Drawing on discussions from the Big Deliberative Debrief (August 2025), this report examines how Victorian councils are implementing deliberative engagement since the Local Government Act 2020. It identifies what’s working well, the critical challenges practitioners face, and the changes needed to deepen the quality and impact of deliberative practice.
Key themes include managing councillor engagement, building internal organisational buy-in, setting ambitious remits, demonstrating return on investment, and navigating legislative ambiguity. The report offers practical recommendations for councils planning their next deliberative processes.
Download the Report: Deliberative Engagement in Victorian Local Government
This report is the first in the Practice Insights series – synthesising observations and practitioner experiences to support the development of public participation practice.
Join the Research
Through the Centre for Deliberative Democracy, University of Canberra, Emanuela is undertaking research to understand how deliberative engagement is being interpreted and applied across Victorian councils, where capacity building is needed, and what support would best equip the sector to strengthen practice.
Council staff in roles such as community engagement, strategic planning, communications, governance, executive leadership, as well as elected representatives who have participated in or overseen deliberative processes, are invited to complete a survey about their experiences.
Findings will contribute to collective sector learning, help identify ways organisations can build capacity for stronger deliberative engagement practices, and will be shared broadly.
The survey closes Monday 16 March 2026.
About the author
Dr Emanuela Savini
Emanuela is both a researcher and practitioner, dedicated to supporting people to participate in decisions that affect their lives and to create the change they want to see in their communities. She founded Public Value Studio as a space for expanding civic participation and now leads its work as Director.
