Generated by All in One SEO v4.9.6.2, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site.

# DemocracyCo

Leading deliberative democracy in Australia

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://www.democracyco.com.au/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Housing Amplifcation](https://www.democracyco.com.au/housing-amplifcation/) - Coastal communities are at the forefront of Australia’s transition to offshore wind. Change of this scale needs more than just policy frameworks and investment – it requires trust, transparency, and genuine engagement with the communities who will be most affected.
- [Gippsland Offshore Wind Community Assembly](https://www.democracyco.com.au/gippsland-offshore-assembly/) - Coastal communities are at the forefront of Australia’s transition to offshore wind. Change of this scale needs more than just policy frameworks and investment – it requires trust, transparency, and genuine engagement with the communities who will be most affected.
- [Wellbeing in Education](https://www.democracyco.com.au/wellbeing-in-education/) - The wellbeing and mental health of our children and young people is increasingly becoming an issue of concern to our community, policy makers and political leaders.
- [Citizens Assembly: Influencing the integrity of elections in Bosnia & Herzegovina](https://www.democracyco.com.au/social-media-discourse/) - In July 2022, The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) convened a Citizens’ Forum on Responsible Social Media Discourse. This was convened to counter significant problems being faced by BiH in the lead up to national elections – where social media was being used to spread hate speech, misinformation and to try and skew election outcomes.
- [City of Mitcham Deliberative panel](https://www.democracyco.com.au/mitchampanel/) - DemocracyCo worked with the City of Mitcham to bring the community together on a controversial topic - the development of a much loved community space.
- [Resilience Planning](https://www.democracyco.com.au/resilience-planning/) - During 2022 we worked with Regional Development Australia Murraylands & Roverland to deliver a region-wide engagement process with the community - to prepare the Regions' plan for resilience.
- [Motor Accident Injury Insurance](https://www.democracyco.com.au/motor-accident-injury-insurance/) - All cars on Australian roads must have compulsory insurance (CTP). In the ACT, this insurance was expensive, coverage limited, and most claims needed to be settled in the courts. The government engaged us to help them deliver a citizens jury - which resulted in legislative change to the scheme.
- [SA Power Networks](https://www.democracyco.com.au/sa-power-networks/) - SA Power Networks is the principal electricity distribution network service provider in South Australia - the poles and wires that deliver the power to homes and businesses. Every five years, SA Power Networks is required to undergo a regulatory reset process. We designed and delivered their People's Panel.
- [Shaping Unley / Unley Parking](https://www.democracyco.com.au/shaping-unley-unley-parking/) - The City of Unley wanted to develop an active participation framework – a structured, generic approach that the Council could use to engage the community on complex and polarising policy and city-wide issues. They then tested it - on a controversial issue!
- [My Home Hospital](https://www.democracyco.com.au/my-home-hospital/) - In 2017/18 the State Government made a commitment to rebalance the health system by increasing and enhancing existing out-of-hospital and community-based hospital alternatives as a key strategy in supporting the sustainability of the system into the future.
- [South Australia's Community Climate Process](https://www.democracyco.com.au/climate-change/) - In 2023, South Australia embarked on the biggest conversation that Australia has ever seen on Climate. We designed and delivered the process which you can read about here.
- [SACOSS Community Panel](https://www.democracyco.com.au/sacoss-community-panel/) - During late 2023, the South Australian Council of Social Services convened a Community Panel to provide advice on who they think should be prioritised for support through the SA Government’s Concessions system.

## Pages

- [Home](https://www.democracyco.com.au/) - We help work through complex issues, like climate change, community resilience, and conflict. DemocracyCo is a world-renowned team with a proven track record in using democratic engagement to guide governments and stakeholders, and engage and mobilise communities.
- [Team](https://www.democracyco.com.au/team/) - Meet the team Deliberative engagement requires creativity, tenacity and being purpose driven.Our team is flexible, adaptable and can support you with every aspect of your project. We have the complete suite of skills – expertise in politics, facilitation design, communications and data analysis all delivered with warmth and compassion. We build trust and confidence in our
- [The challenges facing our democracy: A case for change](https://www.democracyco.com.au/resources/the-challenges-facing-our-democracy-a-case-for-change/) - Challenges facing our democracy “A wide range of institutions, including democracy….are starting to show signs of acute stress or outright failure. …. In this dangerous historical moment, we need to urgently heed Plato’s warning and re-imagine our social institutions so that they can better contain and address sources of toxicity and instead empower progressive change
- [Get Involved](https://www.democracyco.com.au/get-involved/) - Get Involved Are you interested in how our democracy works and want to help be part of making it work better? If so, register to be part of our Deliberative Army by leaving your details below. We will be in touch to give you ‘irregular’ updates and information, but most importantly you will be added
- [Impact](https://www.democracyco.com.au/impact/) - Our Impact Our early research and our 10 years of experience tell us that not only do democratic processes improve public policy, they also:Support social cohesion and build democratic skills – reduce outrage and help communities to find common ground Build social licence – support reform and change to happenImprove knowledge of complex issuesImprove understanding of
- [Democracy Fitness](https://www.democracyco.com.au/whats-on/demfitness/) - Democracy Fitness Build your civic muscle! Perfect for any group, Democracy Fitness training is a fun and active session that targets specific democracy muscles. Democracy Fitness was designed in Denmark and has been used all around the world to help build self-determined and active communities. Democracy Fitness enables people of all walks of life to exercise and train the muscles we
- [Services](https://www.democracyco.com.au/services/) - Services we provide We specialise in supporting communities and governments to tackle some of the biggest and most complex problems of our times, including climate change, community resilience, environmental sustainability, and rebuilding democratic processes in war-torn regions. We support our clients with the full cycle of democratic engagement, starting with engagement strategy design and advice,
- [What's On](https://www.democracyco.com.au/whats-on/) - What's on We’ve always got lot of things happening. Here you will find upcoming and recent events, training and new initiatives. Neutrog ​Community Reference Panel Providing ongoing feedback on how we can meet the expectations of residents and businesses in the community. Find out more Democracy Fitness We are accredited Democracy Fitness trainers! Click here to see
- [Resources](https://www.democracyco.com.au/resources/) - Resources We care about what’s happening around us, sometimes so much that we are moved to put pen to paper and write about it. Here you will find articles we have written and publications for download. Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters The Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters is inquiring into the 2025 Federal
- [About](https://www.democracyco.com.au/about/) - Shaping our futures At DemocracyCo we create opportunities for citizens to participate constructively in the decisions that matter to them. We support better decisions and policy-making, by advising governments and organisations on best-practice deliberative engagement processes, and by designing planning and facilitating respectful dialogue and collaboration. With many years of national and international experience in deliberative
- [CivicShip](https://www.democracyco.com.au/whats-on/civicsship/) - Announcing Deliberative Democracy Scholarship for Young People Involving young people actively in democracy! A series of recently concerning results in civics understanding and young peoples’ support for democracy around the world tell us that we need to be engaging our young people more in our democracy. 72% of Australian students do not understand the basics of
- [Democracy Fitness](https://www.democracyco.com.au/resources/democracy-fitness/) - Democracy Fitness 10 key skills that are important for active participation in a heathy democracy One of the best things about being a facilitator is that you get to work with a wide variety of people, across an even wider range of topics, projects and decisions. No two conversations are the same. Often, the topics we facilitate at DemocracyCo are
- [We Should be so Lucky](https://www.democracyco.com.au/resources/we-should-be-so-lucky/) - We should be so lucky! Reflections on the book by Andrew Low “We should be so lucky”, by Andrew Low, is a great feel-good book to read as we reflect on Australia and what it means to be Australian. So much of interest in this book … but our 2 key takeaways have been: Australia’s success hasn’t
- [Neutrog Community Reference Panel](https://www.democracyco.com.au/whats-on/neutrog-community-reference-panel/) - Neutrog Community Reference Panel Neutrog, with the support of local independent facilitation company DemocracyCo are setting up the Neutrog Community Reference Panel (the Panel) to provide ongoing feedback on how we can meet the expectations of residents and businesses in the community. The Panel will help Neutrog to continue to provide economic opportunities in the
- [Social licence is collaborative](https://www.democracyco.com.au/resources/social-licence/) - Social licence ...collaborative, not transactional! Social licence is… the acceptance an organisation receives from its stakeholders to conduct its activities. Until recently at DemocracyCo we have avoided talking about how deliberative democracy can build social licence…. because ….to be frank…. it isn’t the point ……but perhaps because it isn’t the point … is why it
- [Policy without Politics Conference](https://www.democracyco.com.au/whats-on/policypoliticsconf/) - Policy without Politics Conference 2025 At a time when trust in traditional politics is low, and people are more divided than ever, how can we find ways to move forward together to develop policy on the critical issues facing us all? This wicked question was the underpinning for the Policy Without Politics Conference held in
- [Internship](https://www.democracyco.com.au/whats-on/internship/) - Internship Supporting students We have just completed our first internship Having turned ten in mid 2025, we are focused on demonstrating impact of our work, and impacts of deliberative processes to achieve change. We want to know how effective they are at creating the conditions in which change can occur. When we were asked to consider
- [Celebrating 10 impactful years](https://www.democracyco.com.au/resources/ten-impactful-years/) - Ten impactful years At our 10 year party, we had planned that in addition to our short reflections on where we had come from and where we plan to go as an organisation that Emma would give a brief speech about the impact of deliberative work. At the last minute we decided not to -
- [Deliberative improving democracy...really?](https://www.democracyco.com.au/resources/delib_improves_democracy/) - Deliberative is improving democracy! Deliberative processes are improving democracy … in ways we are only beginning to understand… Deliberative democracy is renowned for empowering people to achieve policy change. It’s why we do this work! We want to help people to have their voices heard and enable them to influence the things that impact on
- [REZOpportunity](https://www.democracyco.com.au/whats-on/rezopportunity/) - Gippsland Coastal Assembly Australia is going through a clean energy transformation. How can we share the benefits? Local regions are experiencing the roll out of clean energy projects but often without having had community wide conversations about their future and about how they can all share in the benefits of this change. This has been
- [Regional reflections on energy](https://www.democracyco.com.au/resources/regional-reflections/) - Regional energy issues in Australia We recently ran a nation-wide callout, looking for an organisation with strong local relationships and great community connections. (We are happy to announce the Gippsland Climate Change Network (GCCN) as our regional partner!) We heard from some organisations who are working in a regional areas where the local community are
- [Privacy](https://www.democracyco.com.au/privacy/) - Privacy policy ObligationsThis document outlines DemocracyCo’s policy on privacy and the management of information within the operations of the business. The purpose of this policy is to inform and guide employees in correct creation and management of information, and handling of personal information. DemocracyCo is committed to establishing and maintaining privacy and information management practices
- [What's the difference?](https://www.democracyco.com.au/resources/whats-the-difference/) - What's the difference? Ever wondered what the difference is between deliberative and consultation? Read on... Dan Popping, October 2024 When talking about my recent career shift to support and deliver deliberative processes, the most frequently asked question I get is…. “But what’s the difference?”At democracyCo we specialise in designing and delivering deliberative engagement processes, which
- [Democracy is voting at elections right? Think again....](https://www.democracyco.com.au/resources/democracy-is-voting-at-elections-right-think-again/) - Democracy is voting at elections right? Think again... democracy requires us everyday! Having a thriving and functioning democracy is something that many around the world aspire to. We want the safety, stability and values of fairness and equity that democracy promises – and the freedom it gives us. But have you ever stopped to think
- [The People's House](https://www.democracyco.com.au/the-peoples-house/) - The future of representative democracy Designed by the world-renowned, non-partisan team at DemocracyCo, the People’s House is a game-changing methodology which gives Members of Parliament (MPs) new tools to build trust and engage their electorates in the democratic process.The People’s House empowers Members of Parliament to genuinely understand the sentiments of their constituents, including the
- [Opinion is King – article in the Mandarin](https://www.democracyco.com.au/resources/opinion-is-king-article-in-the-mandarin/) - Opinion is King As conveners of the recent citizens’ jury on nuclear waste storage in South Australia we explore the trend towards individualism, its consequences for public policy and the opportunities offered by deliberative democracy in forging a new way forward. Our Opinion is King article was published in The Mandarin on the 6th December 2016.
- [The Canberra Forum](https://www.democracyco.com.au/the-canberra-forum/) - Canberra Forum The Canberra Forum brought together a randomly selected group of constituents that was broadly representative of Canberra’s community to more deeply understand the issues that concerned them. For some time, Alicia Payne Member for Canberra had been surveying her community to identify the topics that were important to them, but this survey did
- [SACOSS](https://www.democracyco.com.au/resources/sacoss/) - SACOSS Community Panel Concerned about how the cost of living is impacting on you or others in your family or community? So many people are doing it tough. The South Australian Government currently provides some groups in our community with assistance with essential costs through targeted discounts or rebates on things like energy bills and
- [Casey](https://www.democracyco.com.au/casey/) - Casey Should we enshrine a Voice to Parliament for Aboriginal Australians in our constitution – yes or no? The issue and question, by its very nature, is polarising and we are seeing these divisions play out in our families and communities.As Australians prepare to vote on The Voice to Parliament later this year, Aaron Violi,
- [Register Now](https://www.democracyco.com.au/register-now/) - Register now Are you interested in how our democracy works? And want to help be part of making it work better? Do you want to stay in touch with our work?If so, register to be part of Deliberative Army by leaving your details here. We will be in touch to give you ‘irregular’ updates and
- [Want better politics? The case for ‘slow’ policy](https://www.democracyco.com.au/resources/want-better-politics-the-case-for-slow-policy/) - Want better politics? The problems of Government are a consequence of a paucity of process – for which we are all responsible. A lot of the political challenges our governments are facing are caused by the demise of good public policy process. We, as a society, as well as our governments seem to have completely
- [Online deliberation – the Jury’s verdict is in](https://www.democracyco.com.au/resources/online-deliberation-the-jurys-verdict-is-in/) - Online deliberation Online engagement given thumbs up! In our last blog, we reflected on our 7 lessons from our virtual citizens jury, and indicated that we were surveying our jurors to understand their experiences. We’re sharing those here…. and, we won an award for our work!! During March 2020 at the height of the COVID-19
- [International review of deliberative practice](https://www.democracyco.com.au/resources/international-review-of-deliberative-practice/) - International review of deliberative democracy Deliberative Processes Result in moderate, practical, and balanced recommendations. Clients often raise concerns or questions they have about the potential of deliberative groups making radical recommendations. We know from our experience that they don’t – we know that deliberative groups develop sensible, practical, and moderate but innovative ideas.However, it is
- [InDaily Article: Community must be invited on the path to reform](https://www.democracyco.com.au/resources/indaily-article-community-must-be-invited-on-the-path-to-reform/) - Community must be invited along the path to reform. Reform is hard, and elections aren’t the time to do it – so when is …? This is hard for me to say as I have always believed that it is important for political parties to stand for something and argue their case… but, the outcome
- [Complex engagement – 7 lessons from our virtual citizens’ jury](https://www.democracyco.com.au/resources/complex-engagement-7-lessons-from-our-virtual-citizens-jury/) - Virtual citizen's jury - our 7 lessons During March 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 outbreak across Australia, the RACQ Citizens’ Jury was moved from an in-person to online mode of deliberation. The Jury was based in Queensland, Australia and the democracyCo facilitators based in Victoria and South Australia. Due to state border closures,
- [Fighting back with democracy](https://www.democracyco.com.au/resources/fighting-back-with-democracy/) - Fighting back with democracy “Fragmentation of the population is a key weapon used against democracy – it lulls the public into thinking they don’t have power”. Kettering Foundation CEO has put the challenge out to all partners of the foundation to use our collective practice to improve democratic life. We know that democracy is in
- [Regional resilience building ​](https://www.democracyco.com.au/resources/regional-resilience-building/) - Resilience building in Regional Australia Resilience planning can be so much more than the documentation of a suite of actions for assisting a community to improve its adaptability and strength. The process of resilience planning can be resilience building in of itself. If the purpose of resilience planning is to enable communities to be in
- [Podcast: Facilitating Online Public Deliberation with Dr Lyn Carson​](https://www.democracyco.com.au/resources/podcast-facilitating-online-public-deliberation-with-dr-lyn-carson/) - Podcast Facilitating Online Public Deliberation Facilitating Online Public Deliberation Dr Lyn Carson​

## My Templates

- [Footer](https://www.democracyco.com.au/?elementor_library=footer) - Content area
- [Default Kit](https://www.democracyco.com.au/?elementor_library=default-kit)
- [Header](https://www.democracyco.com.au/?elementor_library=elementor-header-78) - Content area
- [Template - Impact](https://www.democracyco.com.au/?elementor_library=template-impact) - Template – Impact During 2022 democracyCo worked with Regional Development Australia Murraylands and Riverland to deliver a region-wide engagement process with the community, to prepare the MR Plan – the Regions’ Plan for Resilience. “In awe of the depth of commitment to inclusion, listening deeply, writing words in our voices. Your capacity to multi-task on
- [Blog Divider](https://www.democracyco.com.au/?elementor_library=blog-divider)
- [Loop - Past Work](https://www.democracyco.com.au/?elementor_library=elementor-loop-item-1166) - Loop – Past Work
- [Divider Line](https://www.democracyco.com.au/?elementor_library=divider-line)

## Categories

- [Stategic planning](https://www.democracyco.com.au/category/impact/service-method/stategic-planning/)
- [Impact](https://www.democracyco.com.au/category/impact/)
- [Impact / Result](https://www.democracyco.com.au/category/impact/impact-result/)
- [Building social licence for change](https://www.democracyco.com.au/category/impact/impact-result/building-social-licence-for-change/)
- [Democratic skills](https://www.democracyco.com.au/category/impact/impact-result/democratic-skills/)
- [Understanding lived experience](https://www.democracyco.com.au/category/impact/impact-result/understanding-lived-experience/)
- [Finding Common Ground](https://www.democracyco.com.au/category/impact/impact-result/finding-common-ground/)
- [Managing Outrage](https://www.democracyco.com.au/category/impact/impact-result/managing-outrage/)
- [Improving social cohesion](https://www.democracyco.com.au/category/impact/impact-result/improving-social-cohesion/)
- [Service / Method](https://www.democracyco.com.au/category/impact/service-method/)
- [Engagement roadmaps and strategies](https://www.democracyco.com.au/category/impact/service-method/engagement-roadmaps-and-strategies/)
- [Deliberative engagement](https://www.democracyco.com.au/category/impact/service-method/deliberative-engagement/)
- [Facilitation design and delivery](https://www.democracyco.com.au/category/impact/service-method/facilitation-design-and-delivery/)
- [Engagement policy and framework development](https://www.democracyco.com.au/category/impact/service-method/engagement-policy-and-framework-development/)
- [Training and professional development](https://www.democracyco.com.au/category/impact/service-method/training-and-professional-development/)
- [Citizens' juries / panels](https://www.democracyco.com.au/category/impact/service-method/citizens-juries-panels/)
- [Community conversations](https://www.democracyco.com.au/category/impact/service-method/community-conversations/)
- [Co-design](https://www.democracyco.com.au/category/impact/service-method/co-design/)
- [Topic](https://www.democracyco.com.au/category/impact/topic/)
- [Environment / sustainability](https://www.democracyco.com.au/category/impact/topic/environment-sustainability/)
- [Regulatory](https://www.democracyco.com.au/category/impact/topic/regulatory/)
- [Infrastructure](https://www.democracyco.com.au/category/impact/topic/infrastructure/)
- [Resilience](https://www.democracyco.com.au/category/impact/topic/resilience/)
- [Health](https://www.democracyco.com.au/category/impact/topic/health/)
- [Education](https://www.democracyco.com.au/category/impact/topic/education/)
- [Peace keeping](https://www.democracyco.com.au/category/impact/topic/peace-keeping/)
- [Housing](https://www.democracyco.com.au/category/impact/topic/housing/)