Establishing a community panel is one method of running a ‘deliberative’ community engagement process.

A deliberative engagement process puts the community and/or stakeholders affected by a decision at the centre of the decision, and brings citizens closer to decision makers and affairs of government. It’s built around a number of principles. These principles include:

• A diverse sample of people affected by the decision are selected to participate
• Participants are provided with detailed, in-depth information from a range of sources that helps them to understand the issues and options associated with the decision
• Participants are given the time and support they need to consider and discuss information and ideas, weigh up issues and options and agree on recommendations
• Participants will write their report which is presented directly to Council. The recommendations in their report will influence outcomes or decisions

The Panel will meet up to four times, with their discussions supported by professional, independent facilitators. Over these workshops, the Panel will discuss and share ideas based on a wide selection of information, including the results of broader engagement processes.

Understanding what is important for the community and future generations of Bass Coast will help Council respond to environmental, social technological and infrastructure challenges and more.

The Community Panel will offer an opportunity for up to 43 representative community members who will be provided with enough time and information to take a deeper dive into the issues relating to the future of Bass Coast.

This Community Panel, in conjunction with a wider community engagement process, will help to provide Council with a clear direction on the communities values and priorities and will establish a set of recommendations for Council which will be used to inform the following:

• Council Plan 2025-29

Reviewing

• Community Vision 2041
• Long Term Financial Plan
• Asset Plan 2022

The Community Panel will meet over five non-consecutive workshops.

Panel members will receive presentations from a range of Council Officers and subject matter experts as well as representatives of special interest.

Community Panel members will also participate in interactive, facilitated workshops to analyse data gathered from the broad community engagement and develop recommendations.

The Panel will work together (with the support of professional facilitators) to consider a wide range of inputs, ideas and evidence, discuss the question and decide a response. This response will be detailed in a report that the Panel members will create together and present to Council.

Workshops will be held:

Workshop one – meet and greet

Wednesday 19 March 2025 - 5.30pm - 8.30pm - Silverwater Resort, 17 Potters Hill Road, San Remo

Workshop two – deliberation and small group workshops

Saturday 29 March 2025 - 9.00am - 5.00pm - Silverwater Resort, 17 Potters Hill Road, San Remo

Workshop three – work together with support on creating the Community Vision

Wednesday 23 April 2025 - 5.30pm - 8.30pm - Online

Workshop four – bringing it all together

Wednesday 7 May 2025 - 5.30pm - 8.30pm - Silverwater Resort, 17 Potters Hill Road, San Remo

We understand this is a time commitment so participants will be paid $300 for attending all workshops. This is a great opportunity to have your say and be involved in local decision making and participants will be compensated for their time and effort.

Unfortunately, we require Panel members to attend all workshops. We understand that life happens and unforeseen circumstances that arise during the Panel period will be managed on a case by case basis.

Panel members will be selected via a random selection process by our independent consultants, MosaicLab and Sortition. The selection process will seek to form a panel that reflects the diversity of the Knox community.

The selection will anonymously consider things like age, gender, language, where you live and household structure to select a group of people that reflect the diversity of the Knox community.

You will be notified

Our venues have full disability access. If you need it, we’ll provide technology support, translated materials, language and Auslan interpreters. We may be able to assist with transport and childcare needs – please let us know about your situation when we contact you.

If you attend all four sessions, you will receive $300 to cover any costs associated with your attendance and to recognise your time commitment. Light meals and refreshments are also provided.

If you are not selected we will let you know once the panel is finalised.

Across the life of the project you can stay up to date by clicking '+ Follow the project' at the top of this page. We will regularly share information, including on the work of the panel.

Council has engaged MosaicLab, an experienced facilitator specialising in Community Engagement, bringing a multidisciplinary approach. MosaicLab has extensive experience in state and local government, community and private sectors.

MosaicLab will work with the Panel on promoting informed discussion

• Enabling everyone have a chance to participate and contribute
• Remaining neutral and not having a stake or interest in the content or outcome
• Responding and adapting to the group’s needs, and
• Guiding the process in a way that helps the participant to do their work as effectively as possible

The Community Panel will meet both online and face-to-face.

Face-to-face workshops will be held at Silverwater Resort, 17 Potters Lane Road, San Remo.

Online workshop will be hosted via an online link.