Monash community members are invited to be part of a community panel that will help shape Council’s annual budget for 2023-24.
Each year we prepare an annual budget which outlines how we will deliver services and programs to the community. This covers things like managing our waste, upgrading community infrastructure, maintaining our facilities and parks, maternal and child health programs, town planning, operating our libraries, running our recreation centres, sustainability programs, and providing community events and festivals.
This is the final stage of engagement on our budget for 2023-24, and our panel will make a recommendation to Councillors on what should be included. To help inform this recommendation, the panel will review feedback received from our community last year at pop-up sessions, through online feedback and via budget bids made by community groups at a special meeting of Council.
Monash Mayor, Cr Tina Samardzija, is hoping for a group that reflects Monash’s diverse community.
“I’m excited about this next stage of community engagement, which is unlike anything we’ve done before in our budget process.
“This is an opportunity for people to provide input on what should, or shouldn’t, be included in our budget, with a final recommendation to be made directly to Councillors from the panel.
“Monash is a diverse community, with over 50% of our residents born overseas, and I’m hoping that we can get a panel of people who call Monash home that reflects this.
“If you’re interested, please get involved – this is a budget for all in the Monash community,” said Cr Samardzija.
About the panel
We are looking for a group that reflects Monash’s diverse community, with people representing different age groups, genders and cultural backgrounds from the suburbs that make up Monash.
Members of the panel will be expected to take part in three meetings in May, two online via Zoom and one in-person meeting at our Civic Centre in Glen Waverley:
- Tuesday 2 May (6-9pm) on Zoom
- Tuesday 9 May (6-9pm) on Zoom
- Tuesday 16 May (6-9pm) in person at the Civic Centre
We understand this is a significant time commitment, and panel members who take part in all three sessions will receive a $100 VISA gift card for their time and input. For anyone unfamiliar with using Zoom, a 30-minute optional ‘tech-session’ will be offered.
Council is working with MosaicLab on this project, who will independently facilitate the sessions and write a final report presented to Councillors outlining the panel’s recommendations. Panel members will be invited to be part of this presentation to Councillors on 23 May.
MosaicLab are a trusted and leading community engagement organisation, with significant experience in assisting councils to have meaningful conversations with their community.
Get involved
To register your interest in taking part by Friday 31 March.
Council officers will complete a short listing process to make sure the final community panel is reflective of our community and contact applicants in early April with the next steps.
