Darebin Community Engagement Policy

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

Darebin Council is working on a new way of engaging with the community. Your opinion and ideas matter and we want to make sure you have a voice in our decision making. To do this, we have created a new Community Engagement Policy to make it easier for all members of our community participate in important conversations about future projects.

We need your help to make sure we are on the right track. What do you think about our new policy?


What has happened so far

The existing Community Engagement Strategy and Framework was endorsed by Council in November 2019. The aim of the Strategy and Framework was to increase and enhance meaningful participation in Council’s planning and participation.

The Local Government Act 2020 which received Royal Assent on 24 March 2020, places new requirements on community engagement principles and requirements, which resulted in the review of our current Community Engagement Strategy and Framework and the development of the new policy.


What is happening now

View the new proposed Community Engagement policy or the summary document and share your thoughts on the following questions by 22 January 2021.

  • Our six community engagement principles include specific commitments to our community. Do you support these commitments?
  • Is there anything missing in the proposed Community Engagement Policy?
  • How do you want us to engage and communicate with you for future projects?
  • What kind of topics would you most likely participate in?
  • What does successful community engagement look like to you?

Share your thoughts:

Date: 16 January 2021
Time: 1pm to 4pm
Location: All Nations Park, Northcote (just south of the skate park)

Date: 17 January 2021
Time: 12pm to 3pm at
Location: Edwardes Lake Park, Reservoir (between rotunda and bridge)

Date: 22 January 2021
Time: 11am to 2pm
Location: Just outside Fairfield Library, Fairfield

  • Participate in a young people workshop at Darebin Youth Hub (for young people ages 12-25)

Spaces are limited for this fun interactive community engagement workshop so if you are a young person and are interested in attending please register below

Date: 20 January 2021
Time: 2pm to 3.30pm
Location: Youth Hub at Northland Shopping Centre, Preston
Register Now

  • Participate in a children workshop at Bundoora Park Farm (for children ages 7-12)

Spaces are limited for this fun interactive community engagement workshop so if you are interested in your child attending please register below

Date: 21 January 2021
Time: 10.30am to 12pm
Location: Bundoora Park Farm
Register Now

  • Talk to a Council Officer by telephone on 8470 8613
  • We will be conducting telephone surveys with randomly selected households across the municipality so keep an ear out, you might receive a call!

You can also ask us any questions you may have


Darebin Council is working on a new way of engaging with the community. Your opinion and ideas matter and we want to make sure you have a voice in our decision making. To do this, we have created a new Community Engagement Policy to make it easier for all members of our community participate in important conversations about future projects.

We need your help to make sure we are on the right track. What do you think about our new policy?


What has happened so far

The existing Community Engagement Strategy and Framework was endorsed by Council in November 2019. The aim of the Strategy and Framework was to increase and enhance meaningful participation in Council’s planning and participation.

The Local Government Act 2020 which received Royal Assent on 24 March 2020, places new requirements on community engagement principles and requirements, which resulted in the review of our current Community Engagement Strategy and Framework and the development of the new policy.


What is happening now

View the new proposed Community Engagement policy or the summary document and share your thoughts on the following questions by 22 January 2021.

  • Our six community engagement principles include specific commitments to our community. Do you support these commitments?
  • Is there anything missing in the proposed Community Engagement Policy?
  • How do you want us to engage and communicate with you for future projects?
  • What kind of topics would you most likely participate in?
  • What does successful community engagement look like to you?

Share your thoughts:

Date: 16 January 2021
Time: 1pm to 4pm
Location: All Nations Park, Northcote (just south of the skate park)

Date: 17 January 2021
Time: 12pm to 3pm at
Location: Edwardes Lake Park, Reservoir (between rotunda and bridge)

Date: 22 January 2021
Time: 11am to 2pm
Location: Just outside Fairfield Library, Fairfield

  • Participate in a young people workshop at Darebin Youth Hub (for young people ages 12-25)

Spaces are limited for this fun interactive community engagement workshop so if you are a young person and are interested in attending please register below

Date: 20 January 2021
Time: 2pm to 3.30pm
Location: Youth Hub at Northland Shopping Centre, Preston
Register Now

  • Participate in a children workshop at Bundoora Park Farm (for children ages 7-12)

Spaces are limited for this fun interactive community engagement workshop so if you are interested in your child attending please register below

Date: 21 January 2021
Time: 10.30am to 12pm
Location: Bundoora Park Farm
Register Now

  • Talk to a Council Officer by telephone on 8470 8613
  • We will be conducting telephone surveys with randomly selected households across the municipality so keep an ear out, you might receive a call!

You can also ask us any questions you may have


Ask your questions here

  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    Given that Darebin Council performance has been ideology driven for many years how does this new policy rectify this situation. Reading the summary provided does not give me any confidence that this will change.

    Tony Sullivan asked about 1 month ago

    Hi Tony Sullivan,

    Thanks for your question. The new proposed Community Engagement Policy will ensure that our decision making includes the voices of community members and will make it easier for all members of our community to participate in important conversations about future projects. We will do this through the minimum standards of engagement which we have embedded in the IAP2 spectrum of influence. The principles included also specify our commitment to the community in delivering open and transparent engagement, which will always conclude with a report back to the community. 

    I hope this information provides more clarity and we would of course welcome any feedback which you think would strengthen the policy. 

    Please give me a call if you have any further questions.

    Kind Regards,

    Sarah-Jade