What is inclusive engagement and consultation?

Inclusive consultation and engagement takes into account different access and communication requirements and includes:

• flexible approaches to suit individual needs
• respecting that different people have different needs
• provides everyone with the opportunity to contribute, regardless of their age, gender identity, culture, location and accessibility needs
• adopts a flexible approach for consultation
• considers a variety of access and communication requirements.

Community engagement is embedded in both State and local government policy.

Approaches reflect the work of the International Association for Public Participation (known as IAP2) and its Spectrum of Public Participation.

Spectrum of Public Participation

Spectrum of Public Participation in plain text

Five public participation goals with associated promises to the public.

The goals are ranked from least public impact on the decision to most public impact.

The first public participation goal, the one with the least public impact, is labelled "inform". The goal is to provide the public with balanced and objective information to assist them in understanding the problem, alternatives and or solutions. The promise to the public is, “we will keep you informed“.

The next public participation goal is labelled "consult". The goal is to obtain public feedback on analysis, alternatives and/or decision. The promise to the public is, “we will keep you informed, listen to and acknowledge concerns and aspirations, and provide feedback on how public input influenced the decision“.

The public participation goal at the halfway point is labelled "involve". The goal is to work directly with the public throughout the process to ensure that public concerns and aspirations are consistently understood and considered. The promise to the public is, “we will work with you to ensure that your concerns and aspirations are directly reflected in the alternatives developed and provide feedback on how public input influenced the decision“.

The next public participation goal is labelled "collaborate". The goal is to partner with the public on each aspect of the decision, including the development of alternatives and the identification of the preferred solution. The promise to the public is, “We will look to you for advice and innovation in formulating solutions and incorporate advice and recommendations into the decision to the maximum extent possible”.

The final, and most inclusive public participation goal, is labelled "empower". The goal is to place final decision-making in the hands of the public. The promise to the public is, “We will implement what you decide”.

Back to spectrum graphic