Banyule Futures ThinkTank

Banyule Futures – first ThinkTank meetings

The ThinkTank met in-person for their first session!

The Banyule Community ThinkTank has started its deep dive into the Community Vision, with the first session held on Saturday 20 July 2024.

This session focused on what Council does, learning about each other and harnessing the group’s wisdom to refine and revise the Community Vision theme descriptions.

Independent facilitator Capire Consulting captured what happened on the day in a Summary Report. We’ve also provided some highlights below.

Banyule Futures is all about Council working with the community to plan for the next four years. We’ve been out and about hearing from our diverse community and we’ve appointed 55 community members to Banyule Community ThinkTank. Thanks to more than 880 people who spoke to us in workshops, via surveys and at community pop-ups in May and June.

Session 1 Highlights

During Session 1, the ThinkTank:

Gained an understanding of their purpose and the group’s remit
Worked together to discuss and agree on guiding principles for working together during the ThinkTank process
Was presented with information about Council and the Community Vision and had the opportunity to reflect, discuss and ask questions about the presentations to help with their work
Worked together to refine and review the Community Vision theme descriptions.

What’s next?

We’re busy analysing what we heard to support the Banyule Community ThinkTank with their conversations. The ThinkTank has the important role of considering what the community said and making recommendations to Council about priorities for the next four years. The first ThinkTank meeting was in late July.

Where to from here?

The ThinkTank will continue to meet for three more in-person sessions from August to December this year.

During this time, members will:

Receive information and learn about the Community Vision and Council’s business and key documents
Discuss and weigh up the information presented including:
1. what we heard from the community through the surveys, pop-up discussions and workshops that took place from April to June 2024
2. statistical data and evidence from sources such as the Census and Living in Place survey.
3. Agree on recommendations to make to Council to consider when planning key priorities for the next four years.

Session 1 – Introduction and Community Vision

Session 2 – Information and Ideation

Session 3 – Consolidation of thoughts

Session 4 – Recommendation preparation and presentation