Purpose

Engaging Queenslanders: community engagement in the business of government presents Queenland Government public officials with practical guidance to improving community engagement in policy development and planning processes.

This publication identifies opportunities for agencies to improve their engagement practices and capabilities and provides guidance to those planning, approving and implementing engagement activities and programs. It also examines the organisational and cultural changes required within government agencies to achieve sustainable improvements in community engagement and, importantly, highlights the responsibilities of Government Ministers and agency senior managers in developing and implementing systems supportive of improved engagement.

The publication is part of a suite of resources produced by the Department of Communities in collaboration with a range of agencies to support and promote effective community engagement practice across the public sector. The suite of resources was developed in association with government and non-government community engagement practitioners and informed by:

• the Community Engagement Improvement Strategy, developed by a cross-government team of engagement practitioners
• a government-wide survey mapping community engagement activities
• the State of Engagement 2003 and 2004 reports outlining community engagement activities across Queensland Government agencies
• a series of community engagement showcasing events involving community, industry and government representatives
• research into a range of national and international community engagement practices
• a cross-government review of the Community Engagement Improvement Strategy.

Further resources in the Engaging Queenslanders suite include:

• Engaging Queenslanders: an introduction to community engagement
• Engaging Queenslanders: a guide to community engagement showcasing events
• Engaging Communities: a guide to engagement methods for practitioners
• Engaging Queenslanders: a guide to evaluating community engagement

Other guides include:

• Engaging Queenslanders: introduction to working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
• Engaging Queenslanders: introduction to working with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.

The resources are designed to complement the Queensland Government’s community engagement website. Queensland public officials are encouraged to visit the website for community engagement resources and information.