On Wednesday, 26 February, Willoughby City Council hosted a planning meeting with sixteen local Council Community Engagement Practitioners to discuss the future purpose and objectives of the LG Engagement Practitioners Network.
The LG Engagement Practitioners Network is a group of community engagement professionals from local councils across metropolitan Sydney, hosted on the LGNSW website. The network meets quarterly to share insights, exchange knowledge, connect, and discuss current priorities and challenges within their field.
During the planning meeting, the group reviewed their Terms of Reference and analysed the results from the recent Engagement Practitioners survey. The survey aimed to gather feedback on the group’s goals, participation barriers, and optimal resource allocation.
Elle Brunsdon, Senior Policy Officer at LGNSW, provided an overview of the role and purpose of the LGNSW website, annual conference and awards event. She also discussed the potential for the Engagement Practitioners Network to play a more active role in lobbying for community engagement issues.
LGNSW kindly hosted the meeting in their city office boardroom, and catering was generously covered by a grant from IAP2 Australasia. The recognition of Community Engagement Practitioners at the local government level was greatly appreciated by all attendees.
There is an opportunity for all local Government Community Engagement staff to join this group and participate in online discussions, in-person meetings, and access best-practice resources. Information on how to join for free is available here: https://lgnsw.org.au/Public/Public/Members-Services/Networks.aspx
