Positive Spin of Rising Costs on Community Engagement

When it comes to community engagement as an industry, there’s no doubt that the rising living costs, increases in minimum wage, and inflation in Melbourne can have an impact. However, let’s take a friendly and optimistic perspective on this.

Rising Living Costs

This can put some pressure on community engagement initiatives. As people’s expenses increase, they might have less disposable income to contribute to various community programs and projects. This means that organisations like us (who are involved with the community and in community engagement) might face challenges in securing the necessary funding to support activities. However, it’s important to remember that community engagement is driven by passionate individuals who genuinely care about making a difference. We often find creative ways to adapt and overcome obstacles, seeking alternative funding sources, partnering with other organisations, or engaging in cost-effective strategies.

Some examples of our cost-effective strategies include:

• Creating reusable templates for engagement activities and sourcing the most cost-effective printing solutions by comparing local providers. 

• Considering online engagement activities in place of face to face engagement to reduce travel costs, venue hire and catering, while still facilitating effective dialogue and in-depth engagement.

• Brainstorming and developing props in-house, that are able to be reused and reimagined depending on our engagement needs.

• Having a variety of engagement styles available depending on the budget requirements of the project. Where we may be limited, we may suggest intercept surveys as a way of ensuring multiple locations and times of day can be achieved with little time spent packing up or travelling between locations. Intercept surveys are also a great way to catch the community while they are going about their day to day activities.

• Having casual pop-up staff available during times of engagement is a great way to ensure our core staff have the opportunity to complete their work and ensure business operates as usual.

Increase in Minimum Wage

While it can potentially impact the financial resources available to businesses and non-profit organisations, it can also have positive implications for community engagement. When workers earn a higher wage, they generally experience an improved quality of life, and this can lead to increased motivation and participation in community activities. Employees who feel valued and fairly compensated are more likely to contribute their time and resources to support local initiatives. So, a higher minimum wage can indirectly boost community engagement by fostering a sense of empowerment and encouraging individuals to get involved.

Inflation in Melbourne

Celebrity endorsements can also have a positive impact on fundraising initiatives. The association with a notable figure can attract donors, sponsors, or investors who are drawn to the cause due to the celebrity’s involvement. The endorsement can provide a significant boost to fundraising campaigns, increasing the potential financial support for community initiatives.

While celebrity endorsements can indeed fuel community engagement, it’s important to note that sustainable and meaningful engagement should extend beyond the initial buzz. Genuine community engagement involves ongoing dialogue, active participation, and a sense of ownership among community members. It’s crucial to ensure that the focus remains on the community’s needs and interests rather than solely relying on the star power of a celebrity.

So while a celebrity endorsement can be a valuable tool to ignite community engagement, it should be a part of a comprehensive approach that fosters inclusive participation, builds relationships, and nurtures a sense of shared ownership within the community. Ultimately, it’s the collective efforts and ongoing engagement of community members that make a lasting impact.