The Our Community Our Future Panel will work collaboratively with Council staff to refresh our 2025 – 2035 Community Vision and recommend community priorities and overarching principles for consideration in our next Council Plan, Financial Plan, Asset Plan and Budget.

The Panel will consist of up to 30 people from across our region. Panel members will be independently recruited in a random-selection process to help ensure the Panel is reflective of the diversity of the Strathbogie Shire community.

Trained independent facilitators will support panel members with different viewpoints to work together in a respectful manner and come to a shared majority position. This will be a genuine, open process that will result in a shared vision and identified priorities for our future. It will not be a public meeting format where loud voices can sometimes dominate.

We can provide support as needed. Let us know what support you may need to help you participate, in the expression of interest form below.

You can express your interest in the Panel if you’re aged 18 years and over and you live or are a non-resident rate-payer in Strathbogie Shire. A maximum of one person from one address can be selected to participate.

You can’t apply if you are currently or have been:

• an elected representative from any level of government or an employee/family member of an elected representative
• a Strathbogie Shire Council employee (current or within the past 5 years) or family member of an employee
• a Strathbogie Shire councillor (current) or family member of a councillor

If you are unsure about your eligibility, please contact Capire Consulting Group on (03) 9285 9000 or email eliza@capire.com.au to discuss.

You don't need to know about anything specific beforehand. You just need to be open-minded, ready to work with others, and consider the needs of the wider Strathbogie Shire and the information provided.

Once the expression of interest has closed, panel members will be selected via a random selection process by independent consultants, Capire Consulting Group. The process will seek to form a panel that reflects the diversity of the Strathbogie Shire community as much as possible.

If you’re selected, we’ll contact you by phone or email in the week of 3 March 2025 to let you know and confirm your attendance. We’ll also discuss any requirements or assistance you may need and explain what happens next.

The Panel will meet four times and participants must attend all workshops:

• Workshop one: 17 March 2025 5:00 – 7:00pm Zoom (link to be sent to Panel members)
• Workshop two: 19 March 2025 5:00 – 8:00pm Nagambie Lakes Regatta Centre
• Workshop three: 20 March 2025 5:00 – 8:00pm Euroa Community Conference Centre
• Workshop four: (including presentation of recommendations to Council): 24 March 5:00 – 7:00pm Euroa Community Conference Centre

In recognition of their time and commitment to being involved in this process, panel members will receive an honorarium gift voucher of $100 after the last workshop.

Capire Consulting Group (Capire)

Strathbogie Shire Council is partnering with Capire to design and facilitate the Our Community Our Future Panel.

As Australia’s largest specialist in community engagement and a leader in deliberative engagement and facilitation, Capire brings extensive expertise to the process.

The Panel will be facilitated by Denise Francisco, a Senior Associate at Capire. For more information visit capire.com.au