Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2013C00288:reg:5:p1
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2013C00288
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 5 (pt 1/5)
Character Range: 3102539–3106409

5                   Community engagement techniques
An effective community engagement plan includes all affected stakeholders and uses techniques that ensure that those who wish to participate in the engagement are able to do so. Achieving effective engagement with stakeholders relies on selecting methods of communication that will reach the target groups.

Determining the extent of engagement depends upon the nature and impact of the contaminants, the proximity of the community, and the particular stage of the assessment process. As a general guide, the more significant the impact of the contamination on the community, the more community participation is expected. It is important to recognise that there is no single stakeholder and that different techniques need to be used to reach different stakeholders. It is also important to recognise that a combination of one or more techniques may need to be used to effectively engage with a particular stakeholder. Moreover, engagement is most likely to be effective if it builds on or creates an ongoing relationship between various stakeholders.

The choice of techniques will depend on a number of factors including:
    * the purpose of involving the wider community
    * the stage of the process
    * the nature of the wider community and their willingness to participate
    * the likely impact of the contaminants and the assessment process
    * timelines
    * the skills and resources that are available.

A description of a range of engagement techniques, and the advantages and disadvantages of each, is provided below.

5.1              Engagement techniques: summary of advantages and disadvantages

Group techniques
Technique          Description and Guidelines                                                                                                                                                                                                            Advantages                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Disadvantages
Public meetings    Usually more than 20 people, self-selection by advertised invitation, formalised proceedings aimed at presenting information to large audience, conducted at a time and location to suit most people, needs to be widely publicised.  Provides a forum for information dissemination and exchange with large numbers, may incorporate other techniques such as workshops, brings a wide range of people together.                                                                                                                    Focused discussion on one issue is difficult, more articulate and better prepared members of the community may dominate, less vocal sections of the community may not express their views.
On-site meetings   Open-air community meetings held on-site or adjacent to the affected site to provide information, gauge interest and explain process and procedures.                                                                                  Enables interested individuals to gain an understanding of the issues involved. Useful for site contamination as standing on the site can remove some aura of the unknown.                                                                                                                     Accessibility to site not always possible (for example, for aged or disabled community members, or for safety concerns).
Search conference  Usually 2030 participants selected to be heterogeneous but sharing an interest, staged discussion aimed at identifying broad cross-section of views on a variety of issues, lasting a day, weekend or longer.                        Can