Democracy & Justice Research Flagship - Projects

Community consultation and the hard to reach: local government, social profiling and civic infrastructure

Project Code: LP0455219

The Hard to Reach project takes place at a time when there is increasing emphasis on good governance and the capacity of local government to strengthen communities. Consultation methods are seen as central to these processes, allowing local government to fulfil its role as a place for civic engagement at the neighbourhood level. In the broadest terms our research question is: What are the characteristics of successful consultation with hard to reach communities? This project aims to identify the conceptual and practical difficulties associated with including hard to reach groups in community consultation, investigate effective current practices, and pool resources and strategies for use across partner councils.

This project is a collaborative research venture supported by the Australian Research Council (ARC), being undertaken by The Swinburne Institute in partnership with eight local councils and the Victorian Local Governance Association. Partner councils to the project are the Cities of Boroondara, Darebin, Maribyrnong, Melbourne, Moreland, Nillumbik, Port Phillip and Whittlesea

Research Team

Investigators: Prof Denise Meredyth, Dr Nicola Brackertz, Dr Ivan Zwart and Prof Brian Costar

Publications and Other Research Outputs

Reports, working papers and articles

Consultation Policy and Practice: An Initial Overview (Word document) – March 2005 report summarising initial research

Consulting the 'Hard to Reach' in Victorian Local Government (PDF document) – December 2005 Working Paper summarising first year of the project

Community Consultation and the 'Hard to Reach': Concepts and Practice in Victorian Local Government – December 2005 report documenting the first year of the project

- Main report (PDF document)

- Appendix (PDF document)

Hard to Reach? Engagement, Governance and Community Consultation in Victorian Local Government (PDF), paper by Nicola Brackertz presented at the Governments and Communities in Partnership Conference, Melbourne, September 2006.

Who is Hard to Reach and Why? (PDF), working paper by Nicola Brackertz, January 2007.

Nillumbik Shire Council Case Study (PDF), report by Nicola Brackertz and Denise Meredyth, May 2007

City of Melbourne Case Study (PDF), report by Ivan Zwart, June 2007

City of Maribyrnong Case Study (PDF), report by Nicola Brackertz, June 2007

City of Whittlesea Study (PDF), report by Nicola Brackertz, October 2007

City of Port Phillip Case Study (PDF), report by Katrina Gorjanicyn, October 2007

City of Moreland Case Study Report: Focus on Fawkner Community Group (PDF) by Helen Sheil, Ivan Zwart, Nicola Brackertz and Denise Meredyth

City of Boroondara Case Study Report: Camberwell and Kew Structure Plans (PDF) by Katrina Gorjanicyn, Ivan Zwart, Nicola Brackertz and Denise Meredyth

Final report

Social Inclusion of the Hard to Reach – Community Consultation and the Hard to Reach: Local Government, Social Profiling and Civic Infrastructure (PDF) by Nicola Brackertz and Denise Meredyth, November 2008

• Publications
• Media Coverage
• Audio Visual Material