The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Engagement Guide was provided to council through the Community and Sport Committee held on 3 December 2024. A copy of the agenda can be viewed by clicking here.

Council endorsed the final guide at the Council Ordinary Meeting held on 12 December 2024. A copy of the agenda can be viewed by clicking here.

The draft Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Engagement Guide has been developed by Ipswich City Council as a tool to assist with initiating and improving engagement between council, our Traditional Owners and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities.

Council has three objectives in developing and adopting the engagement guide:

1. Improve awareness and understanding of First Nations culture and protocols across Ipswich

2. Undertake culturally responsive engagement which achieves meaningful outcomes

3. Establish the endorsed Representative Engagement Groups identified in the Indigenous Accord 2020-2025.

This draft engagement guide is council's initial proposal to achieve these objectives. The contents are drafted as a starting point for community consultation and engagement.

The community was asked to provide feedback on the proposed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Engagement Guide.

You can now read the full Community Engagement Report.

Community engagement for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Engagement Guide took place from 18 December 2023 to 19 August 2024.

Engagement was conducted utilising a variety of methods to maximise opportunities for people to access information about the Draft Engagement Guide and provide feedback for council's consideration. The methods included:

• Shape Your Ipswich
• In-person workshops

Additionally, a briefing session was held for councillors to provide a progress update and gather feedback from our elected representatives.

Please see the full Community Engagement Report for more information.