There has been a lot of conversation lately about how we communicate and consult with our communities.
We hear a lot of words like community consultation, public participation, stakeholder engagement, have your say - it’s all about gaining feedback from the community to make decisions for the future. What they all have in common is a community based approach to learn or gain insight from that community.
A recently new way of thinking about community and gaining their opinions is taking a place-based approach.
Place-based approaches are collaborative, long-term ways to build thriving communities in defined geographic locations. It’s about partnering with the community and allows for shared accountability for outcomes and impacts. It is more than just talking to a group and getting ideas - it’s about taking them on the journey with you.
Place-based approaches target the specific circumstances of a place and engage local people as active participants in development and implementation, requiring shared decision-making. By engaging communities to understand how services and projects can work best for them, we can improve the effectiveness and outcomes of our support and investment.
I am a true believer in place-based approaches and have seen first hand how they can change a community and create real outcomes that benefit everyone involved.
At RDA Orana we specialise in place-based approaches, as our region is made of up different places, each with their own unique environments, economic conditions and people. These all affect how connected and supported people feel in their community.
