Capturing the attention of a thirty-something

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How do we best invite the general public to get involved with decision making that affects them?  Over the last month I decided to take my ‘community engagement practitioner’ hat off and to put on my ‘young-ish woman living in South Australia’ hat on and monitor how many times I came across requests for my input into decision making!

In the car park – Adelaide City Council

After a recent trip to the hairdressers in Adelaide, I was returning to my car which was park in one of those big multistory car parks.  I remember observing some big Adelaide City Council posters next to the lifts.  As I waited, I read that Adelaide City Council was in the process of conducting a community consultation on their Draft 2009-10 Business Plan and Budget and they wanted my feedback.

What a great initiative of Adelaide City Council to put information where the general public could see it!

I didn’t take action on the poster and provide any feedback but providing ways that the public can easily ‘get involved’ is a whole other article.  However, my awareness of the consultation was raised and that, in my opinion, is an achievement that Adelaide City Council should be proud of.

In the laundrette – City of Charles Sturt

One rainy Sunday afternoon, I took my pile of wet washing to the local laundrette and whilst my undies were tumbling, I browsed through the magazines.  Curiosity made me pick up the City of Charles Sturt newsletter, Kaleidoscope. 

In the newsletter was an article about the Council budget laid out like a shopping list.  Having worked with the City of Charles Sturt in the past, I remember conversations about how the community just aren’t (in general) interested in reading through hefty budget documents, let alone providing feedback.  This was a great way to lay out the information and immediately grabbed my attention.

Again, I didn’t take action and provide any feedback but I was made aware of the local Council seeking my feedback.

Well done to the City of Charles Sturt!

In the mail – City of Onkaparinga

As a rate payer for the City of Onkaparinga I was interested to receive information on a current consultation on their Draft Annual Business Plan 2009/10.  I had every good intention of reading the summary document they’d sent and perhaps dropping them an email with some feedback.  This never eventuated though and I’m guessing the document ended up in the recycle bin!

Whilst I didn’t act on the request for feedback, I think that the City of Onkaparinga should still receive some recognition that they reached out to me and grabbed my attention.  Good work!

Via twitter – Sydney Metro & Bang The Table

Now with this one, I let my ‘community engagement practitioner’ hat accidentally slip on.  I follow Bang The Table on Twitter and was interested to read that they were conducting an online consultation with Sydney Metro.  As a former Sydney commuter, I was instantly interested and clicked through straight away.

Despite my quick response to the request for input into decision making, I actually didn’t end up making any comments because I didn’t really find anything relevant to my short time as a Sydney commuter but Bang The Table and Sydney Metro certainly win the prize for getting me closest to providing feedback!

So what have I learnt?

I’ve been impressed that local Governemt in particular seems to be really picking up on innovative ways to inform the community of current opportunities to get involved with decision making.  This is a very position step in the right direction.

However, the one consultation that got me closest to providing feedback was the one at the touch of a button.

So as a young(ish) woman, it would appear that I’m too busy going to the hairdressers, doing my laundry and generally living life to deal with paperwork!

However, if you capture my attention (preferably online) and make it relevant to my world… I’m all yours.