FAQs

Community engagement is about involving the community in decisions that affect them.

For the City it’s about building relationships and trust with our community by sharing information and listening to the community. Community engagement helps the City understand the views and aspirations of our community which can then be balanced with other influences, such as legislation, research or budgetary constraints, to make informed decisions.

‘Community engagement is a planned process with the specific purpose of working across organisations, stakeholders and communities to shape our decisions or actions in relation to a problem, opportunity or outcome.’ - International Association for Public Participation (IAP2)

The City of Hobart is committed to engaging with our community and stakeholders to inform Council decision-making. Not only do we want to do this, but we want to do it well.

The City’s Community Engagement Framework and Policy provides the foundation for how the City involves the community in Council’s decision-making. The documents were last reviewed in 2016 and 2018 respectively. Therefore it is important to review our community engagement practice to ensure we are providing a service that is up to date, aligned with best practice and importantly, meets the community's expectations.

With the input of the community, we will produce a revised Community Engagement Policy and Framework that clearly defines our commitment to genuine engagement with the community.

We will also be updating the various tools and practices in place to provide the necessary support to our staff to deliver good quality engagement as part of doing business.

The consultation period closes on 11 June 2023.    All feedback received will then be compiled into an engagement summary report to be published on Your Say Hobart.  The community engagement results will be used to improve our community engagement processes and procedures and to update the City’s Community Engagement Framework and Policy.

These documents will be presented to Council for endorsement in the second half of 2023.

Council adopted the Community Engagement Policy in 2016 to reflect a commitment to effective and inclusive community and stakeholder engagement. 

When making decisions, Council considers several factors including financial, technical and resourcing information, alongside community and stakeholder input.

The policy is built upon a set of commitments that guide the City's community engagement processes.

The policy is reviewed on a regular basis and will be updated as part of this review.

Council endorsed the current Community Engagement Framework in 2018. The Framework outlines the steps and core principles of the City’s engagement practice and sets out how the City will work together with the community to achieve common goals through genuine relationships built on trust, goodwill and respect.

Since its endorsement in 2018, community engagement practice has evolved meaning it’s time for the City to review its Framework to reflect best practice.

IAP2 is the International Association for Public Participation. They are the peak body for the community and stakeholder engagement sector across the world, and provides resources, training, advocacy and networking to support those working in this field.

The City of Hobart is a corporate member of IAP2 Australasia and have committed to aligning our practice with the IAP2 Core Values.