Community Engagement vs Community Development  

What Is Community Engagement? 

Community engagement usually refers to processes designed to:

• Gather feedback

• Share information

• Understand community perspectives

• Involve people in decision-making processes

This can include:

• Community consultation

• Workshops

• Surveys

• Public exhibitions

• Information sessions

• Advisory groups

• Stakeholder meetings

Community engagement is often connected to:

• Specific projects

• Planning processes

• Policy development

• Infrastructure projects

• Organisational decisions

Good engagement helps decision-makers better understand:

• Community concerns

• Lived experiences

• Local priorities

• Community aspirations

Engagement is an important part of civic participation.

What Is Community Development?  

Community development focuses on strengthening communities over the long term.

Rather than focusing only on feedback or consultation, community development often focuses on:

• Relationships

• Trust

• Participation

• Local leadership

• Inclusion

• Community capability

• Shared ownership

• Long-term resilience

Community development asks:

How do communities become stronger, more connected and more able to shape their own futures?

This can involve:

• Building local leadership

• Strengthening participation pathways

• Supporting community networks

• Encouraging collaboration

• Creating opportunities for connection and belonging

Community development is often slower, more relational and more long-term than project-based engagement.

Why The Difference Matters 

Engagement and development can sometimes be confused because both involve working with communities.

But they are not always the same.

Community Engagement Often Focuses On:

• Consultation

• Feedback

• Participation in specific decisions

• Organisational or project outcomes

Community Development Often Focuses On:

• Relationships

• Trust-building

• Leadership

• Participation capability

• Long-term community resilience

• Community ownership and connection

Both are important.

But communities often need more than consultation alone.

Communities also need:

• Ongoing participation pathways

• Opportunities to build leadership

• Long-term investment in relationships

• Support for civic capability and belonging

What Is Capacity Building? 

Capacity building focuses on helping people and communities develop:

• Skills

• Confidence

• Knowledge

• Leadership capability

• Participation pathways

This can include:

• Training

• Mentoring

• Leadership development

• Civic education

• Community organising

• Youth participation initiatives

Capacity building helps people participate more confidently in civic and community life.

Strong participation often depends on whether communities feel:

• Supported

• Informed

• Connected

• Able to contribute

Why Relationships Matter 

Strong communities are built through relationships over time.

Trust often develops through:

• Listening

• Consistency

• Transparency

• Inclusion

• Shared experiences

• Ongoing participation

Communities are more likely to participate meaningfully when they feel:

• Heard

• Valued

• Respected

• Included in long-term conversations

Participation is strongest when communities feel they are genuine partners rather than temporary consultees.

Community Development and Place    

Community connection is closely linked to place.

Public spaces, neighbourhoods and community infrastructure influence whether people have opportunities to:

• Meet

• Participate

• Build relationships

• Feel connected to local life

Community development is often strongest when it responds to:

• Local context

• Local knowledge

• Lived experience

• Existing community strengths

This is sometimes referred to as:

Place-based practice

Place-based approaches recognise that communities are shaped by:

• Environment

• Infrastructure

• Public life

• Relationships

• Participation opportunities

Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD)

One important community development approach is:

Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD)

ABCD focuses on:

• Community strengths

• Local knowledge

• Existing relationships

• Community capability

• Participation and leadership

Rather than focusing only on problems or deficits, ABCD asks:

What strengths, relationships and capacities already exist within communities?

This approach encourages communities to build from:

• Existing assets

• Local participation

• Shared ownership

• Community-led action

Why This Matters for Greater Western Sydney

Greater Western Sydney is experiencing:

• Rapid growth

• Increasing diversity

• Infrastructure pressure

• Changing community environments

As communities grow and change, maintaining:

• Trust

• Participation

• Inclusion

• Leadership pathways

• Social connection

becomes increasingly important.

Healthy communities require more than infrastructure alone.

They also require:

• Strong relationships

• Opportunities for participation

• Community leadership

• Public life

• Social cohesion

Long-term community wellbeing depends on both:

• Physical infrastructure and

• Social infrastructure

Community Development and the Fair Share Framework 

The Fair Share Framework recognises that healthy communities require:

• Fair Voice

• Fair Opportunity

• Fair Access

Communities should have opportunities to:

• Participate meaningfully

• Build leadership capability

• Develop civic confidence

• Strengthen local connection

• Help shape local futures

Healthy participation is not only about consultation.

It is also about building stronger and more connected communities over time.

Related Framework Pillars

Further Learning & Related Frameworks 

ABCD Institute

Resources and frameworks exploring asset-based community development, participation and local leadership.

Tamarack Institute

Research and resources focused on community engagement, collective impact and community development.

IAP2 Australasia

Frameworks and resources supporting community participation and engagement.

CoDesign Studio

Australian practice focused on co-design, participation and community-led approaches to systems and place.

Related Resources  

• Understanding Social Cohesion

• What Is Civic Participation?

• Community Leadership and Shared Values

• Building Participation Pathways

• Public Space, Connection and Community Life

• How Young People Can Influence Change