The Australian State of Victoria's Department of Sustainability and Environment has recently revised a community engagement tool. They are known for a long and respectable history of innovation in the research and evaluation fields. These engagement tools can also be used effectively for planning evaluations. Below is a brief description of the materials, which are also downloadable from the bottom of this page. Complete information can be found at
This kit comprises three books, Book 1: an introduction to engagement, Book 2: the engagement planning workbook and Book 3: the engagement toolkit, plus a
CD-ROM (also available on the web). The purpose of the kit is to provide you with the necessary information and resources to plan the community engagement component of a project – from design and delivery through to evaluation and incorporation of learning.
This is the third edition of this publication. Its development provided the opportunity to build on the work undertaken in previous editions as well as to capture and share the experiences and learning of staff across the organisation and beyond.
• Book 1 outlines the principles and importance of effective engagement and sets out a model for developing best-practice engagement activities with communities and other stakeholders.
• Book 2 is a practical guide that takes you step-by-step through an engagement planning process using an ‘evidence-based’ approach. This book also provides a number of sample engagement planning documents and engagement case studies.
• Book 3 is a listing of various engagement tools with details of their purpose, use and requirements. Creating an Engagement Plan is a fluid and circular process. There is no ‘right way’ to approach community engagement. Every situation and circumstance is different and requires a tailored approach to enable appropriate participation. This kit cannot provide a proven formula for success but offers an exploration of the theory of engagement, guidance in planning and a number of tools that may be useful.
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