Late last year, we asked the community to tell us their preference for receiving information about Council news and services by completing a short survey. We’re pleased to now present the results of the survey and how we plan to adjust the way we communicate to better meet community needs. You can view a summary of the key results in the Document Library.
The survey results showed the community’s growing preference for digital communication but also reinforced the need for Council to use a mix of both traditional and digital communication methods to reach people who may not be online or use social media.
Based on these findings, we are shifting the balance of our communications to focus more on digital media, while continueing to support the distribution of news via traditional media like print and radio. We will:
- focus on using social media more to grow and engage our online audience
- continue advertising in commercial newspapers and community newsletters, with a regular monthly full-page advertisement in each of them
- produce editorial content for our media outlets on key projects and initiatives
- work toward introducing a monthly electronic (email) newsletter
- continue sending out our quarterly printed newsletter by mail
- continue our weekly segments with Councillors and Executive on our community radio station, UGFM
- display regular monthly Council news on community noticeboards across the Shire
Our aim is to provide communities across the Shire with a broader range of information, in more places, about Council services, projects and events. We want to ensure we get the right message to you, at the right time, using your preferred communication method.
Background
Communication and news platforms continue to change and evolve - and so too does our community’s preference for how they receive news from Council. Council’s communication with the community needs to evolve so we are keeping pace with technology and with our community’s preferences for how we communicate with them – whether via new technologies or more traditional methods. We need to ensure we’re using the right communication methods to keep our community up to date with the latest Council news and information about our services.
The Communication Preferences Survey also supports the Council Plan 2021-2025 strategy to ‘communicate effectively using multiple methods with our customers and communities about our work and services’.
From November 2021 to January 2022 we promoted the Communication Preferences Survey via print advertising, Facebook, on UGFM radio, on community noticeboards across the Shire and in our Library and Customer Service Centres, as well as the 'news' section of our website.
We also hosted pop-up sessions in Alexandra, Yea, Kinglake, Marysville and Eildon to chat to community members in person about their communication preferences.
People could either complete the survey online, in person at one of the Council offices or the pop-up sessions, or over the phone.
Overall we received 241 responses to the survey, which is a great result!
Stage 1
The survey has now closed. Thank you to those community members who participated.
Do you live, work or own a property in Murrindindi Shire? Then you are
invited to complete our short Communication Preferences survey to help
Council improve the way it communicates with its community.
Council currently uses a range of communication methods to share news and information with the community, including updates about our swimming pools, libraries, community events, road and infrastructure projects, environmental programs and waste and recycling services - and we want to understand how you want to receive this information.
We’d like to know your preferences about how you’d like to receive news from Council, including information from Council about our services to you.
How to get involved
The survey has now closed.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Council staff will be hosting pop-ups in Alexandra, Eildon, Marysville, Kinglake and Yea. Drop in for a chat and provide your feedback.
