We are reviewing our Accessible and Inclusive Communications Policy, Implementation Plan and Community Engagement Policy to make sure they continue to meet the needs of our community.

These policies will guide how we share information with our community and how people can participate in decisions that affect them.

We want to make sure our communication is clear, accessible and inclusive, and that everyone in our community can access information and share their views.

Your feedback will help us improve these policies.

We are reviewing how we:

• Write and present information
• Design and manage our website and digital platforms
• Provide translated, Easy Read and Plain English materials
• Support Auslan users and people who are Deaf or hard of hearing
• Provide information in accessible formats such as large print, audio, captioning
• Use inclusive language and imagery
• Remove barriers to participating in community consultations
• Report back to the community what we heard

We want to understand what is working well — and where barriers still exist.

Your feedback will directly inform the improvements we make and the actions we prioritise.

Together, we can strengthen how Council communicates and engages so everyone in Merri-bek can access information, share their feedback and feel included.

Join the conversation

Online survey

Paper survey

You can download and fill out a printed version of the survey.

We also have the printed survey available in:

• Easy Read
• Large print
• Translations:
  • Italiano | Italian
  • العربية | Arabic
  • Ελληνικά | Greek
  • اردو| Urdu
  • नेपाली |Nepali
  • Türkçe | Turkish

These survey formats are available at our customer service centres, libraries and other Council touchpoints. You can also get them online and complete them digitally if you prefer.

Join a community focus group

Are you interested in sharing your views?

We are running small focus groups to learn how people want to get information from us. We also want to know how you would like to share your ideas with Council.

The focus groups will be small, respectful and inclusive. We will do our best to make people feel comfortable and heard.

Focus groups will help us better understand:

• What helps people access information
• What barriers people may face when receiving information
• What helps people participate in consultations and share their views

Other ways to make a submission

You can write us a letter. This can be in your preferred language. Please write what your language is. We will have it translated.

You can post or email your letter to us in your preferred language. We can give you an envelope that has a stamp and our address.

You can phone us on 9240 1111. You can speak to us in your preferred language.

You can also record a message on your phone or device and send it to us by email. It is best to keep your message under 2 minutes so it is easy to attach to the email.

• Email
  Accessibility@merri-bek.vic.gov.au

• Post
  Locked bag 10, Brunswick 3057

• In person
  Merri-bek Civic Centre at 90 Bell Street Coburg

Your feedback should be returned to us by Thursday 30 April.

Accessibility and language support

We want everyone to be able to share their feedback.

You can request:

• Translated information
• Interpreters
• Easy Read format
• Large print
• Audio format
• Auslan interpreters
• Help with completing survey

You can influence:

• How Council engages with the community
• How information is shared and communicated
• Ways to improve accessibility and inclusion in Council communications
• What good engagement with the community looks like

You can not influence:

• Laws and regulations that Council must follow
• Existing Council responsibilities and obligations
• Final decisions, which will be made by Council after considering community feedback

What happens next

First, we will review the feedback we receive on the current policies. This feedback will help us draft updates to the Community Engagement Policy and the Accessible and Inclusive Communications Policy and Implementation Plan.

In June, we will share the draft policies and invite the community to provide feedback again before the policies are finalised.