How to conduct a Community Engagement Audit!

A comprehensive guide for Local Government to conduct an audit to benchmark and evaluate engagement practices

Local government plays a pivotal role in shaping the communities they serve, taking on a vast array of responsibilities from urban development to public health.

Community engagement is at the heart of local government operations, enabling councils to make informed decisions that truly align with the needs and priorities of their communities. It is a critical component for developing effective policies, strategies, programs, and projects.

Transparent and well-managed community engagement practices ensure that decisions made by local governments are democratic and accountable to the communities they serve.  But how do you know how well your Local Council is performing in this area?

How to conduct a community engagement audit in your Council!

Viv Warren Consulting has developed a new Community Engagement Audit tool. It’s designed to help local governments track their engagement journey, assess how well the process is embedded within their organisation and measure its effectiveness on significant projects.

It’s a practical and valuable tool for councils to self-evaluate how effectively they are engaging with stakeholders and the community. It helps identify strengths and areas for improvement, ensuring councils can meet their engagement responsibilities effectively.

Auditing community engagement starts with your own self-assessment

Viv Warren Consulting’s Community Engagement Audit tool is practical tool, designed to systematically evaluate an organisations engagement practices. It delivers a comprehensive view of how embedded engagement is within the organisation.

The audit covers key areas such as:

• Level of commitment towards engagement,
• Culture of engagement within the organisation,
• Policies and frameworks guiding engagement practices,
• Integration of engagement into systems and processes,
• Available tools and templates,
• Resources and capability for effective engagement,
• Engagement quality for significant projects, such as community plans, budget processes, rates changes, and significant investments.

Councils can utilise the audit tool to self-assess their engagement practices against these critical indicators, producing a report that highlights strengths and pinpoints areas for growth. This reflective process paves the way for councils to enhance their community engagement practices, further embedding engagement as a way of making decisions.

Validating your audit to drive community engagement performance

Once you have completed your self-assessment, Viv Warren Consulting can carry out an independent validation for you, help you to identify areas of improvement and actions to embed engagement and enhance engagement practices across your organisation.

This additional step not only validates the findings but also collaborates with councils to identify and implement strategies for bolstering engagement practices.

Contact us now if your council is interested in exploring the benefits of independent validation and want to transform your community engagement efforts.

Start your FREE community engagement audit today

For a limited time, Viv Warren Consulting is providing access to the Community Engagement Audit free of charge. We will send you an email to seek feedback on the tool so we can pilot the tool and make any necessary adjustments.

Go to the community engagement audit and get started today!

More details on the need for Councils to engage

Community engagement isn’t just a matter of good practice; in many regions, it’s a legislative requirement. For instance, in Western Australia, the Local Government Act 1995 emphasizes “greater community participation in the decisions and affairs of local governments.”

The introduction of the Local Government Amendment Bill 2023 further highlights the significance of community engagement, mandating all local governments in Western Australia to develop and publish a Community Engagement Charter (CEC).

This focus on formalising community engagement through legislation, as seen in Western Australia, is not unique. Such legislation is reflective of a global trend towards more inclusive and participatory approaches in local governance.

For further information and support on how to conduct a community engagement audit

At Viv Warren Consulting, we’re committed to providing organisations with the essential tools and insights needed to excel in community engagement. Whether you require independent validation or are in search of customised strategies to enhance your engagement efforts, we’re here to assist.

By Viv Warren, Viv Warren Consulting