Village Conversations | SA
Alexandrina Council
This award recognises that Alexandrina Council, using in-house resources, undertook a genuine, grass-roots approach to community engagement through their Strategic Plan Consultation process, ‘Village Conversations’. This small Council recognised that improved, meaningful engagement was needed to ensure that the process would appeal to diverse local communities, result in higher levels of participation and richer responses. A variety of engagement activities, facilitated by local Council staff from various Departments, were held in eight townships and online. Alexandrina Council identified leads to become ‘champions’ for their local places which has built relationships, capacity and legacy within the local community. Village Conversations resulted in outcomes for each community and real changes to the Strategic Plan. People of Alexandrina have influenced the Strategic Plan outcomes and have been authentically heard.