Use the Engagement Methods Tool to find the right tool for your community and stakeholder engagement project.
Public Hearings are a well-established engagement method often used in government, planning, and policy processes. They offer a formalised space for individuals, organisations, and interest groups to voice support, concerns, or objections to a proposal in a way that is documented and considered in decision-making. Typically facilitated by an independent chairperson or panel, Public Hearings […]
Town Hall Meetings are public forums where community members gather to hear from decision-makers, ask questions, and provide feedback on policies, projects, or local issues. Traditionally held in large halls or community spaces, they have evolved to include hybrid and virtual formats. They often feature brief presentations followed by open Q&A sessions or breakout conversations. […]
A Referendum is a formal, structured process that enables eligible voters to make a binding decision on a specific issue — typically by casting a “yes” or “no” vote. Most commonly used in constitutional or high-level policy matters, referenda are administered by electoral commissions and involve strict legal and procedural frameworks. In a local government […]
Pop-Ups are short-term, mobile engagement activations set up in busy community locations like markets, shopping centres, festivals, or public transport hubs. These highly visible and accessible stalls or booths are designed to catch people “where they already are,” offering simple and engaging opportunities to learn about an issue and provide quick input — often through […]
Participatory Arts is an expressive engagement method that invites people to explore and share ideas, experiences, or community issues through creative mediums such as visual art, music, performance, storytelling, or multimedia. Led by artists or cultural facilitators, participants co-create artworks that reflect their identities, hopes, or concerns, often culminating in a public exhibition or performance. […]
Live Polling is an interactive method used to gather real-time feedback from participants during a meeting, event, or online session. Using tools like Slido, Mentimeter, or Poll Everywhere, facilitators can pose multiple choice questions, word clouds, or open text prompts, with results visible instantly on a shared screen. Live polling energises sessions, boosts participation, and […]
Community Organising is a long-term approach to civic participation that focuses on building the leadership, relationships, and collective power of everyday people to address issues that affect their lives. It typically involves identifying local leaders, building networks of trust, mapping shared concerns, and developing strategies for action. Unlike one-off consultations, community organising is deeply relational […]
Collective Action refers to coordinated efforts by a group of people working together to address a shared issue or pursue a common goal. It is often grassroots in nature and may involve community-led campaigns, rallies, clean-up days, public art projects, or advocacy initiatives. The power of collective action lies in its ability to mobilise people […]
Collaborative governance is a participatory approach to decision-making and problem-solving that brings together stakeholders from various sectors—government, private, non-profit, and community groups—to address complex societal challenges or achieve shared goals. This model emphasises inclusivity, transparency, and consensus-building to foster sustainable solutions and improve public outcomes. Key Features of Collaborative Governance Multi-Sector Engagement: It involves collaboration […]
Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) also known as Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) is a systematic method for evaluating and comparing alternatives based on multiple, often conflicting, criteria, helping decision makers choose the best option. The aim is to allow groups to determine and agree on a set of criteria and weightings to apply to their decision […]
Dotmocracy, also known as dot-voting or idea rating, is a method for group prioritisation to help progress ideas or action.
Voting on a series of options.
Storytelling helps people make sense of the world and engage with each other on a different level.
Similar to an opt-in e-panel except members are randomly-selected to avoid bias.
Community members opt in to be part of an online engagement panel.
Individualised letters sent to affected or interested community members and stakeholders.
Interactive computer application designed for smartphones, mobile devices and computer tablets.
A structured group of community or stakeholder representatives that meet regularly and operate under a Terms of Reference. Can vary from members providing their own feedback or ideas, to members acting as a conduit between the broader community and organisation.
An online series of posts about an engagement project or issues, which the community can share and comment on.
Advertisements paid for in print, broadcast or online mediums. Can be used to promote projects, engagement activities or to meet legal obligations.
Deliberation and decision making is undertaken by decision makers in view of the public, such as in a public gallery or by video streaming, to enhance transparency and accountability.
Community engagement or project teams go door-to-door to liaise with affected residents.
A website where content is not owned by a specific person or organisation, but is created, deleted or modified by members of the public.
A small group discussion hosted by a facilitator about a focussed topic.
Online interactive web-based seminar, presentation or workshop.
A structured process where participants discuss a question or series of questions at a group of small tables.
Community and stakeholders are invited to tour a site to gain a deeper understanding or to gain first-hand experience.
A meeting organised by either the organisation or community with presentations and questions asked by the crowd.
A method for hosting a meeting, conference or summit which is focused on a particular purpose or topic, but which has no formal agenda set.
One-on-one discussions to explore and understand community or stakeholder needs, perspectives, insights and feedback, and to build relationships.
A form of discussion where participants agree to suspend judgments to fully explore a question and seek shared meaning.
Large numbers of people who are selected to be representative of the population and be a part of a panel that deliberates on a range of issues over a set period of time. Surveys are distributed during the time to understand community attitudes, feedback, issues and behaviour. Can track changes as well.
Presentations and discussions with community or stakeholder groups. Can vary widely from informing to gathering feedback, ideas or options.
Process where the community works with an organisation through its budgeting process.
Media releases, pitches or briefings provided to journalists to publish free editorial on engagement projects or issues.
Citizens edit and shape documents and reports through a series of circulating documents.
A public information session incorporating a series of displays or stations staffed by technical experts, engagement professionals or the project team.
A highly-structured method involving a representative jury or panel of non-expert citizens who deliberate during a chaired public hearing held over 2-4 days where they hear evidence from a range of different experts. Jury members decide who to call in as expert witnesses. Participants make recommendations or decisions.
A leaderless meeting where participants take a seat in a central circle to discuss a topic or question, that is controversial. Those watching follow a structured process to enter into the circle of discussion. Designed to voice multiple perspectives.
A representative sample of citizens are randomly selected to form a citizen’s jury which deliberates on a problem or opportunity. The jury hears evidence from witnesses, in front of a public gallery, before adjourning to deliberate and make a recommendation or decision.
Participants individually write their ideas, concerns, issues on cards. These are shared in small groups then categorised by the whole group.
A group activity to identify and then prioritise issues, concerns or ideas.
