South Australia’s third Strategic Plan is progressing towards completion, following the release of the report of the Community Engagement Board.

 

The Board, chaired by Peter Blacker, says that it engaged with 9,200 South Australians who shared their visions and aspirations for their families, for their community and for the state as a whole.

 

The inaugural Strategic Plan was launched in March, 2004 and was updated in 2006, listing 98 targets.  The Board’s deliberations found that most of these targets are still relevant today, but some new aspirations have been identified.

 

Mr Blacker said it was clear from the consultations that global financial events, natural disasters and changes in technology have resulted in some changes to community priorities.

 

“There was an obvious and substantial increase in focus on the centrality of personal and community wellbeing,” he  said.

 

The Board recommended a range of ‘action initiatives’ to enable communities to deliver the plan in practical ways.

 

These include:

  • the development of engagement principles and guidelines for use across all government agencies;
  • that the interactive sections of www.saplan.org.au be built upon and that government
  • agencies expand and use online technologies to engage the public in decision making;
  • that the Board take on a new role monitoring community views between the four yearly update of the Plan;
  • a biennial ‘action report’ written which showcases exemplar work being done to achieve the Plan’s targets.


The Minister Assisting the Premier with South Australia’s Strategic Plan Tom Kenyon said that in response to the recommendations the government would provide a live engagement website where South Australians can continue to be involved in the delivery of the Strategic Plan. 

 

The Board’s report and more information about the South Australian Strategic Plan are at www.saplan.org.au