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.
Have a challenging issue to tackle but lack the resources for meaningful engagement? ML Giving is MosaicLab’s not-for-profit division and we’re here to help. We support emerging and under-served communities in fostering deeper conversations that drive real change. We believe everyone deserves a voice in shaping their communities. Learn how you can apply to work with us.
We have been in conversation recently with a community member who provided feedback on the experience of being part of a public deliberation. This panel member felt that there was a need for a much greater connection to be made between panel members. This article outlines some activities and suggestions for increasing the connection for a better outcome and improved experience for panel members.
Thanks to the pandemic, MosaicLab facilitators have had over 12 months of running online meetings and workshops, clocking over 300 online sessions! As a result, we now know what works well in this medium and what it takes for people to have meaningful conversations and contributions online. We shares our knowledge of the online meeting world with you through our Virtual Facilitation training course.
Find out more here.
Globally, 1,807 local government bodies, such as municipal councils, have declared a climate emergency within the past 5 years. But making a declaration is the easy part. Partnering with the community to come up with responses to such a momentous and complicated challenge is not something that every council is willing to take on. But those who do will be rewarded with ideas and momentum from the community that council cannot possibly achieve on its own.
In this article we share with you a story of a local council in Victoria who has partnered with their community to respond to the climate emergency together.
In November 2020 when the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Reference Committee held an inquiry into ‘Nationhood, national identity and democracy’ our Managing Director, Nicole Hunter, was there to give evidence about how deliberative processes could improve democracy and restore faith in the democratic process.
Area one is about the basics of sustenance. We can all benefit from a return to basics now and then. How many hours sleep do you function well on? If you don’t know this for sure, work it out. For the average healthy person if you have too much sleep you may feel sluggish, too little you may feel depleted. Clearly there are a range of things that impact whether we feel a little sluggish or depleted but by paying attention over time you will discern your magic number of sleep hours (give or take!).
Community engagement is often specific – about a particular community, about a place. In many Council planning projects, we tend to ask the question: what do you want to see for your community/council area in 5 years, 10 years, 20 years? This question, of course, meets each person in a different way depending on their relationship to the place. How, then, does it meet the young people we seek to engage?
As we start ‘spreading our wings’ and facilitating more face-to-face sessions we are finding new ways to mix up our processes and blending our insights from the last 12 months. As a result we have coined a new term ‘vrooming’ – this is when we blend mixed the face-to-face and virtual facilitation at the same time to bring the best of both worlds together.
