We all know that many of the best conversations happen round the kitchen table, and that’s where the Voice for Indi started, writes Bass Coast Mayor Neil Rankine.
WHEN independent Cathy McGowan won the Liberal stronghold of Indi at last year’s federal election, the political ground shifted.
The most astonishing aspect of the victory was the community campaign, known as ‘Voice for Indi’, that propelled McGowan to Parliament.
Good food and lots of good talk.
Last weekend, the organisers of Voice for Indi, including McGowan herself, hosted a one-day workshop to explain how they tapped into community knowledge and wisdom to identify the issues that mattered most to people in their area.
They organised the workshop in response to a flood of inquiries from people who wanted to know more about how a political campaign managed to involve literally hundreds of local people. Those attending included politicians, community activists, academics and councillors.
I was one of them. My interest was in understanding how Bass Coast Shire Council could use the techniques of Voice for Indi to better connect with our community.
Like all my fellow councillors, I believe in participatory democracy. Yet as councillors, we are frequently told that we are out of touch with what the community wants. We also often hear that we are doing the wrong thing. But how do we discover what the community wants?
How do we turn around the negativity and encourage our constituents to join the discussion, to think about the future, to articulate their vision for the kind of community they want?
When people understand the system, and engage with it, the community’s values and desires will bubble to the surface, but how do we make that happen?
The council already invites submissions on all our major policy changes, but rarely do more than a few respond. Facebook and letters to the editor provide anyone with an easy option for a quick dig at council, or perhaps to express self-interest. What we’re often missing is comment from those who are normally quiet, and conversations about the broader good.
In Indi a small group initially just wanted people to discuss how things could be better, so they encouraged conversations. We all know that many of the best conversations happen round the kitchen table. And that’s where the Voice for Indi started, with multiple conversations over many shared meals.
Strategically the hosts were encouraged to invite people outside their usual circle of friends, as the aim was to discover what mattered most to the whole community. The hosts for these, ‘kitchen table conversations’ encouraged everyone attending to become hosts for further conversations.
Within a few weeks, people were meeting everywhere, including pubs, parks and playgrounds. The meetings often involved food and sharing, which helped to create a safe environment where everyone’s views were treated with respect.
I was struck by the fact that members of Voice for Indi came from a range of different backgrounds and had very different political ideals. What they had in common was a shared concern that the current political system did not reflect the community.
Which brings me back to Bass Coast Shire Council. It’s clear many people feel their concerns aren't being addressed. We need them to spell out those concerns, but we also need them to be aware of what we as a Council can control and what is under state or federal government control.
All credit to Alan Brown’s Reform Team at the last Council election for actually getting people thinking and talking about local government. Ditto with the Stand Alone campaign on Phillip Island.
I’d love the discussions to broaden, and to be more enlightened.
At this week’s Council meeting we vote on releasing the coming year’s draft budget for public submissions. This is our plan for spending your rate money, along with state and federal government contributions. All up, it will total about $65 million.
I would love to see people analysing the draft budget, looking at where our money is being spent, even suggesting how it might better be spent. Our promise to you is that we will consider all submissions seriously before we bring the budget back for adoption in August.
Last year, we received just two submissions on our budget. This time I’d love to see dozens.
Or perhaps we should get around the kitchen table to talk about it. Please email [email protected] if you’re interested in a kitchen table conversation about the budget.
The most astonishing aspect of the victory was the community campaign, known as ‘Voice for Indi’, that propelled McGowan to Parliament.
Good food and lots of good talk.
Last weekend, the organisers of Voice for Indi, including McGowan herself, hosted a one-day workshop to explain how they tapped into community knowledge and wisdom to identify the issues that mattered most to people in their area.
They organised the workshop in response to a flood of inquiries from people who wanted to know more about how a political campaign managed to involve literally hundreds of local people. Those attending included politicians, community activists, academics and councillors.
I was one of them. My interest was in understanding how Bass Coast Shire Council could use the techniques of Voice for Indi to better connect with our community.
Like all my fellow councillors, I believe in participatory democracy. Yet as councillors, we are frequently told that we are out of touch with what the community wants. We also often hear that we are doing the wrong thing. But how do we discover what the community wants?
How do we turn around the negativity and encourage our constituents to join the discussion, to think about the future, to articulate their vision for the kind of community they want?
When people understand the system, and engage with it, the community’s values and desires will bubble to the surface, but how do we make that happen?
The council already invites submissions on all our major policy changes, but rarely do more than a few respond. Facebook and letters to the editor provide anyone with an easy option for a quick dig at council, or perhaps to express self-interest. What we’re often missing is comment from those who are normally quiet, and conversations about the broader good.
In Indi a small group initially just wanted people to discuss how things could be better, so they encouraged conversations. We all know that many of the best conversations happen round the kitchen table. And that’s where the Voice for Indi started, with multiple conversations over many shared meals.
Strategically the hosts were encouraged to invite people outside their usual circle of friends, as the aim was to discover what mattered most to the whole community. The hosts for these, ‘kitchen table conversations’ encouraged everyone attending to become hosts for further conversations.
Within a few weeks, people were meeting everywhere, including pubs, parks and playgrounds. The meetings often involved food and sharing, which helped to create a safe environment where everyone’s views were treated with respect.
I was struck by the fact that members of Voice for Indi came from a range of different backgrounds and had very different political ideals. What they had in common was a shared concern that the current political system did not reflect the community.
Which brings me back to Bass Coast Shire Council. It’s clear many people feel their concerns aren't being addressed. We need them to spell out those concerns, but we also need them to be aware of what we as a Council can control and what is under state or federal government control.
All credit to Alan Brown’s Reform Team at the last Council election for actually getting people thinking and talking about local government. Ditto with the Stand Alone campaign on Phillip Island.
I’d love the discussions to broaden, and to be more enlightened.
At this week’s Council meeting we vote on releasing the coming year’s draft budget for public submissions. This is our plan for spending your rate money, along with state and federal government contributions. All up, it will total about $65 million.
I would love to see people analysing the draft budget, looking at where our money is being spent, even suggesting how it might better be spent. Our promise to you is that we will consider all submissions seriously before we bring the budget back for adoption in August.
Last year, we received just two submissions on our budget. This time I’d love to see dozens.
Or perhaps we should get around the kitchen table to talk about it. Please email [email protected] if you’re interested in a kitchen table conversation about the budget.