Disclaimer: This article provides general information and is not legal or technical advice. For official guidelines on the safe and responsible use of AI, please refer to the Australian Government’s Guidance for AI Adoption →
Brief, factual overview referencing current Australian context.
How do you encourage participation in a community?
Make actions low-friction, recognise contributions, and publish a quick “you said, we did” update.
How do you measure community engagement?
Track active members, diversity of voices, response times, retention, and decisions influenced.
What makes engagement inclusive?
Use multiple channels, plain English, accessible formats, and recognise lived-experience input.
How to foster community engagement — In Australia, communities engage when the purpose is clear, participation is accessible, and updates show how input changed the outcome. This guide distils inclusive practice, practical methods, and the metrics that matter so your community can contribute with confidence.
Who is this guide for?
AI practitioners & builders
For engineers and data folks running open, safe community spaces.
Students & career switchers
Practical ways to contribute, learn, and be heard without overwhelm.
Designers & community leads
Facilitate inclusive, feedback‑rich sessions and report back well.
Set the purpose and scope before inviting people
Engagement runs on clarity. State the decision or problem, what is “on the table,” who can influence it, and when. Define a small pilot window (e.g., two weeks) and the exact artefacts you will produce (summary, draft recommendations, implementation plan).
Key insight
People lean in when they can see the line from input to decision — publish that line as a simple “you said, we did” table at the end of each cycle.
Make it inclusive: reach, access, and representation
Borrow from inclusive engagement guidance used by Australian public bodies: meet people in multiple channels, offer accessible formats, and recognise lived experience. Proactively invite under‑represented voices and ensure culturally safe participation.
Offer synchronous and asynchronous options (workshops, forums, email, surveys).
Use plain English and alt text; provide captions or transcripts for recordings.
Compensate or formally recognise contributors where appropriate.
Choose fit‑for‑purpose engagement methods
Match the method to the outcome you need. Blend depth (co‑design) with reach (asynchronous prompts) and trust‑building (community ambassadors).
Co‑design workshops (depth)
Small, facilitated sessions to unpack needs, sketch options, and test trade‑offs. Publish a short read‑out within 48 hours.
Asynchronous threads and micro‑prompts (reach)
Use structured prompts in forums or chat to gather ideas over days, enabling people across time zones or with caring responsibilities to participate.
Community ambassadors (trust)
Equip respected community members to invite peers, summarise local views, and surface barriers. Recognise their contribution publicly.
Practical checklist
State the decision, scope, and timeline up front.
Provide 2–3 participation paths (workshop, async, ambassador).
Publish a “you said, we did” within two weeks.
Run a two‑week pilot
1Define purpose, scope, and success measures
2Map stakeholders and inclusion needs
3Pick 2–3 methods matched to your audience
4Launch, facilitate, and summarise themes
5Close the loop: publish what changed and why
Resources
Get templates for How to foster community engagement
Download checklists for planning, running, and reporting on engagement cycles.
After each cycle, map themes to actions. Say what changed, what did not, and the rationale. Keep updates short and link to deeper artefacts. This creates accountability and builds momentum.
Pro tip
Use a standing URL for updates (e.g., /engagement-updates) so people always know where to find the latest “you said, we did.”
Measure what matters and iterate
Track both participation and quality. Combine quantitative and qualitative signals to see whether engagement is broad, inclusive, and useful.
Participation: active members, post‑to‑reply ratio, response times, retention month‑on‑month.
Diversity: representation across demographics, roles, locations.
Outcomes: decisions influenced by community input; policy or product changes shipped.
Trust: short pulse surveys and interviews to capture confidence over time.
Download our comprehensive template and checklist to structure your approach systematically. Created by the MLAI community for Australian startups and teams.
Start small, include widely, and report back quickly. Repeat this two‑week rhythm and you’ll build trust, surface better options, and make decisions the community can stand behind.
IAP2 Australasia • Widely used framework describing levels of participation from Inform to Empower.
Guide
Disclaimer: This article provides general information and is not legal or technical advice. For official guidelines on the safe and responsible use of AI, please refer to the Australian Government’s Guidance for AI Adoption →
Need help with How to foster community engagement?
Join the MLAI community to collaborate with fellow AI practitioners in Australia.
You can filter by topic, format (online/in-person), and experience level.
About the Author
Dr Sam Donegan
Medical Doctor, AI Startup Founder & Lead Editor
Sam leads the MLAI editorial team, combining deep research in machine learning with practical guidance for Australian teams adopting AI responsibly.
AI-assisted drafting, human-edited and reviewed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is community engagement?
Community engagement is a structured, two-way process where an organisation or group invites people who are affected by a decision to contribute views, knowledge, and options — and then shows how those contributions shaped the outcome.
How do I increase participation in a new community?
Start with a clear purpose and a small, time-boxed pilot. Offer low-friction actions (one-click polls, 15‑minute office hours), recognise contributions publicly, and share a visible “you said, we did” update within two weeks.
Which engagement methods work best?
Match methods to your audience and time: co‑design workshops for depth, asynchronous threads for accessibility across time zones, and community ambassadors to reach people who won’t join formal sessions. Blend online and in‑person to widen access.
How do we make engagement inclusive in Australia?
Follow inclusive practice: provide multiple channels and formats, use plain English, consider accessibility needs, compensate or recognise lived‑experience contributors, and proactively engage under‑represented groups in culturally safe ways.
How often should we report back to the community?
After every engagement cycle. Share a concise update that maps themes to decisions (what changed, what didn’t, and why). A monthly public summary helps maintain trust and momentum.
What metrics matter for engagement quality?
Track active participants, diversity of voices, response times, post‑to‑reply ratio, retention, and the percentage of decisions that cite community input. Qualitative trust signals from surveys/interviews round out the picture.
