1 Tapping into the ‘silent majority’s’ voice: The use of sample surveys in community engagement programs Presented by: Libby Paholski

2 Overview For Community Engagement Programs Why use quantitative research? What are the benefits? Types of research Case Study - Maroochy 2025 (M2025) Methodology Other tools – Resident Feedback Registers & Community Juries

3 Why use quantitative research? Community engagement programs focused on qualitative research methods to obtain information: –Workshops –Meetings/forums/focus groups –Public displays –Submissions –Interviews –Self complete surveys

4 Limitations – Community engagement Programs/outcomes often criticised as not being representative enough Representing the views of the vocal minority Question - Have you ever attended a community meeting, workshop or forum about an issue in your region? 17% of respondents had attended a community meeting/forum about a community issue in their local region.

5 Why use quantitative research? Why use quantitative research? Validate key aspects of qualitative research/community consultation (and be statistically reliable) Hearing the views of the silent majority Quantify community opinions – how important are social issues compared to economic and environment?

6 Types of Research Community Awareness Community Attitudes Community Satisfaction

7 Methodology Random Telephone Surveys NOT mailout out /self complete surveys questions (mainly closed ended questions) 10 minutes Sample size dependent on population – usually with Probable Error ± 4.5% (95% Confidence Level)

8 Example Questions Project Awareness Have you heard of the XYZ Strategy/Plan? Can you tell me where or how you first heard about the XYZ Strategy/Plan? Project Understanding Thinking about the differences between ‘grey water’ and ‘recycled water’. Just so we can gauge the community’s understanding of the topic….. – How would you describe grey water? –How would you describe recycled water?

9 Example Questions Priority Setting What do you think should be key priorities for improving transport in your region? How important are the following issues to you as they relate to transport planning in your region (5 Point Scale: Crucial – Not Important At All) Framing Communication Strategies How do you generally learn about local community issues?

10 What are the benefits? Cost effective Time efficient Proactive in communicating issues - not reactive!

11 Types of Projects Road construction (Tracking & Communication Awareness/Education) Road/transport option studies (Environment Impact Studies etc.) Strategic Land Use Planning (Local Government Plans/Strategies)

12 Maroochy 2025 Community Vision A process in which the community of Maroochy developed its own vision and action plans for the future of Maroochy Shire Each part of the community visioning process was conducted by and through the community or

13 Maroochy 2025 Community Vision 3 Key Stages: 1 - Current Scenario - Where are we now and where are we heading? 2 - Community’s Vision – Where do we prefer to be in 2025? 3 - Community’s Plan of Action – How will we get there?

14 Methodology Market Facts developed survey instruments to validate each phase Random Telephone surveys of Maroochy residents Sample size n=484 (44 respondents from each of Council’s eleven divisions) 95% Confidence Level - Probable Error ± 4.45%

Current Scenario - Where are we now and where are we heading? Community Survey 1 (November 2003) Community Awareness of M2025 Reasons for living in Maroochy Shire M2025 Core Value Statements Strength & Weaknesses of Living in Shire Key Community Issues Facing Shire Community Expectation for the Future

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19 Respondents were first asked to rate whether Maroochy Shire had become a better place to live, worse place or stayed the same.

Community’s Vision – Where do we prefer to be in 2025? Community Survey 2 (May 2004) Core Values – extent of agreement with key statements about environment, leadership and the economy Goals (6 Key Focus Areas e.g our natural environment) Key initiatives – 24 key ideas were provided and the survey measured community perception about how important these were Ongoing tracking of project awareness

21 Key Findings Most Key Vision ideas were well supported by the community. A large increase in community awareness about the project had occurred between November 2003 and May 2004 (20% awareness to 69% awareness) The community is not confident (cynical) about the vision becoming a reality or way of life in community governance.

Community’s Plan of Action – How will we get there? Community Survey 3 (November 2004) Measured level of support for the 30 strategies developed by the M2025 Community Action Planning teams Ongoing tracking of project awareness

23 Key Findings Generally very high % of support for the strategies. The highest recorded support was 94% for: “Provide innovative solutions for our communities to reduce water and energy consumption levels”

24 Respondents were asked to provide the Maroochy 2025 Team with some feedback about how confident they were that the community vision would be achieved. They were asked how confident they were that the strategies they just rated could be achieved.

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26 Conclusions For M2025: Provided information about how: – the community deal with the future –to engage with communities about the future Validated all stages of the project ‘Defensible’ Community Engagement program

27 Learnings Misunderstood science Community/client education required about reliability issues. Need to simplify the presentation of results to gain community confidence

28 The Future – New Tools Citzen/Community Juries Resident Feedback Registers

29 THANK YOU