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Monash Engagement Framework

1.Introduction

1.1 Purpose

The purpose of this framework is to outline Monash City Council's approach to stakeholder and community engagement.

This framework is supported by the Monash City Council Engagement Guideline, which provide guidance and direction to the overall planning of Council engagement activities.

1.2 Context

Monash City Council provides a wide range of important services to its community. As part of Council's relationship with its community and stakeholders, it is important that the organisation has an understanding and respect for its community's views.

The kind of engagement between the Council and its many stakeholders will become a key determinant of the resulting relationship the organisation has with those individuals and groups. It is important that the Council continues to follow best practice when engaging with its stakeholders and is able to make decisions that are reflective of community views.

1.3 Public participation context

Monash City Council supports the use of the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) as a useful resource for Council staff in planning and implementing stakeholder and community engagement.

IAP2 is for people who implement or participate in the public decision making process. The aim is to make better decisions through building stronger communities and active democracies.

IAP2 has developed a model of stakeholder and community engagement that promotes the values and leading practices associated with involving the public in decisions that impact their lives.

2. Triggers for engagement

There are four main triggers which lead to the majority of Monash City Council's engagement activities.

They are:

Council decisions and major developments - Council decides to make a change to services, regulations or initiate a major development and seek community views to facilitate it
Statutory Consultation - This includes town planning or Council budget consultations, which have clearly defined engagement methodologies
Generation of various Council plans and strategies - Council's business units renew or develop delivery plans every few years and as part of this there is a regular engagement process to inform any revised plan
Market research - Council provides services then subsequently sends out regular customer satisfaction surveys to measure performance

Each trigger brings its own issues regarding how it influences the type of engagement process it initiates.

3.Principles

The planning and implementation of stakeholder and community engagement will be guided by the following principles

Monash City Council is inclusive:

We listen and respond to the community, to the best of our ability
We use the most appropriate communications channels to engage effectively with our diverse community

Monash City Council is transparent:

Our officers share engagement experiences and expertise with one another to ensure the best outcomes for our stakeholders
Monash is open and transparent with our intentions and our results

Monash City Council is responsive:

We provide feedback to the people we consult as well as the community at large

Monash City Council believes in timely engagement

We plan engagement with the best interests of community participation at heart

4.The engagement process

The following six step process is based on a best practice approach to stakeholder and community engagement and is intended to provide a consistent approach to engagement processes. Each step is further guided by the Monash City Council Engagement Guideline, which supports this framework.

engagement process

4.1 The engagement planning process

The following six step process is intended to deliver a best practice approach to developing an engagement plan as outlined in Step 2 - Plan of The Engagement Process (above). Each step is further guided by the Monash City Council Engagement Guideline, which supports this framework.