Connecting with your community
Establishing and maintaining good communication channels right across the community is an important part of increasing the strength and resilience of your local community.
A high level of community involvement can:
- raise community awareness about an issue or a project
- identify what will work and what will not
- verify your information or thinking
- tap into new ideas and expertise
- provide avenues for dialogue
- build community support
- provide feedback or suggestions.
Communities are made up of many different groups, some more willing and/or able to become involved in community activities than others.
Encouraging people to participate often involves creating multiple and diverse opportunities for people to contribute, using informal networks, connecting with community ‘hubs’ and asking different groups how they would like to be involved.
An example of connecting with the community
— Bundaberg Region Social Plan —
With the help of a community development consultant, Bundaberg City Council engaged a wide range of residents, organisations and government agencies in developing a Social Plan. This was a set of priorities and actions to address social issues in the city and neighbouring region, such as the delivery of social services, youth issues, ageing etc.
A series of ‘kitchen table’ community conversations were held with people from a wide range of different sectors in the community such as those with an interest in health, the environment, housing, employment, transport, youth etc. Small forums were held with service providers. Three open community forums were held in different parts of the city. A feedback forum allowed local residents to hear the results of what everyone had said and to comment on suggested strategies in the plan. A draft version of the plan was then made available for comment in the community and the final plan released. It is now being implemented.
Extra resources
• Bundaberg Region Social Plan
