Since 2014, we’ve delivered more than 60 full scale deliberative engagement processes, led global masterclasses and established Australia’s first deliberative standing panels.

Our deliberative projects are founded on strong principles that ensure quality, integrity and impact, ensuring each project is deliberative in substance, not just in name.

We continually refine our practice, testing new, evidence-based innovations that seek to lead where deliberative democracy is going and achieve higher returns on investment for each process.

what is deliberative democracy?

Deliberative democracy (or deliberative engagement) is all about placing people closer to the affairs of government - putting them at the centre of the issue or decision that affects them.

Deliberative engagement done right is powerful. It can lead to new solutions for the most challenging problems we face (sometimes known as 'wicked' problems), improve policy outcomes and engender trust between citizens and government.

These processes build shared responsibility, meaning that outcomes are more likely to 'stick'.  They are less adversarial and more representative than many traditional engagement approaches, and can result in a number of long-term, transformative benefits for both organisations and participants.

the big book and other resources

As part of our commitment to the advancement of deliberative practice globally, we create and share resources to support others to build skills in this specialised area, many of which you can find in our deliberative democracy resource hub and most of which are free.

Our co-founders also authored the book Facilitating Deliberation: A Practical Guide, which has sold more than 400 copies acround the world.

DELIBERATION IS OUR SPECIALTY

Our team is made up of specialist deliberative engagement facilitators.

MosaicLab’s co-founders originally came together through a shared passion for deliberative engagement, and a shared goal to advance deliberative practice across the world.

Our facilitators are personally trained and mentored by our co-founders. They bring a wealth of experience in designing and delivering deliberative projects.

Deliberative processes can be called a range of names, including:

• citizens' juries

• community panels

• citizens’ assemblies

• deliberative forums

• participatory budgeting (where deliberative elements are included).

More information on the importance of facilitation in (and the different types of facilitation skills and experience required for) a deliberative process can be found here on the newDemocracy Foundation website. 

we seek to lead where deliberation is going

We are committed to:

• actively supporting the conversations about big public dilemmas that need to happen

• inspiring and transforming the way decisions are made

• enhancing deliberative practice through innovation, research and continuous improvement

• contributing to international conversations that support the advancement of deliberative democracy around the world

• advocating for quality engagement to be embedded in decisions that impact people

• generously sharing information, knowledge and learning and helping to build capacity in others.

WE DELIVER processes in any format

We deliver deliberative processes face-to-face and online. We also specialise in the design and facilitation of hybrid processes (a blend of both tailored to meet project needs).

We tailor process design to ensure our approach:

• meets your project budget and objectives,

• is tailored around the problem you are addressing,

• effectively engages participants in a meaningful way that meets or exceeds the experiential outcomes of an in-person process

WHEN TO DELIBERATE (AND WHEN NOT TO)

Quality engagement is tailored engagement - and your approach or process needs to be fit-for-purpose.  This means assessing where the participants are at, the history or context of the issue, and the aims of engagement.

We find that deliberative principles can be integrated into nearly every process that we deliver.   However, bigger (full) deliberative processes (such as a citizens’ jury) should only be used when the conditions are right.

Learn more about when to deliberate (and when not to) in this free resource, or listen to a discussion about when to use a deliberative process featuring our co-founder and director Nicole Hunter and NewDemocracy Foundation Executive Director Iain Walker.

ARE YOU DELIBERATION READY? 

Take the MosaicLab deliberation assessment test.
Start now

Prepare to deliberate - explore our training options.
Find out more

CASE STUDIES 

Discover examples of MosaicLab's deliberative engagement work and processes over on our case studies page.

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