The ThinkTank met for four sessions from July to December 2024:

• Session 1 - Introduction and Community Vision
• Session 2 - Information and Ideation
• Session 3 - Consolidation of thoughts
• Session 4 - Recommendation preparation and presentation

During this time, members:

1. Received information and learnt about the Community Vision, Council's business and key documents
2. Discussed and weighed up the information presented including:
   • what was heard from the broader community through the surveys, pop-up discussions and workshops that took place from April to June 2024
   • statistical data and evidence from sources such as the Census and Living in Place survey.
3. Agreed and presented recommendations to Council for its consideration when planning key priorities for the next four years.

We will share the journey and outcomes of the Banyule Community ThinkTank process, and the work of the Thinktank, on Shaping Banyule.

Click ‘+ Follow’ on the Banyule Futures project page on Shaping Banyule to stay up to date.

Banyule Futures didn't end with the ThinkTank.

People who were not successful in their application had the opportunity to complete a survey or come and talk with us at one of ten pop-ups that took place across Banyule.

Click '+ Follow' at the top of the page to make sure you don't miss out on other engagement opportunities.

Definition from Deliberative Engagement for Victorian Councils, MosaicLab, which can be found at this link.

'Deliberation is a long and careful consideration or discussion. Public deliberation, when used with the term ‘democracy’, describes a group of everyday people considering relevant facts from multiple points of view, identifying options, and coming to a group decision.

The deliberative group [the ThinkTank] is randomly selected through an independent process that ensures they are descriptively representative of the demographics of the general population.

Deliberative democracy, or public deliberation, is all about placing people (citizens, residents, affected individuals) closer to the affairs of government. It is being used in many countries to complement representative democracy; to provide elected representatives with well-informed advice on complex issues.'

Council will look to the ThinkTank for advice, innovation and ideas to respond to challenges that Council and the people of Banyule are facing.

ThinkTank members' advice will be incorporated into final decisions to the maximum extent possible.

After consideration, Council will publicly respond to each of the ThinkTank's recommendations.

To become a ThinkTank member, the community had the opportunity to complete an Expression of Interest form from 19 February to 28 April 2024. The form was available on Shaping Banyule and in hard copy.

The selection of ThinkTank members was managed by Council, with the support of newDemocracy Foundation, to ensure that the ThinkTank would be representative of Banyule’s diversity.

A random and stratified selection process was undertaken with all eligible expressions of interest to ensure, to the best of its ability, a representative ThinkTank. For detail on the process and program used to select participants, go to the newDemocracy website.

While we would have loved everyone to be part of the Community ThinkTank, not all people who expressed interest were selected.

The City of Banyule has an estimated population of 127,348. Based on the NewDemocracy Foundation recommendations for a population of this size, the ThinkTank should be made up of at least 43 people. This number would ensure that Council can be 95% confident that the ThinkTank will statistically represent the Banyule Community. We have recruited 55 to allow for the potential of natural attrition.

To be eligible, people had to either live in Banyule, own a business in Banyule or pay rates in Banyule.

You were not eligible if you were previously a Banyule City Council councillor, if you intend to nominate for the Council election in October 2024, or if there is concern on the part of Council officers that your participation might lead to a conflict of interest.

No. Participant thoughts, opinions and ideas are all that is needed, but we would like all members to read the background information provided in the welcome pack and to attend all sessions.

To acknowledge ThinkTank members for their time and participation, Council offered each member one (1) of the following gifts:

• $400 in gift vouchers ($100 each for Sessions
• A multi-pass entry to a Council leisure facility (Ivanhoe Aquatic or Olympic Leisure Centre)
• Donation to the Banyule Community Fund.

A gift was offered under the following conditions:

• The person was a Banyule Community ThinkTank member
• The person attended the sessions.

Following agreement with Council officers, Council also supported ThinkTank members to cover any out-of- pocket expenses, such as childcare or transport, to be able to attend the sessions.

It is noted that participants only received a Reward for Participation when sessions are attended. This meant that if a participant attended Session 1, Session 2 and Session 4, they will be offered a gift to the value of $250.

Before Session 1, all Community ThinkTank members received a welcome pack with key information. Council officers also delivered presentations at Sessions 1 and 2 on key topics to support the ThinkTank with their discussions and to come up with recommendations.

Council's job was to continue to provide ThinkTank members with the information it needed to support conversations and come up with recommendations.