Making International Best Practice Work in Australian Communities: Visioning, Community Panels, and Measuring Progress

Williams E¹*

1. Northern Territory Government, Community Engagement Division, Darwin, Australia

There are many models around the world for engaging communities. Many are relevant to Australia, but few can be successful unless they are adapted to suit the Australian context.

Wyndham’s Community Plan has been running for nine years. Wyndham’s community visioning, its Household Panel, and its Community Report Card are all based on a uniquely Australian governance model. Elements of Wyndham’s program have attracted a national award and international attention. Comparison and support from international best practice models shows that community capacity building in Australia can – and must – build on the unique strengths of Australian communities. This requires some changes from what is considered ‘best practice’ overseas.

Now elements of the visioning, household panel and community report card are being adapted for use in Australia’s regional and remote regions. Significant new challenges are emerging. Both challenges and successes will be covered in the presentation, which will focus on how to adapt ‘best practice’ models for use in Australian communities.

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