We’ve drafted a new Policy – now it’s your turn!

Tell us how you like to have your say, what topics get you talking, and how we can keep you in the loop about future consultations. Help us make engagement at Yarra work better for everyone.

Yarra City Council’s Community Engagement Policy needs a refresh. Our current Community Engagement Policy and the Community Engagement Action Plan were adopted more than 4 years ago and before the adoption of the Community Vision 2036.

We have reviewed and updated the Policy to ensure it aligns with the Yarra Council Plan 2025-2029, our Community Vision including the 2025 Reflection and Update Addendum (PDF), other legislative requirements and current best practice engagement.   

The new draft Community Engagement Policy outlines our principles and approach to engagement, identifies when we will seek feedback from the community and sets clear standards for how we engage, how we promote opportunities to participate and how we report back on engagements.

What do we mean by community engagement?

Community engagement provides opportunities for everyone in Yarra to share their feedback on Council projects or policies. We are committed to meaningful engagement, and we are transparent about the level of influence that the community can have on the final decision or outcome.

Quality community engagement helps Council to make better decisions by understanding lived experiences and responding to community needs. We want to ensure that the community is at the heart of our decision-making.

Principles and commitments

The Local Government Act 2020 (section 55) outlines 5 engagement principles that must be met by all Victorian Councils. The new draft Community Engagement policy includes the 5 principles and we have provided a commitment statement for each principle.

We are including 2 additional principles that will guide our engagement work over the next 4 years.

Tell us what you think

We’ve developed a new draft Policy and now it’s over to you to tell us know what you think. We want to hear from the Yarra community to understand:

• how we can put the two principles into practice and what the commitments would be

• how you prefer to participate in consultations

• how you would like us to let you know about future feedback opportunities

• what topics you are interested in providing feedback on

• if there is anything you think should be included in the draft Community Engagement Policy to improve the way we engage at Yarra.

Have your say before 9am on Monday 15 December 2025.

Speak to us in person

Share your thoughts at one of our 2 in person pop ups, and we will shout you a coffee (or a hot drink) for your effort! Plus, there will be fun activities for children.

In the case of wet weather, please refer back to this page for updates. If we are unable to go ahead with the pop-up at the stated time, we will either reschedule to another date or find an alternative, indoor venue.

Please note all outdoor pop-up events are accessible and located in close proximity to footpath access. If you need an interpreter, Auslan interpreter or have any accessibility requirements to participate, phone 03 9205 5555.

Targeted stakeholder meetings

We will be connecting and engaging with targeted stakeholder groups, including children and young people, older people, people living with a disability, residents of public housing estates, business groups and representatives from Yarra's Advisory Committees.