Stakeholder Engagement Framework

South West TAFE (SWTAFE) prepares students for in-demand jobs now and into the future through its campuses in Warrnambool, Hamilton, Portland and Colac. Its courses are taught by teachers with practical experience and industry connections. Capire was appointed to develop an organisational Stakeholder Engagement Framework and Toolkit for SWTAFE, incorporating both strategic and operational engagement.

The goal was to ensure that SWTAFE’s engagement with its stakeholders – from students, industry and local communities (externally) to academic and professional staff (internally) – is purposeful, targeted and contributes to achieving SWTAFE’s strategic goals.  

Engagement objectives 

1. To review the current engagement context to identify what’s working well and what needs improving.  
2. To bring together the great work happening across SWTAFE in one strategic model for student, industry and external stakeholder engagement, and identify areas for improvement. 
3. To better understand how stakeholders like to interact with SWTAFE.  
4. To link strategic engagement goals to operational delivery through an implementation plan and training.  

Approach 

A Co-design Working Group, comprising staff from across SWTAFE, was formed to guide and deliver an engagement program to inform development of the Framework and Toolkit. The group met four times to enable an effective, fit-for-purpose consultation program with staff, students, industry and the community. The consultation process involved interviews, focus groups and a survey. Findings were tested and refined with the Co-design Working Group and Executive Team.  

Outputs 

The resulting SWTAFE Engagement Framework provides a clear overview of why, when and how to engage stakeholders. The Toolkit is a practical, user-friendly resource that empowers staff to undertake engagement in a strategic and consistent manner. Together, these tools will support SWTAFE to conduct transparent, respectful, responsive and ongoing dialogue with its wide and varied stakeholders.