Join the Conversation
What is a Community Conversation | Different ways to have a Community Conversation | Host or join | Register
Community Conversations are at the heart of how we listen
We invite people from across the Deakin electorate to join a conversation — around a kitchen table, in a café, at the pub, online, or wherever people feel comfortable — to share what matters most to them and their families.
Through these conversations, along with our community survey, we gather and reflect the real concerns, hopes and priorities of our community.
What we hear is carefully compiled into a report that summarises community views. This report is shared with our Federal Member and other candidates, inviting them to respond to what our community has said.
What is a Community Conversation?
Community Conversations are simple, relaxed small-group discussions led by a volunteer facilitator – it may be a Voices of Deakin volunteer, or someone from the community. The facilitator creates a welcoming space for people to share their experiences, concerns and ideas — and to know they are being truly heard.
These conversations are designed for listening. They give participants the time and space to speak openly, hear different perspectives, and often discover common ground about what it’s like to live in Deakin and the challenges they face.
Everything shared is treated with care and is strictly anonymous. Individual comments are never attributed. Instead, insights are collated and combined into a community report that reflects themes and shared priorities.
There are a few simple ground rules:
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everyone has the right to speak
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everyone deserves respect
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the focus is on listening — not persuading or debating.
Conversations can take place around a kitchen table, in a café, at the pub, in a park, online, or anywhere people feel comfortable gathering.
In the past, participants have described these conversations as enjoyable, meaningful and empowering — a rare chance to be heard without interruption or agenda.
Different ways to have a Community Conversation
Community Conversations can take many forms. What matters most is creating a safe, respectful space to listen.
Some of the ways people choose to gather include:
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Kitchen Table Conversations – small gatherings in someone’s home
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Politics in the Pub – informal conversations in a relaxed public setting
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Café Conversations – meeting over coffee with neighbours and friends
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Youth Conversations – creating space specifically for young people to share their experiences and priorities
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Intergenerational Conversations – bringing different age groups together to listen and learn from one another.
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Park Conversations – outdoor gatherings in local green spaces
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Online Conversations – connecting via Zoom or other platforms
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Community Group Conversations – if your community group would like a conversation, we'd love to hear from you.
If you have another idea for bringing people together, we’d love to support it. Every conversation helps build a clearer picture of what matters across Deakin.
Host or join a Community Conversation
Community Conversations only happen because local people choose to take part.
You can host a conversation with friends, neighbours or colleagues — or simply attend one organised by someone else. We provide guidance, support and a simple conversation framework, so you don’t need any special experience.
Whether you gather five people around a kitchen table, meet at your local pub, or join an online conversation, your participation helps ensure our community’s priorities are clearly heard and respectfully represented, and importantly your priorities and concerns inform Deakin's overall story.
If you’d like to host or attend a Community Conversation, we’d love to hear from you.
Register your interest
If you're interested in participating in or hosting a Conversation, register below and we'll be in touch.