Join us to shape the future of Ipswich

Ipswich City Council is looking for people from all walks of life to share their thoughts on topics that matter to them. When people come together to share their views and experiences, better decisions are made.

One way council engages with the community will be through the Community Panel. The panel will cover a broad range of topics where community can speak up to shape the future of Ipswich.

Read more about the community panel below and click join now to register.

Join now

Who can be on the Community Panel?

You don't need to have any special knowledge about Council to join, just an interest in sharing your views and being a voice for your community.

Anyone aged over 16 and who lives, works, studies, owns a business in Ipswich or is an Ipswich rate payer is invited to register.

We want the panel to be a forum that reflects the diversity of Ipswich. People from all walks of life and backgrounds are encouraged to register.

Please note, elected representatives from any level of government, paid employees of any political party and Ipswich City Council employees cannot join. This is about you, the community.

What will the Community Panel talk about?

The panel will discuss strategic issues and projects linked to council's corporate plan, iFuture. iFuture was developed in consultation with the community throughout 2019 and 2020, and reflects the community's aspirations for the city.

The panel will convene on projects as and when needed. So, before signing up and to avoid disappointment, make sure you understand what topics are coming up by viewing the upcoming engagement calendar for 2022 (see below).

Why should I get involved?

You'll have the opportunity to provide your local knowledge and contribute to a number of important decisions. Our elected representatives will consider your feedback when making final decisions.

You'll work with others to learn more about your local community and how council will work with you to make Ipswich the best it can be.

You can opt out of the panel at any time.

Please note, there will still be opportunities for community members not registered in the community panel program to participate in other engagement opportunities.

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Language Assistance

How to obtain assistance with languages

If you speak a language other than English and need help understanding this information, you may contact the Telephone Interpreting Service, TIS National on 131 450.

TIS National will coordinate a three-way telephone conversation between English speaking and non-English speaking parties and an interpreter. You can advise TIS National that you would like to speak with Ipswich City Council, quoting C058624.

You can also visit the Council at 1 Nicholas Street, Ipswich and speak with a Customer Service Officer. If you are not fluent in English, you can bring a friend or family member to help interpret for you. Opening hours are Monday to Friday, 8am – 4.30pm.

Hindi हिन्दी

यदि आप अंग्रेजी के अलावा कोई दूसरी भाषा बोलते हैं और आपको संबंध में इस जानकारी और अन्य पत्राचार को समझने में मदद की ज़रूरत है, तो आप 131 450 पर टेलीफोन इंटरप्रेटिंग सर्विस, TIS नेशनल से संपर्क कर सकते हैं।

TIS नेशनल अंग्रेजी बोलने वाले और अंग्रेजी न बोलने वाले पक्षों और दुभाषिये के बीच तीन-तरफा टेलीफोन बातचीत का समन्वय करेगा। आप C058624 का हवाला देते हुए TIS नेशनल को बता सकते हैं कि आप इप्सविच सिटी काउंसिल के साथ बात करना चाहेंगे।

आप 1 निकोलस स्ट्रीट, इप्सविच पर परिषद को विज़िट भी कर सकते हैं और ग्राहक सेवा अधिकारी के साथ बात सकते हैं। यदि आप अंग्रेज़ी में सहज नहीं हैं, तो आप दुभाषिये के रूप में अपनी मदद के लिए मित्र या परिवार के सदस्य को ला सकते हैं। काम के घंटे सोमवार से शुक्रवार, सुबह 8 – सायं 4.30 बजे हैं।

Samoan Gagana Samoan

O le a tuufaatasia e le TIS a le Atunuu ni talanoaga e tolu auala i le va lea o tagata e tautala i le Igilisi ma i latou e lē tautala i le Igilisi ma le tagata faamatalaupu. E mafai ona e fautua i le TIS a le Atunuu e te fia talanoa i le Ipswich City Council, ma ta’u atu i ai le numera C058624. Telefoni, TIS a le Atunuu i le 131 450.

E mafai foi ona e asiasi i le Fono i le 1 Nicholas Street, Ipswich ma talanoa i se tagata ofisa mo auaunaga i tagata lautele. Afai e lē lelei tele lau Igilisi, e mafai ona aumai sau uo poo se tagata o le tou aiga e fesoasoani e faaliliu upu mo oe. O itulā e tatala ai o le Aso Gafua i le Aso Faraile, 8am – 4.30pm.

Filipino Pilipino

Kung ikaw ay nagsasalita ng wikang hindi Ingles at kailangan mo ng tulong upang maunawaan ang impormasyong ito at ang iba pang mga liham tungkol, maaari mong tawagan ang Telephone Interpreting Service, TIS National, sa 131 450.

Ang TIS National ay mag-aayos ng three-way na pag-uusap sa telepono para sa taong nagsasalita ng Ingles, sa taong hindi nakakapagsalita ng Ingles, at sa isang interpreter. Sabihin mo sa TIS National na gusto mong makipag-usap sa Ipswich City Council, at banggitin mo ang numerong CO58624.

Maaari ka ring bumisita sa Council sa 1 Nicholas Street, Ipswich at makipag-usap sa isang Customer Service Officer. Kung hindi ka mahusay sa Ingles, maaari kang magsama ng isang kaibigan o kapamilya upang tumulong magsalin sa wika para sa iyo. Kami ay bukas Lunes hanggang Biyernes, 8am – 4.30pm.

Vietnamese Tiếng Việt

Nếu quý vị nói một ngôn ngữ không phải tiếng Anh và cần giúp đỡ để hiểu thông tin này và các thư từ khác liên quan, quý vị có thể liên lạc với Dịch vụ Thông Phiên Dịch, TIS National qua số 131 450.

TIS National sẽ sắp xếp cuộc nói chuyện ba chiều giữa bên nói tiếng Anh, bên không nói tiếng Anh và thông dịch viên. Quý vị có thể báo cho TIS National biết là quý vị muốn nói chuyện với Hội đồng Thành phố Ipswich, xin trích dẫn số C058624.

Quý vị cũng có thể đến Hội đồng Thành phố tại số 1 Đường Nicholas, Ipswich và nói chuyện với một Nhân viên Phục vụ Khách hàng. Nếu không thông thạo tiếng Anh, quý vị có thể nhờ một người bạn hay thân nhân đi cùng để giúp thông dịch cho quý vị. Giờ làm việc từ thứ Hai đến thứ Sáu, từ 8 giờ sáng đến 4.30 chiều.

Informational and background documents

Here you can read the relevant documents on being a panel member and see how the panel will form part of our engagement with the community

Community Panel Guidelines

PDF (314.69 KB)

Guidelines for community panel members.

Community Panel and Decision Making

JPEG (54.55 KB)

Ipswich City Council Community Engagement Strategy

PDF (176.75 KB)

Council's approach to community engagement.

How will the Community Panel work?

What is involved in being a community panel member?

1. Register

You will be able to register for a community panel here, at Shape Your Ipswich, when the panel launches in February 2022. You will be asked to provide some personal information.

2. Participate

Members will be invited to join a panel on strategic topics as and when needed, based on the quarterly community engagement calendar. The panel will not have regular meetings but will convene on an "as needed" basis.

Engagement activities will be varied and be offered both online and face-to-face. This could include activities like webinars, surveys, focus groups, online polls, deliberative processes, workshops or interviews.

At times, Council may randomly select individuals to participate in forums where numbers are limited. Where possible, we will aim to select a group of people who represent the diversity of the Ipswich community.

You can be involved as much or as little as you would like and all participation is voluntary.

Topics discussed by a panel may include (but are not limited to):

Animals
Arts, Culture and Heritage
Business and Economy
City Design and Planning
Community
Disaster Management
Environment, Sustainability & Climate Change
Governance
Health and wellbeing
Indigenous
Parks and recreation
Sport
Transport and movement
Tourism
Resource Recovery

You can find out more about what topics are covered under each category here.

Council will provide regular updates to members and the wider community on projects. You can also "follow" certain projects on Shape Your Ipswich to stay up to date. Click on the "Follow" button in the heading on the specific project page.

3. Share your feedback

We encourage community to be open and honest when you attend an engagement event.

Whilst discussing problems is important, the focus of the panel will be to create collective solutions to projects and topics that will shape the future of Ipswich.

Members are encouraged to represent the wider views of their community rather than personal issues.

Members can opt out of the panel at any time by contacting the community engagement team at council via email, communityengagement@ipswich.qld.gov.au.

Upcoming engagement for 2022

Welcome Webinar

Hosted by council's Community Engagement Team, this ZOOM webinar will officially welcome panel members, explain the new community panel program, what's coming up and answer any questions from the community about the program.
Cycle Planning and Infrastructure

Share your thoughts on the Ipswich Inner CBD Cycle Network project, a key cycling infrastructure project in central Ipswich.
New Ipswich Planning Scheme

Council's new planning scheme is currently being drafted. In this engagement panel members will learn about how the planning scheme works, what it means for your community, and how and when you can help shape the scheme.
Natural Environment Strategy

Following the adoption of the Natural Environment Policy in 2021, council would like to continue it's conversation with the community about conserving, protecting, enhancing and restoring the city's natural environment. The strategy will take a deeper dive into how council and the community will achieve the seven focus areas of the policy.
Heritage Forum

In November 2021, Council resolved to hold a Heritage Forum, acknowledging the unique heritage values of the city. The forum will be an opportunity for community to share their views and concerns regarding managing and protecting the city's unique heritage values.

What support does council provide for members?

Support will be provided to ensure that all panel members can participate. If you need information in another language, vision aids or any other support we will work with you to provide this. Please contact us via email, communityengagement@ipswich.qld.gov.au or phone, (07) 3810 6666 to discuss your specific requirements.

Submit an idea for discussion

If you have an idea for a panel discussion topic, submit your suggestion below. Council will consider the suitability of these ideas as they relate to Council's corporate plan, iFuture, resourcing and other scheduled projects.

Contact Us

Have questions or want to learn more about the community panel? Contact us below:

Name	Community Engagement Team
Phone	(07) 3810 6666
Email	communityengagement@ipswich.qld.gov.au
In writing	PO Box 191 Ipswich QLD 4305

Community Panel

Join us to shape the future of Ipswich

Who can be on the Community Panel?

What will the Community Panel talk about?

Why should I get involved?

Upcoming engagement for 2022

Welcome Webinar

Cycle Planning and Infrastructure

New Ipswich Planning Scheme

Natural Environment Strategy

Heritage Forum

What support does council provide for members?

Submit an idea for discussion