Reaching the hardly heard inclusive and respectful engagement 

We know that infrastructure has a direct impact on our local communities with bigger and more complex projects delivered in close proximity and quick succession. This rise in ‘mega projects’ - that is, projects over $1 billion in capital cost - is notable. Locally in Sydney for example, we know that 2 in 5 people in our urban areas will have more than one mega project within 5 kilometres (Australian National University Institute for Infrastructure in Society, 2022). We also know that negative community sentiment and resulting pressure remains one of the top three causes of project delays. It is imperative that the infrastructure being built today captures the voices from all our community members, no matter their background, abilities, or social situations. As professionals, in doing this we take an active role in building strong communities through ongoing, inclusive and respectful community engagement.

Our Engagement, Communication and Communities team at GHD specialises in communicating information about these highly complex infrastructure projects to communities so they can provide informed feedback.

When we reflect on the communities we reach through our engagement, we often ask ourselves, ‘What are the obstacles to hearing the voices of all the community members who may want or need to participate?’ For example, are they living with a disability? Are they under the age of 18? Are they part of a transient community such as FIFO workers, or do they speak another language? Do they have experiences that make it challenging to get involved?

In Australia, communication and engagement, whether written, visual or face-to-face (digitally or in person) is pitched at the mainstream stakeholder who can read, write and speak in English, and who is confident in using technology. Tertiary-educated people are the most likely group in Australian society to participate in established community, social, civic and political interest organisations. With 60 percent of people not involved in established networks of this nature, this approach is unlikely to capture the concerns of most people.

We have taken some great steps forward in talking to people who speak languages other than English, however when we communicate in person or in writing, whether in English or some of the other written languages, are we considering that:

It is about making the engagement process easy and inclusive for all individuals to meaningfully participate. Other factors that should be considered include:

• Cultural where we consider process, teams and timing
• Physical and non-physical disabilities and consideration of special needs to support participation
• Disengagement and consideration about project specificity vs. general disengagement
• Socio-economic and targeted consideration of impacts and the need to engage

For all these and more, have we laid the groundwork where all voices can be heard?

GHD's Engagement, Communication and Communities team is embedding our framework and understanding of these voices in community engagement activities to reach our diverse communities, so that the aspirations, priorities and needs of the Hardly Heard are also considered and incorporated.