Community Engagement Policy Review

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We’re reviewing our Community Engagement Policy and we want your input.

Community engagement is how we hear from our community, making it essential to how we make decisions and good governance for Manningham. We’re committed to listening and understanding our community and want to make sure you have opportunities to input into decisions and have your say on what’s important to you locally.

Thank you to everyone who shared their views.
Consultation has now closed, and we are reviewing your feedback to help finalise the policy.
Read more in our Consultation updates.

Background

Our Community Engagement Policy guides how we seek your feedback on our strategic plans, infrastructure projects, programs, new initiatives and more. This policy was endorsed in 2021. We are reviewing the policy to make sure it continues to meet the needs of our community.

We want to ensure that you, our community, are involved in decisions that affect you.

We do this through a clear, inclusive, and respectful processes. Guided by the Local Government Act 2020 and the International Association of Public Participation’s (IAP2) spectrum of engagement, we seek community input to inform our decisions, support transparency and meet community needs.

We’re reviewing our Community Engagement Policy and we want your input.

Community engagement is how we hear from our community, making it essential to how we make decisions and good governance for Manningham. We’re committed to listening and understanding our community and want to make sure you have opportunities to input into decisions and have your say on what’s important to you locally.

Thank you to everyone who shared their views.
Consultation has now closed, and we are reviewing your feedback to help finalise the policy.
Read more in our Consultation updates.

Background

Our Community Engagement Policy guides how we seek your feedback on our strategic plans, infrastructure projects, programs, new initiatives and more. This policy was endorsed in 2021. We are reviewing the policy to make sure it continues to meet the needs of our community.

We want to ensure that you, our community, are involved in decisions that affect you.

We do this through a clear, inclusive, and respectful processes. Guided by the Local Government Act 2020 and the International Association of Public Participation’s (IAP2) spectrum of engagement, we seek community input to inform our decisions, support transparency and meet community needs.

  • Consultation on draft policy now closed

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    Consultation on the draft policy has now closed. Thank you to everyone who completed the survey or provided a submission.

    While we received a small number of submissions from people in Manningham communities during phase 2 of the consultation, the feedback was thoughtful, detailed and valuable. We are now reviewing all survey responses and other submissions and will report back by December 2026 on what we heard.

    These findings will inform and shape the final version of the policy, which is expected to be presented to Council in early 2027 for endorsement before it is published.

    Overall for the policy review, consultation with communities included:

    Phase 1:
    July - September 2025 - a survey and ideas board on Your Say Manningham to understand what is important to you in our community engagement approaches, what works and what doesn't work
    March 2026 - focus groups with people in communities, including with our Community Advisory Committees to go into feedback in more depth

    You can read a summary of the findings from phase 1 consultation here.

    Phase 2:
    September - October 2026 - opportunity to read and review the draft policy and provide feedback via survey or email, phone, in-person submission.



    Consultation on the draft policy has now closed. Thank you to everyone who completed the survey or provided a submission.

    While we received a small number of submissions from people in Manningham communities during phase 2 of the consultation, the feedback was thoughtful, detailed and valuable. We are now reviewing all survey responses and other submissions and will report back by December 2026 on what we heard.

    These findings will inform and shape the final version of the policy, which is expected to be presented to Council in early 2027 for endorsement before it is published.

    Overall for the policy review, consultation with communities included:

    Phase 1:
    July - September 2025 - a survey and ideas board on Your Say Manningham to understand what is important to you in our community engagement approaches, what works and what doesn't work
    March 2026 - focus groups with people in communities, including with our Community Advisory Committees to go into feedback in more depth

    You can read a summary of the findings from phase 1 consultation here.

    Phase 2:
    September - October 2026 - opportunity to read and review the draft policy and provide feedback via survey or email, phone, in-person submission.



  • Give feedback on the draft community engagement policy

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    Help shape our Community Engagement Policy

    Council has endorsed a draft Community Engagement Policy. We’re inviting feedback from our communities before the policy is finalised.

    You can have your say between Thursday 24 September and Thursday 22 October 2026. You can provide feedback by:

    Help shape our Community Engagement Policy

    Council has endorsed a draft Community Engagement Policy. We’re inviting feedback from our communities before the policy is finalised.

    You can have your say between Thursday 24 September and Thursday 22 October 2026. You can provide feedback by:

    • Completing the online survey
    • Submit your feedback in writing to yoursay@manningham.vic.gov.au
    • by phone, email or in person - using the contact details listed under the ‘Who’s listening’ section below.

    Please contact us if you need an interpreter, accessible format or other assistance to participate.

    What is the policy about?

    The draft policy explains how we'll involve the community in decisions that affect them, for example Manningham Council policies, strategies, and service planning.

    It outlines how we approach community engagement in a formal and planned way.

    This draft policy was developed based on consultation with communities and Council staff in 2025 and 2026.

    You can see a summary of that consultation and how it informed the policy here.

    What are you seeking feedback on?

    We are seeking feedback from the community on the policy itself, and the guidance it provides for how we engage with the community in the future.

    We are not seeking feedback on specific projects, plans or services, how engagement was carried out in the past, or the overall scope of the policy.

    Some parts of the policy are also shaped by Victorian legislation (for example the 5 Community Engagement Principles) and therefore can’t be changed.

    After you have read the policy, we want to know:

    • is the policy clear and easy to understand?
    • is the level of detail right?
    • is there anything missing that you think should be included?

    The survey includes questions on these topics, along with opportunities to share additional comments.

    We’re particularly interested in what stands out to you, whether the policy reflects what matters most to you when engaging with us, and how it could be improved.

    We encourage everyone to read the draft policy and have their say.

Page last updated: 26 Oct 2026, 11:34 AM