Community scoping

Synonyms:
community profiles
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Community profiles are good for developing a more in-depth understanding of a community of interest. 

Profiles can help define the demographics of a community by providing information about its social diversity, history, existing networks, and overall socio-economic characteristics. Community Profiles can also be used to provide information on the level of interest community members may have in getting actively involved in a project and their preferred option of engagement. This is option can very insightful with better results coming when enough time is given to the process to allow for underlying complex features to be brought to the surface.  

Objectives: To develop a more in-depth understanding of a community of interest.

Outcomes: The understanding provided by a community profile can assist in the development of a community engagement strategy and lead to more effective projects as they are tailored to the needs and characteristics of the people involved.

Source: Department of Sustainability and Environment (2005), Book 3: The Engagement Toolkit.Effective Engagement: building relationships with community and other stakeholders

Advice for using this method

"Scoping

  • What is the purpose of the community profile for the overall project?
  • How will the community profile assist the overall project?
  • What information needs to be in the community profile?
  • How will the community profile information be used?
  • Who will be involved in the development of the profile?
  • What resources/constraints will influence the development of the profile?

Develop a research proposal

  • What are the key questions to be researched by the profiler?
  • What research approach will be taken?
  • What methods will be used?
  • Estimate the time/cost for development.

Endorsement

  • Who needs to endorse/support the development of the profile?

Research Activity

  • How will the information be collected and recorded? (e.g. community maps)
  • How will privacy issues be managed?

Presentation of profile

  • Presentation of profile to project team/community (dependent on purpose of profile)

Production of profile document

  • Will the profile be added to over time as more understanding is developed?
  • Who will be responsible for the profile?"

Source: Department of Sustainability and Environment (2005), Book 3: The Engagement Toolkit.Effective Engagement: building relationships with community and other stakeholders

Resources

Department of Sutainability and Environment (2005), Book 3: The Engagement Toolkit.Effective Engagement: building relationships with community and other stakeholders, The Community Engagement Network Resource and Regional Services Division Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment. Retrieved from http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/105825/Book_3_-_The_Engagement_Toolkit.pdf

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