issues that affect them. This could involve creating citizen advisory boards, conducting surveys and polls, and involving citizens in the planning and implementation of local projects. Overall, community engagement is a critical component of building inclusive and responsive governance in local government. By involving citizens in decision-making processes, local governments can build trust, foster collaboration, and empower citizens to take an active role in shaping their communities. #CommunityEngagement #InclusiveGovernance #CollaborativeDecisionMaking

Public sector leaders—want to get better at resolving the most pressing issues faced by your organization? Mastering public engagement is key.👇 In today's public administration landscape, community engagement is paramount, but it isn't just about disseminating information—it's about creating a dialogue to hear voices, share ideas, and collaboratively develop solutions. Your engagement strategy, whether you're addressing a substantial policy change or a minor internal initiative, can significantly influence both the result and the well-being of everyone involved. Read our blog to learn how to: 🎯 Craft a robust engagement plan 🎯 Leverage citizen input for better outcomes 🎯 Overcome common roadblocks Get started 👇 🔗 https://bit.ly/4ah52zw #PublicEngagement #CommunityEngagement #PublicSector

My journey in local government traces back to my time in the office of Lucinda (Lucy) Hughes Turnbull AO during her tenure as the Lord Mayor of the City of Sydney, an experience I hold dear. This period ignited within me a profound passion for public service and a deep-seated sense of civic duty, distinct from the dynamics of the private sector. With over 20 years of immersion in local government, marketing communications, and business growth, my roots in government service run deep, particularly nurtured within the vibrant environment of The City of Sydney. There, under Lucy Turnbull's leadership, I actively contributed to initiatives ranging from community outreach to sustainable development and cultural initiatives. Indeed, the indelible imprint of my experiences in local government continues to inform and inspire my work, reminding me of the perpetual imperative for innovative solutions and robust community engagement. As I continue to navigate the evolving landscape of governmental challenges, my resolve remains steadfast in driving positive progress and facilitating meaningful impact in service to the community. Reflecting on my extensive tenure in government service, I find that even as I reach out to local governments after many years, the discussions surrounding challenges, pain points, and other issues remain remarkably consistent. There persists a continual urgency for fostering captivating community engagement, alongside the pressing need for innovation to adapt to evolving trends and changes. The enduring pressure for best-practice community engagement underscores the vital importance of establishing meaningful connections between governmental bodies and the communities they serve. It necessitates a proactive approach to community outreach, soliciting feedback, addressing concerns, and fostering a sense of inclusivity and participation among residents. Moreover, the imperative for innovation looms large, driven by the ever-changing landscape of technology, societal norms, and environmental factors. Governments must remain agile and forward-thinking, embracing emerging trends and technologies to enhance service delivery, streamline operations, and meet the evolving needs of their constituents. As I engage with local, state and federal government agencies in my capacity as a Strategic Growth Specialist at Granicus Australia / New Zealand, I am acutely attuned to these persistent challenges and imperatives. I am committed to leveraging my expertise and insights to empower government agencies in navigating these complexities, driving positive change, and ultimately, advancing the collective well-being of the communities they serve. #LocalGovernment #StateGovernment #FederalGovernment #CommunityEngagement #PublicService #CivicDuty #CommunityOutreach #GovernmentInnovation #DigitalGovernment #PublicSector

I had a great day in Manchester (yes it rained ☔ ) yesterday at the Greater Manchester Poverty Action conference. I was talking on a panel about what employers can be doing, but what struck me was the similarity in the points and challenges we were making despite the range and scale of organisations we all work for and with. Issues facing employers that I've come away thinking about are: > Attraction - how we find and encourage people into areas of employment. > Retention - how we keep people in terms of them not leaving for other opportunities, but retention as in keeping them happy and healthy. > Leadership - how we provide and engage people with career progression opportunities so we can find the leaders of the future. Addressing some of these issues is going to take more thought and big change, particularly around the priorities and nature of work itself, but in a seamless and shameless plug, there are practical things we can be doing right now. Top of that list is reviewing and updating recruitment documents and job specifications, so that they're more inclusive but properly reflect the skills you want people to have and the details of the job people will actually be doing. You can find more information and guidance in toolkits Bridge Group have collaborated on with Social Mobility Commission here: https://lnkd.in/ePgvTY3y #PlacesAgainstPoverty #socialequality #socioeconomicbackground #socialinequality #employeeexperience #diversityequityinclusion #diversityandinclusion

In today's fast-paced world, community management isn't just about overseeing projects—it's about sparking transformation through active engagement. Here’s why empowering our communities through engagement isn’t just beneficial; it's essential: 🔹 Empowering Decision-Making: Facilitate open platforms for dialogue. Decisions powered by collective insights create sustainable and widely supported outcomes. 🔹 Strengthening Community Bonds: Encourage participation to boost resilience and proactivity. Engaged communities are stronger together. 🔹 Enhancing Service Delivery: Utilize citizen feedback to refine public services. This feedback pinpoints improvement areas, making services more effective. 🔹 Driving Transparency and Accountability: Keep the community informed and involved. Transparency fosters trust and bolsters your leadership. 🔹 Promoting Economic Development: Active citizen involvement contributes to economic vitality. Leverage community insights to attract investments and improve living standards. 🔹 Inclusivity in Planning: Ensure all voices are heard. Inclusive strategies lead to equitable development and reduce disparities. Our mission is to harness the power of engagement to build more connected, resilient communities. Let’s lead the change and create environments where every member can thrive. 🔗 Engage in the conversation below and share how you’re transforming your community through engagement with WeSolve! #CitizenEnagement #CommunityManagement #Leadership #Engagement #Innovation #PublicService #WeSolve

❗The government's latest consultation on proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) presents a crucial moment for community engagement in the planning process. As communications experts specialising in planning and development, we at Silverstone Communications believe this consultation offers a golden opportunity to advocate for stronger, more meaningful public participation. Why Community Engagement Matters Effective community engagement is not just a box-ticking exercise - it's fundamental to creating better places and securing local support for development. The current NPPF already recognises this, stating that applicants who demonstrate "early, proactive and effective engagement with the community should be looked on more favourably". However, there's room for improvement in how this principle is applied in practice. Key Areas for Enhancement As we review the proposed NPPF changes, we've identified several areas where community engagement could be strengthened: Earlier Involvement: The consultation should push for community input at the earliest stages of plan-making and development proposals. This allows local knowledge to shape outcomes from the outset. Digital Innovation: With the rise of online engagement tools, the NPPF should encourage the use of accessible digital platforms to broaden participation beyond traditional consultation events. Empowering Communities: There's an opportunity to provide clearer guidance on how communities can meaningfully influence decisions, not just be informed of them. Measuring Impact: The revised NPPF could introduce requirements for developers and local authorities to demonstrate how community input has tangibly shaped proposals. Balancing Priorities While pushing for enhanced engagement, it's crucial to strike a balance. The government's focus on accelerating housing delivery and economic growth must be considered. However, we firmly believe that well-executed community engagement leads to better, more widely accepted developments in the long run. Our Recommendation We urge all stakeholders - developers, local authorities, and community groups - to respond to this consultation with a strong emphasis on elevating the role of public participation. By advocating for robust community engagement policies within the NPPF, we can help create a planning system that is not only more efficient but also more democratic and responsive to local needs. The deadline for consultation responses is September 24th, 2024. Let's seize this opportunity to shape a planning framework that truly puts communities at its heart. #NPPF #planningpolicy #politicalengagement

📌 The seven key parts of a community engagement strategy💡 - Read more in the PIO Toolkit Community 👉 https://lnkd.in/g9JJgzFG #PublicInformationOfficer #CrisisCommunication #EmergencyManagement #PublicRelations #MediaRelations #PublicAffairs #RiskCommunication #CommunityEngagement #CommunicationStrategy

📌 The seven key parts of a community engagement strategy💡 - Read more in the PIO Toolkit Community 👉 https://lnkd.in/g9JJgzFG #PublicInformationOfficer #CrisisCommunication #EmergencyManagement #PublicRelations #MediaRelations #PublicAffairs #RiskCommunication #CommunityEngagement #CommunicationStrategy

atWork Australia’s Davoren Park office in South Australia, supported the communities Anti-Poverty event last month. Coming together with Anglicare South Australia, Foodbank and Thread Together, the team hosted a BBQ for those in need and gave away a hamper of grocery items. With 3.7 million households struggling to put food on their table this year. atWork Australia is noticing the effects that cost-of-living challenges are having on clients. From employees needing to take on additional hours, to a noticeable slowdown in recruitment, the ripple effects of rising living costs are reshaping the job market and workforce dynamics. By working together with community organisations, we can support our clients access additional services while they search for employment. Read more about the positive impact our services have here https://ow.ly/W0L850U7CRp