Engaging with Queensland Communities

McConnell M¹*, Parker M¹*, Ryan M¹*

1. Department of Communities, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
2. Office of Rural and Regional Communities, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

The Queensland Government is committed to being responsive and accessible to all Queenslanders. Utilising a range of innovative community engagement mechanisms and networks, the Government is striving to work with communities so they are able to develop local solutions to local problems.

In May 2004 the Queensland Government announced a regional coordination framework comprises of three initiatives designed to improve delivery of Government services:

• An advisory committee to the Minister for Communities, Disability Services and Seniors – the Regional Queensland Council
• A new model for Regional Managers’ Forums – the Regional Managers’ Coordination Networks
• A new model for Ministerial Regional Community Forums.

The Forums are conducted regularly in 10 regions across Queensland. These Forums develop strategies to address regional issues and are attended by Cabinet Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries. Forums provide rural and regional Queenslanders with the opportunity to have input into State Government policy development and decision-making.

Forum members are chosen based on their ability to network with their local community and develop solutions to issues.

The strength of this framework is the tangible and powerful link it provides between the community and Government. The Regional Queensland Council convey major issues and solutions raised in Ministerial Regional Community Forums directly to the Minister. The Council also work with Regional Managers’ Coordination Networks to address and resolve operational issues relating to Government service delivery in regions.

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