We recognise the important civic leadership role that community engagement can play in promoting and fostering genuine reconciliation leading to real outcomes. We want to understand Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories; and to acknowledge the experiences and needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living within the City of Greater Geelong region so they feel listened to respected and valued.

Introduction

Purpose

A collaborative partnership between Council and the community can be a powerful way to deliver positive changes across our region. We value the knowledge, ideas and life experiences of our diverse community. Good community engagement helps us listen, learn and make better decisions. For now, and for the future. This policy promotes a culture of shared understanding, capability building and transparency, bringing diverse perspectives together to strengthen community awareness of decision-making processes, now and over time.

This policy supports our Council Plan 2025-29 goal to deliver better outcomes for the people of Greater Geelong. This includes a commitment to the highest levels of leadership, integrity, financial stewardship and meaningful community engagement.

This policy details our commitment to best-practice community engagement in order to:

1. Enhance community participation: Encourage and facilitate active participation from all community members, ensuring their voices are heard and considered in decision-making processes.

2. Build trust and transparency: Foster trust and transparency between the City and our community by providing clear, accessible, and timely information.

3. Promote inclusivity and diversity: Ensure that engagement activities are inclusive and reflect the diverse needs and aspirations of the community.

4. Support informed decision-making: Provide decision-makers with comprehensive and diverse community input to inform policies, plans, and projects.

5. Strengthen relationships: Build and maintain strong, respectful, and collaborative relationships with community members, stakeholders, and partners.

This policy helps the City and our Council not only meet its engagement obligations as described under sections 55 and 56 of the Local Government Act 2020 (Vic) but truly harness the expertise and advice of the community it serves.

What is community engagement?

Community engagement allows Council to gain a deeper understanding of diverse points of view, values, 
concerns, and priorities when shaping decisions, plans, and services that affect people’s lives. It’s a two-way process: we listen to the ideas, concerns, and experiences of our community, and we share information about what’s planned or decided. 

We use a range of engagement approaches, such as surveys, workshops, phone calls, pop-up sessions at locations our community visit, and panels, to make engagement accessible, inclusive and flexible to suit different lifestyles and abilities. 

Effective community engagement means asking the right questions, of the right people, at the right time, and in the right way, ensuring that community voices meaningfully inform the decision we make. 

Why is engagement important?

Engagement gives our community the opportunity to inform the decisions Council makes and the strategies we develop, ensuring they reflect community views and values. Engagement empowers people to contribute to the future of the places where they live, work, do business, study, and play, and helps build trust and confidence in local democracy. 

By bringing together people from different backgrounds and perspectives, engagement increases understanding of the issues, challenges, and opportunities related to a project or policy. This shared understanding helps the community make more informed contributions and leads to more transparent, sustainable, and widely supported decisions.

Even when views differ, effective engagement shows that decisions are made with a clear understanding of our community’s needs, aspirations, and challenges.