Is community consultation reform on the agenda in Victoria?

The Victorian Parliament’s Community consultation practices report from the Legislative Council Environment and Planning Committee provides a clear-eyed assessment of how well governments and public agencies engage with communities. And where improvement is necessary.

At a time when public trust is brittle, the report essentially seeks answers: are our institutions genuinely engaging communities, or merely performing engagement?

The report finds that consultation is too often inconsistent, unclear in purpose, and at times undertaken too late to genuinely influence decisions. The report calls for stronger, mandated application of the Victorian Public Engagement Framework across departments and the consultants who serve them. In addition, the report calls for clearer communication about the scope and influence of engagement; improved coordination to avoid consultation fatigue,’ and more inclusive approaches to reach underrepresented groups. On this last point, underrepresented or “hardly reached” groups, the report specifically identifies regional communities, young people, culturally diverse communities and people with disability as key groups missing from the conversation.

Importantly, the report and its authors highlight the need to move beyond standard tick-box, opt-in surveys and submissions toward more representative and deliberative models. As expected, the report stresses the importance of closing the loop, where governments and agencies clearly demonstrate how community input has informed decisions. This is seen as important to reverse trends and rebuild trust and legitimacy in our governments. While platforms such as Engage Victoria play a role, the report reinforces that digital tools cannot replace thoughtful, tailored engagement design.

Capire’s view on strengthening practice

At Capire, we see this report as both a validation and a call to lift the standard of engagement across Victoria, and Australia.

1. Start with purpose, not method
   Effective engagement begins with clarity. What decisions are open to influence, what is not, and why. When purpose drives design, communities better understand their role and expectations are managed early. This helps reduce mistrust from surfacing later.
2. Embed deliberative approaches where stakes are high
   For complex, contentious or high-impact decisions, deliberative processes such as community panels and citizens’ juries provide depth, representativeness and legitimacy. Random selection and structured learning phases help ensure diverse voices are heard, not just the loudest. See Capire’s recent deliberative engagement guidance for local governments preparing for 2028 council planning.
3. Design for inclusion not convenience
   Reaching underrepresented groups requires intentional design, culturally appropriate outreach, accessible formats, partnerships with trusted intermediaries, and sometimes co-design. Inclusion should be built into project planning and budgeting from the outset. Not an afterthought, not a footnote to engagement activity.
4. Close the loop quickly and transparently
   Trust is strengthened when governments clearly show how feedback has and has not shaped decisions. Reporting back should be timely, plain-English, and honest about trade-offs. Most people know that change is sometimes difficult, but necessary. There is no point in sugar coating outcomes.
5. Coordinate to avoid fatigue
   Strategic engagement planning across agencies can reduce duplication, prevent overload, and improve community willingness to participate. At Capire have seen and experienced great examples where government departments and agencies work together engaging stakeholders together. It is incumbent of practitioners in the public sector to work harder bringing seemingly separate, but ultimately related projects together.

The Committee’s findings reinforce a central truth:  engagement is not a compliance exercise. Done well, it builds community acceptance of change, improves decisions and strengthens democratic confidence. Done poorly, it doesn’t just erode trust, it pours accelerant on the slow-burn poly-crisis we face in society.

For organisations committed to meaningful community engagement, this moment presents an opportunity to embed higher standards. If you feel you and your team/project/program are ready to seize the moment, the team at Capire would love to join you for a coffee and a chat. Email me at [email protected]

Engage well!

Matthew Gordon, Client Executive, Capire Consulting Group