Local Government and Community Engagement in Australia

This working paper was commissioned by the Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government (ACELG) to provide a national update on what is taking place across the local government sector in relation to community engagement, and identify the ongoing challenges and questions for councils in engaging communities. In a survey of local government managers designed to inform ACELG research priorities, the need for better relationships with communities was identified as one of the top ten critical issues facing local government. In part this paper was commissioned as a first step to informing discussion about how to meet that need.

The paper explores:

■ Influences on community engagement practice in Australia

■ An overview of practice - from council policy commitments through to examples of leading practice

■ The range of community engagement methodologies currently being used

■ Support and guidance available to councils

■ Key issues and challenges identified by practitioners which have implications for practice and for further research.