Elton Consulting is recognised as one of Australia’s leading community engagement practices with over 20 years’ experience in the field. We design, facilitate and manage consultation processes involving the general community and stakeholder groups on behalf of government, community groups and private sector organisations.
Our consultants have the ability to meaningfully communicate and engage with a diverse range of stakeholders – from the grassroots community to the highest levels of government and industry. We employ a strategic approach to communications, issues and media management, particularly in sensitive environments.
Elton Consulting has won industry awards for our creative and innovative approach to community and stakeholder engagement, including the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) award for the most robust engagement process in 2007.
Our communications practice is led by: Trish Oakley. Our community engagement practice is led by: Brendan Blakeley. Our services in this area include:
Community and stakeholder consultation
From a community meeting to an online forum or an innovative collaborative process such as a citizen’s jury, our expert facilitation team can design a consultation program that fits your needs and meets community and stakeholder expectations. Engaging with stakeholders and understanding their perspectives means you can manage risk, build partnerships, and achieve positive project and community outcomes.
Over the past 10 years, Elton Consulting has developed more than 40 project websites to support our clients’ communication and consultation strategies. We work with you to determine and deliver the best mix of traditional and e-consultation methods.
Elton Consulting brings an intimate knowledge of communities to create a constructive, open and transparent forum for dialogue. We have a reputation for applying a rigorous and ethical approach to projects. Independence and integrity is a hallmark of our work.
Complex facilitation and mediation
Our senior staff members have high-level facilitation, negotiation and mediation skills which have resolved and delivered mutually beneficial outcomes on a range of complex multi-party issues.
We are skilled at drawing out core issues for consideration and provide the practical framework to guide communication, problem solving and relationship building.
Strategic communications
Our approach to communications reflects a sound understanding of the political and social drivers within which projects and policies exist.
We combine our unique insight to the political landscape with an appreciation for community sentiment, to ensure communications is targeted, strategic and catered to client needs.
We offer a full range of communication services to support clients – from discrete tasks to major project support including:
- Developing and implementing integrated communications and consultation strategies
- Detailed stakeholder analyses to inform the consultation approach
- A suite of proactive and reactive communication materials, including key messages, question and answer documents, websites, fact sheets, newsletters, brochures, media releases and presentations
- Organising, facilitating and reporting on stakeholder workshops, meetings and community events.
Issues management and strategic advice
Our experience working on high profile projects in difficult environments means we can effectively anticipate community, political and media reaction to projects and decisions. Our approach is strategic and planned – building the capacity of our clients to analyse and monitor project or reputational risks and effectively manage them. We provide practical advice to help clients handle difficult issues promptly and proactively.
Elton Consulting offers media training workshops tailored specifically to our client’s level of experience and industry. With an emphasis on practical learning, participants are interviewed by working journalists on issues directly related to their company and their role within that organisation. Our workshop materials are contemporary, customised and continuously updated to reflect trends and changes within the media industry.
Community relations - infrastructure and development projects
We have successfully planned and delivered numerous community relations projects for infrastructure and development projects around Australia.
We have the proven capacity to engage with a diverse range of stakeholders on challenging and sensitive issues, from policy makers and service providers, to businesses and individuals with specific needs.
Elton Consulting has seconded staff to government and private sector organisations to provide community relations services on large infrastructure projects. We provide staff to directly respond to community enquiries and simultaneously work to build clients’ capacity in this field. Clear, consistent community engagement and rapid response to issues can minimise delay, cost and reputational issues for client projects.
