28 recommendations. One message: Engagement practice across the Victorian Government sector isn't consistently good enough. The findings are not suprising - and we think, on balance, they are are fair. A framework already existed - it wasn't applied. So what will make things different this time? We’re exploring what this might mean in reality, what it would take to see a shift, and how the broader landscape across other sectors and states is shifting.
As we wrap up 2025, we’ve been thinking about the people we’ve had the privilege of working with and the conversations we’ve been honoured to support over the last twelve months. We’re also looking forward, and we expect to see continual shifts in engagement practice in 2026. From AI becoming BAU for enabling more effective conversations to new ways to increase representativeness, shifts are underway. In this post, we share our standout stats for 2025, and a video previewing three of the big trends we think organisations should be thinking about for their engagement programs in the new year.
Improving access to primary health care for multicultural communities was the focus of the North West Melbourne Primary Health Network (NWMPHN) community panel. Supported by an innovative AI tool, the panel developed practical recommendations and funding ideas for NWMPHN’s federal submission. This process highlighted the importance of genuine community involvement and continues to inform NWMPHN’s place-based health initiatives, showing that addressing barriers to care requires more than policy.
MosaicLab and Dambimangari Aboriginal Corporation co-designed a Code of Conduct training that brought values to life. Over a day and a half, staff explored ethics and workplace behaviour through real-life scenarios, cultural storytelling, and hands-on activities - then shaped the Code in their own words, images, and symbols. The process built clarity, connection, and confidence - and ensured the team has a Code that’s lived, not just learned.
We don’t just facilitate conversations - we design them with purpose, strategy, and care. In under three minutes, our new video lifts the lid on what really happens behind the scenes at MosaicLab. It’s not just about what we do, but how and why we do it - and what makes our work different. Come take a look - this time, we’re the story.
MosaicLab is a small, busy, tight-knit team of facilitators and engagement practitioners. We’re always dashing off to meet a client, run a session or plan a process. Behind the scenes, however, are the unsung heroes of MosaicLab - the essential people that make us look good and keep the wheels turning.
We are very proud to introduce our wonderful, global, 'behind-the-scenes' team of superstars!
Today, with the help of a few guest experts, we’re responding to a subscriber participation dilemma. It’s an issue that has been put forward by several subscribers to our e-newsletter the Discussion as their ‘biggest community engagement challenge’.
Today’s challenge is representative views: how to ensure you’re hearing from people that are proportional to and reflective of the wider community or stakeholders you’re trying to engage with.
It’s important to consider and tailor your engagement approach to ensure you meet the needs of all stakeholders, and that includes those who have the most to say.
This mistake, however , lies in forgetting about everyone else. Suddenly, you realise the needs and opinions of a few have demanded time, attention and resources at the expense of the rest of your stakeholders or community.
Today we’re addressing this myth by providing 9 ways to ensure diverse perspectives make it into your next process.
We're very excited to announce that Part 1 of our three part, animated video series on deliberative engagement is now here!
Part 1 in a three part series on deliberative engagement. In this short animation, we overview what deliberative engagement (or deliberative democracy) is, the six principles of this engagement approach and how it tends to be differ from many other engagement approaches.
Deliberative engagement is a form of meaningful engagement, and each principle covered in this video could be integrated into any engagement process. In Part 2, we'll explore when to do deliberative engagement, and when to consider other types of engagement approaches. So stay tuned!
If you’re planning for engagement you need to consider how you engage one of your most critical stakeholder groups – decision makers. Involving them in an appropriate, effective way is a crucial step. We often see employees struggling to successfully navigate this part of their planning journey and, unfortunately, not only can it be tricky, it’s also one of the top reasons engagement processes fall over.
Get it wrong and you face a myriad of potential (unwanted) consequences. From lengthy delays to mid-process back tracking, community outrage to complete project cancellation –not only might your whole process fall over, you could cause irreparable damage to the reputation and relationships you’re attempting to build.
In today’s post, we’re highlighting the most common mistakes made in this space and providing 8 top tips for upping your decision maker engagement game.
In 2017, 27 everyday Barwon Water customers came together to deliberate over what they expect and value most when it comes to water and sewerage services. The group grappled with technical inputs, weighed up complex options, and considered diverse customer needs to determine how to balance prices and services.
The process was underpinned by Barwon Water’s commitment to listen to, respond to and collaborate with its customers. The project had a wide range of positive impacts, and, ultimately, a transformative effect on the organisation and its relationships.
When you think about the word ‘play’, what do you imagine?
We’re going to hazard a guess and assume what you don’t see is a group of adults considering important issues or strategic concepts. That’s because cultural norms suggest that play is more at home in a playground than a boardroom.
In this month’s myth buster, we’re going to ask you to put that limiting belief to one side for a moment. We’re exploring how play can be used to achieve positive outcomes and new possibilities in the professional world. Because, as it turns out, adults (even the suit-wearing ones) and organisations (even the big serious ones) might benefit from a little game now and then.
The rise of social media has transformed how we communicate with each other and how organisations communicate with their customers and communities. This rapidly changing landscape can be unforgiving to those who play it safe, and, often, government is seen to be lagging behind the private sector.
Effective communication is a key component of every engagement process. So, today we’re providing some communication inspiration - exploring some examples of bold, creative public sector campaigns that cut through the clutter.
A new Local Government Act is on the way in Victoria, with submissions on the the Exposure Draft of the Local Government Bill to close this Friday. The draft signals some changes to expectations around community engagement - a shift that is set to impact how councils engage in a number of ways.
In this post, we're summarising the key changes proposed in relation to engagement and highlighting what this might mean for councils and how they engage in the future.
