The role of the Health, Wellbeing and Social Inclusion Advisory Committee is to provide input and advice to Council to be an inclusive organisation, support accessible facilities, inclusive services and promotes community wellbeing, and connection for all ages, abilities, genders, and cultures. This work is guided by the Human Rights Policy and associated action plans.

The Health, Wellbeing and Social Inclusion Advisory Committee will provide information, and advice on the following:

• Strategies, programs, and initiatives which increase access, inclusion, and participation of people from priority groups in the community.
• Providing a structure through which the views and interests of the Merri-bek community can be articulated for the attention of Council and its staff on human rights and inclusion matters.
• Considering and endorsing recommendations from relevant reference groups to put forward for Council endorsement
• Drawing on and sharing the expertise of specialists, as appropriate.

The Health, Wellbeing and Social Inclusion Advisory Committee will take advice and recommendations from the following
reference groups:

• Gender Equality Reference Group
• LGBTIQA+ Reference Group
• Disability Reference Group
• Older Persons Reference Group

Share information and collaborate to enhance the collective impact of Council and community-led actions for a flourishing and climate resilient Merri-bek by improving wildlife and nature connectivity, greening and cooling for healthier streets and public realm and engaging in meaningful climate action.

• Provide a forum for information sharing, networking and collaboration between Council and community groups engaged in fostering local responses to the climate and ecological crisis
• Assist Council, community groups and individuals to successfully engage and empower the local community, organisations, and businesses
• Assist in collecting information to measure (and share) collective impact.
• Support of continuous learning and improvement
• Bring up issues of community concern that Council should know about or take a role in.

Develop, promote, and advise Council on urban planning, affordable and social housing, urban design improvements and placemaking and the Transport Strategy.

The Liveability Advisory Committee is also responsible for:

• Advising Council on priorities, processes, and programs.
• Facilitating partnerships and developing opportunities among Council, the community and transport agencies, providers, and operators.
• Identifying key strategic transport, land use, affordable and social housing, urban design improvements and placemaking opportunities.
• Providing a consultative forum and link to a wider network of community transport and urban planning organisations.
• Promoting community support for the implementation of projects and programs.
• Generating discussion on and evaluating transport policies and initiatives as they impact upon urban planning, affordable and social housing, urban design improvements and placemaking and the Transport Strategy.

The Liveability Advisory Committee will be supported by, and will also convene the following working group:

• Strategic Transport Reference Group

The role of the Merri-bek Arts Advisory Committee is as the principal consultative body advising and assisting Council to make a lively and inclusive Merri-bek where the economy supports local
business and industry growth, celebrates artistic and creative expression, and connects the community through vibrant cultural experiences. .

The Merri-bek Arts Advisory Committee is also responsible for:

• Developing and advising Council on annual priorities relating to the arts and creative industries.
• Encouraging community involvement through networks and promote participation in the arts across Merri-bek.
• Making recommendations to Council regarding acquisitions for the Merri-bek Art Collection.
• Providing a structure through which the views and interests of the Merri-bek community can be articulated for the attention of Council and its staff.
• Contributing to the development and future review of Council's Arts and Culture Strategy and subsequent policies and plans.
• Acting as a representative of the Merri-bek Arts Advisory Committee on grant assessment and programming panels.

The role of the First Peoples Advisory Committee is to provide input and advise on the implementation of the Statement of Commitment to Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung People and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities in the City of Merri-bek and associated commitments to First Peoples.

The Committee plays a key role in advancing self-determination – the rights of First Peoples to make decisions about their lives, communities, and futures — and in strengthening respectful relationships between Council and First Peoples.

The Committee is responsible for:

• Advising on Council policies, strategies, and plans that affect First Peoples.
• Identifying issues, barriers, and opportunities impacting First Peoples in Merri-bek.
• Promoting visibility, cultural integrity, equity, and inclusion of First Peoples.
• Supporting advocacy, partnerships, and projects that reflect First Peoples’ priorities.
• Collaborating with other Advisory Committees and stakeholders to ensure First Peoples’ voices are central to decision-making.

The Disability Reference Group is also responsible for:

• Contributing to development, and implementation of relevant Council policies, strategies, and plans. For example, the Disability Action and Inclusion Plan.
• Assisting council to ensure the perspectives and lived experiences of people with disability are considered in Council services, programs and projects.
• Promoting knowledge, visibility, equality and inclusion of people with disability in the community.
• Assisting to identify opportunities for advocacy, projects and partnerships that reflect the needs of people with disability in the community.
• Informing, consulting and collaborating with relevant Advisory Committees on issues relating to people with disability.
• Participating in event planning, consultation processes, and other forms of engagement relating to relevant issues.

The Gender Equality Reference Group is also responsible for:

• Contributing to development, and implementation of relevant Council policies, strategies, and plans. For example, the Gender Equality Community Action Plan.
• Assisting council to ensure the diverse perspectives and lived experiences of gender are considered in Council services, programs and projects.
• Promoting knowledge, visibility, equality and inclusion of all genders in the community.
• Assisting to identify opportunities for advocacy, projects and partnerships for gender equality in the community.
• Informing, consulting and collaborating with relevant Advisory Committees on issues relating to gender equality.
• Participating in event planning, consultation processes, and other forms of engagement relating to relevant issues.

The LGBTIQA+ Reference Group is also responsible for:

• Contributing to development, and implementation of relevant Council policies, strategies, and plans. For example, the LGBTIQA+ Action Plan.
• Assisting council to ensure the perspectives and lived experiences of LGBTIQA+ community Members are considered in Council services, programs and projects.
• Promoting knowledge, visibility, equality and inclusion of LGBTIQA+ communities.
• Assisting to identify opportunities for advocacy, projects and partnerships that reflect the needs of LGBTIQA+ communities.
• Informing, consulting and collaborating with relevant Advisory Committees on issues relating to LGBTIQA+ communities.
• Participating in event planning, consultation processes, and other forms of engagement relating to relevant issues.

The Older Persons Reference Group is also responsible for:

• Contributing to development, and implementation of relevant Council policies, strategies, and plans. For example, the Living and Ageing Well Framework.
• Assisting council to ensure the perspectives and lived experiences of older people are considered in Council services, programs and projects.
• Promoting knowledge, visibility, equality and inclusion of older people in the community.
• Assisting to identify opportunities for advocacy, projects and partnerships that reflect the needs of older people in the community.
• Informing, consulting and collaborating with relevant Advisory Committees on issues relating to older people.
• Participating in event planning, consultation processes, and other forms of engagement relating to relevant issues.

The Sustainable Transport Advisory Committee is also responsible for:

• Advising Council on priorities, processes, and programs.
• Facilitating partnerships and developing opportunities among Council, the community and transport agencies, providers, and operators.
• Identifying key strategic transport and land use opportunities.
• Providing a consultative forum and link to a wider network of community transport organisations.
• Promoting community support for the implementation of projects and programs.
• Generating discussion on and evaluating transport policies and initiatives as they impact upon the Transport Strategy and its implementation.

Meetings will be held on a quarterly basis for Advisory Committees, and on an as-needed basis for Reference Groups. Meetings will run for about 2 hours.

Information to prepare for the meeting is provided to each member at least a week in advance, and it is expected that members will have read and considered this prior to meeting.

Support will be provided to ensure all members can fully participate. This may cover interpretation services, for example.

A draft Terms of Reference with more information is available to download.

Though both Advisory Committees and Reference Groups provide valuable advice and feedback on key Council services, strategies and projects, there are key differences between the two:

• Advisory Committees meet on a regular / quarterly basis, provide advice on specific strategic issues and are chaired by a Councillor (minutes of meetings are reported to Council).
• Reference Groups meet as required, provide advice on issues from the perspective of priority groups, and can be chaired by either a Councillor or a Council Officer. They don't require any formal reporting to Council. They ensure specific groups in the community are actively engaged based on key priority areas of policy.

To be part of our Advisory Committees or Reference Groups, you must:

• Live, work, volunteer or study in Merri-bek.
• Have personal lived experience of and/or professional expertise in the area of focus.
• Hold strong community connections to draw on to inform input to meetings.
• Demonstrate a willingness to learn in a constructive manner with a diverse group.
• Have an appreciation of the Merri-bek community, and the range of issues that impact it.