The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) engaged Capire to review its education and engagement programs to understand effectiveness, inclusivity and strategic alignment. The review aimed to ensure the VEC meets its mandate to support civic participation across Victoria’s diverse communities.
Capire applied a thematic analysis of internal documents, stakeholder interviews, workshops and case study reviews. The project identified strengths, gaps and opportunities in the VEC’s education and engagement approaches, leading to a final report with clear, evidence-based recommendations.
The review provided the VEC with valuable insights into its programs, highlighting ways to build internal capacity, improve accessibility and strengthen community trust. The findings will guide future engagement strategies, ensuring that the VEC continues to innovate and deliver inclusive programs that support democratic participation across Victoria.
Following the review, Capire was re-engaged to deliver some of the recommendations, including developing an organisation-wide Engagement Framework and Electoral Participation Plan. This program of work included a secondment, with a senior Capire staff member providing in-house leadership to the VEC Engagement and Education Team 2-3 days a week for six months.
Extensive consultation was undertaken, including executive workshops, staff drop-ins, external advisory group feedback, and a series of sessions with the Engagement and Education Team to co-develop the Framework and Plan. The in-house Capire role enabled the process of developing the strategies to be grounded in the realities of how the VEC operates, and tailored to address the unique challenges and opportunities of their context.
The resulting Engagement Framework and Electoral Participation Plan was robust and fit-for-purpose. It provides the VEC with a clear way forward for engagement into the future.
