Engagement - Mendleson

We deliver engagement projects at all levels of the IAP2 Spectrum, including collaborative and deliberative projects. We have experience in a wide range of engagement methods, including broad ranging, multi-method programs that run over several years.

We can run complete projects from developing the engagement strategy, through to implementation and evaluation or you can bring us in to run any part of the process, e.g. helping run some of the methods, facilitating internal/external consultations, analysing the data analysis, evaluating the results, and developing the reports.

We regularly work with sensitive and controversial issues. Our constructive approach brings all parties together in a meaningful way.

Colac Otway Shire

Community Vision and Council plans

In 2020/21, Nicola Mendleson and Desley Renton partnered with the Colac Otway team to deliver a successful deliberative process which informed the development of the Community Vision 2040, Council Plan, Municipal Health and Wellbeing Plan, Asset Plan, and Financial Plan.

The Council team was keen to increase their skills in deliberative engagement processes as well as maximise the limited budget available for consultants and so this project was very much a partnership approach. Nicola and Desley led the development of the communications and engagement plan, the design, recruitment and facilitation of the deliberative process, and guided the implementation of the project which was divided between the in-house team and the consultants.

A high proportion of the councillors were newly appointed, new to engagement and initially sceptical of the value of the deliberative process. Nicola and Desley facilitated workshops for councillors to build commitment to, and understanding of, the deliberative process and ensure that the process met their objectives. Councillors were very supportive of the results of the process and impressed at the depth of discussions and quality of the recommendations.

The program started with broad engagement across the shire via pop-ups, surveys and key stakeholder workshops. The results of this first stage of engagement informed the deliberative process that developed the draft Community Vision 2040 and explored key issues in depth.

Colac Otway Shire is a very diverse and geographically spread municipality. Panel members came from a variety of backgrounds and locations, and demonstrated a willingness to understand the needs of different people, e.g. rural vs urban, tourism/business/agriculture as well as the constraints facing Council to develop practical solutions to achieving the aspirations of their community.

Department of Education and Training

Launch of Auburn High School

In December 2013, Hawksburn Secondary College was closed due to low student numbers. In January 2014, Auburn High School opened on the site. Mendleson developed and implemented the engagement and communications strategy, aiming to build local community support and student numbers fast.

The program included engagement with the school community, key feeder schools, primary school parents, key stakeholders such as local MPs, media and Council, and range of engagement methods. Mendleson engaged and supervised a branding company to develop a new look and feel for a new logo and communications materials, and a social media specialist to develop and implement a social media strategy.

Mendleson partnered with the school for five years to build awareness, oversee internal and external engagement and mentor the internal team to take over. The new school launched with 30% increased enrolments and numbers built each year by over 25%.

DEECA

Analysis Of Public Consultations

Mendleson analysed the feedback received from the public consultations into the 2015 Review of the Victorian Climate Change Act and the 2017 Review of Retail Gas and Electricity markets.

Both these projects involved rapid analysis of the many submissions and developing a summary report of key themes, content and quantitative analysis to aid the Independent Review Panels. Many of the submissions were complex and technical and these were large projects completed under tight time pressures. We received very positive feedback from both panels.

Pacific Hydro

Developing and Implementing Process for Community Funds

We designed and delivered a deliberative process where a rural community was empowered to decide how to distribute funds available from a new wind farm being constructed in their locality.

Neighbours of the wind farm had vehemently opposed the project during the development phase. Empowering the neighbours to decide how the funds would be spent was potentially a high-risk engagement strategy which required extreme care in the delivery. It was important that this process had community ownership and was trusted by the neighbours.

A Community Partnerships Group (CPG) was formed and met eight times between March and September 2017. It was made clear at every meeting that the community had ownership of the process and of how the funds would be allocated. Over the course of the process, the CPG developed Terms of Reference for the group, decided upon a process for allocating the funds, allocated the funds and evaluated the process.

The group decided that it wanted to establish a community fund whereby local groups could apply for funding. During subsequent meetings, the group developed Terms of Reference for the fund, criteria for funding, decided how the fund would be promoted, the application and allocation process and the voting process. They also developed the process for continuing the group operation and membership over the following 24 years. At the sixth meeting, the first year’s funds were allocated by consensus despite many more applications than money available.

Two aspects of the process illustrate the members’ high degree of engagement in the process. Firstly, once the initial members understood the purpose of the project and the benefits it could bring to their local community, they enthusiastically recruited other members who could add value and broaden the representation. Group members were very active in promoting the fund, including organising a letterbox leaflet drop, putting up posters in community meeting places, approaching local groups to encourage them to apply, and discussing applications so that they didn’t conflict.

In the post-project evaluation, all members said that their objectives and expectations for participating in the group were achieved. They commented that the process had facilitated an effective, simple and smooth process that had empowered the members to make good decisions for their community.

Developing and Implementing Process for Community Funds

City of Glen Eira

Financial Sustainability Plan

In 2023, Desley Renton and Nicola Mendleson partnered with the City of Glen Eira on a broad engagement program and deliberative engagement process to inform the development of a Financial Sustainability Plan.

In a time of rapidly increasing cost pressures, Council wished to seek community views on service and infrastructure priorities and identify how it could generate income to pay for what the community values most. The community feedback and recommendations will be considered by Council to inform a financially sustainable future.

The engagement program was designed and implemented within tight timeframes and budget, with four weeks for the recruitment process and four weeks for the panel process. Nicola and Desley partnered with the Council team to make the most of in-house resources. The consultants led the development of the strategic approach, engagement plan and deliberative process with the in-house team leading the communications, coordination and logistics.

The consultants attended several Council meetings to bring the Councillor team on the journey, ensuring that their needs were met, concerns were addressed, and that they had input into the process. Councillors attended part of each panel session and provided positive feedback.

Information provided to the panel members was carefully considered as the subject matter was complex, sensitive and potentially dry. It was very rewarding to see the high level of collaboration in the room as people worked together to understand the issues and give the Council clear directions.

Melbourne Water

Small Business Guidelines

We worked with the Melbourne Water Community Engagement team to review engagement and construction processes with the aim of reducing the impact of long term construction projects on local small businesses. This project included benchmarking research, reviewing current processes, and developing guidelines for engagement and project staff that have been implemented across the organisation and have attracted favourable comment from the Victorian Small Business Minister.

Advisory Groups

We have worked with many different types of advisory groups for over 25 years. This has given us a deep understanding of how to plan, recruit and facilitate high performing advisory groups so that they achieve the objectives of both our clients and the communities/stakeholders. We also work with clients to review, reinvigorate and graciously close groups.

Melbourne Water

Biodiversity Conservation Advisory Committee

Since 2010, we have supported Melbourne Water’s engagement by providing engagement and secretariat services to this dedicated group of conservationists, birdwatchers and scientists who provide great value to the Melbourne Water team.

City of Kingston

Facilitated the Community Reference Group

Over 2022/3, facilitated the Community Reference Group that is guiding the development of a new aquatic centre, Council’s largest-ever infrastructure project.

Department of Health and Human Services

Food Safety Council

We worked with this Ministerial Advisory Group for four years providing engagement and secretariat services.

Bayside City Council, City of Glen Eira City of Port Phillip, City of Kingston, Melbourne Water

Elster Creek Forum

This innovative collaboration is taking a catchment-wide approach to flood management. Nicola facilitated a community forum in 2017 to get feedback on the draft flood strategy and was the independent chair of the Community Reference Group over 2017-18.

Melbourne Water

Masons Road Advisory Committee

Facilitated a successful outcome with residents outraged about tree removal in a local park that resulted in a satisfactory outcome for all and jointly developed plans for the redeveloped park.

Manningham City Council

Flooding and Stormwater Management

Nicola is currently facilitating the Flooding and Stormwater Management Community Reference Panel that is informing the development of the Integrated Water Management Strategy.

Department of Transport

Route 66 Redevelopment Traders Reference Group

In 2019/20 Nicola was the Independent Chair of the Traders Reference Group for Nicholson Street Village.

Great Ocean Road Coast Committee

Point Grey Redevelopment in Lorne

Nicola was the Independent Chair of the Community Reference Group for this sensitive infrastructure project.

Biodiversity Conservation Advisory Committee