To achieve effective community engagement, the Community Engagement and Partnerships Framework for Victoria’s Catchment Management Authorities (2012) was developed. It includes principles and common engagement and partnership approaches. It recognises that to achieve sustained practice change, engagement should be planned, tailored, targeted and inclusive. What success looks like Victoria has the most advanced catchment and land protection advisory system. Our Victorian Catchment Management Council and Catchment Management Authority boards have gender balance and wider diversity including representation from Aboriginal people, as well as relevant merit and skills appointees. Appointment processes consider geographic representation and knowledge of marine and coastal environments and climate change to better reflect emerging issues. Strengthened engagement leaves a lasting legacy of informed, involved and confident communities who understand the value of good natural resource management, and appreciate that their contribution improves the health of our catchments. Extensive community engagement involves diverse communities. It is effective and consistent across Catchment Management Authorities, with well-planned and targeted approaches that are evaluated. Engagement with Traditional Owners and Aboriginal communities is strengthened, and agreed approaches enable increased participation in regional planning and implementation with stronger links to cultural values. is increased capacity for diverse communities to participate in catchment management due to improved support of investment programs and participation in leadership development opportunities. Action 1.1: Strengthen the diversity and equity of community representation in the catchment and land protection advisory system. How Lead partners Success measures When Strengthen the gender equity and diversity of Catchment Management Authority boards and the Victorian Catchment Management Council. Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water No less than 50 per cent of new appointments across the catchment management sector are women. 2016–19 Increased representation from Aboriginal people on the council, boards, and committees. 2017–19 Investigate opportunities to broaden community representation and skills in the catchment and land protection advisory system. DELWP Gaps in community representation and skills are identified, and targeted engagement occurs during selection processes. 2017 Action 1.2: Strengthen community engagement in regional planning and implementation.
The Victorian Catchment Management Council and Catchment Management Authority boards will assess and report on their performance. VCMC CMAs Performance assessments against the key functions and obligations of boards and council are completed and reported on annually. 2016–19 Assess the obligations/expectations of relevant government bodies and their accountability for the implementation of Regional Catchment Strategies DELWP Propose options to the minister/government to enhance relevant governance instruments of key partners to incorporate expectations for the implementation of Regional Catchment Strategies. 2017 Action 4.2: Strengthen coordination between key catchment management partners. How Lead partners Success measures When Convert regional operating agreements into new catchment partnership agreements outlining roles and responsibilities of key organisations and how they plan to work together. CMAs DELWP DEDJTR PV The existing regional operating agreements are reviewed with improvements identified in the framing of catchment partnership agreements. 2016-17 CMAs DELWP DEDJTR PV corporations Local government Others Catchment partnership agreements are developed in each region (replacing the regional operating agreements) involving relevant key catchment partners. 2017-18 Provide more opportunity for coordination and partnerships among state-level partners. DELWP CMAs A catchments summit is established with key partners meeting occasionally for knowledge sharing, increased coordination and alignment of investment and implementation priorities. 2017-19 Strengthen the capacity of Catchment Management Authorities to foster and sustain partnerships to deliver natural resource management activities. CMAs 300 partnerships established and/or maintained. 2016–19