Meet MosaicLab
Nicole Hunter
JUMP ON BOARD! THE NEXT ENGAGEMENT ERA AWAITS

We’re feeling energised as we zoom through the first month of the new year. That’s because we can see what’s ahead, and we’re excited about the possibilities. Are you ready to set sail with us? We’re celebrating what’s been achieved in partnership with people just like you so far, while setting our sights on facilitating more important conversations in more places and having even more positive impact on more communities. We’re ready to embrace where engagement and deliberation are going, are you?

JUMP ON BOARD! THE NEXT ENGAGEMENT ERA AWAITS
Meet MosaicLab
Nicole Hunter
THAT'S A WRAP 2023! GRATITUDE, HIGHLIGHTS & ...

A message of thanks to you - our clients, participants, partners and friends - and hope for what’s ahead. As we head towards the end of a big year of big conversations, our team shares what they’re grateful for, their biggest highlight of 2023 and what’s really lighting them up when they think forward to the new year ahead.

THAT'S A WRAP 2023! GRATITUDE, HIGHLIGHTS & HOPE FOR WHAT'S AHEAD
Meet MosaicLab
Nicole Hunter
TEAM SPOTLIGHT: BELINDA AND FOX

Meet the newest additions to the MosaicLab team: Belinda Lowing and Fox Gillen. Both Belinda and Fox have long career histories that span across interesting and complex roles that have included facilitation and engagement in many forms. Learn more about these two and gain some insights into who they REALLY are through their answers to our fast five questions!

TEAM SPOTLIGHT: BELINDA AND FOX
Meet MosaicLab
Nicole Hunter
TEAM SPOTLIGHT: JODY AND AARON

Ever wondered what makes our facilitators tick? Meet the newest additions to the MosaicLab team: Jody Kingston and Aaron Bosch. Both Aaron and Jody have fascinating, diverse backgrounds and have come to MosaicLab and facilitation via interesting pathways. Find out what they love about their work, what impact they hope to have and how they answered a list of fun and probing questions that we like to call The Telling Top 10... 

TEAM SPOTLIGHT: JODY AND AARON
Case studies
Nicole Hunter
CASE STUDY: TACKLING TOBACCO HARM IN PUBLIC ...

Four language interpreters. Child-minding. Recruitment challenges. Birthday cake and a lot of laughs. These are just some of the unique highlights of our work with Quit Victoria and VicHealth in 2022 on a project to reduce tobacco-related harm in public housing. This case study takes a detailed look at how MosaicLab supported this process with a residents’ panel and sense-making workshops. All to drive improved, long-term outcomes for community and public health.

CASE STUDY: TACKLING TOBACCO HARM IN PUBLIC HOUSING

monthly myth

#MONTHLYMYTH: NO CONSEQUENCES FOR CUTTING ASSET PLAN CORNERS

#MONTHLYMYTH: NO CONSEQUENCES FOR CUTTING ASSET PLAN CORNERS

Victorian councils - don't delay your Asset Plan engagement! Thinking you might rush it through after council elections? If so, it could be time to reconsider. Want to meet Local Government Act requirements, build a plan your decision-makers can stand behind and avoid risks? Then it's almost time to start planning your engagement process. This monthly myth explores the risks of cutting corners, ways to make the most of this golden opportunity, a solution for working around council elections and how to determine the right scale for your deliberative engagement process.  

,

#MONTHLYMYTH: DELIBERATION IS ONE TIME, ONE GROUP, ONE ISSUE

,
#MONTHLYMYTH: DELIBERATION IS ONE TIME, ONE GROUP, ONE ISSUE

We’re seeing plenty of examples of deliberative engagement that involve one randomly selected group working on one issue over a few days together. That approach can be super effective and powerful when done right. There are lots of other exciting possibilities to explore though. Perhaps, an alternative model might be a better fit for your organisation and community or a more effective way to tackle the problem you’re trying to solve.

#MONTHLYMYTH: ENGAGEMENT AND DELIBERATION ARE SIMILAR TO MARKET RESEARCH

#MONTHLYMYTH: ENGAGEMENT AND DELIBERATION ARE SIMILAR TO MARKET RESEARCH

We’re sometimes asked if we provide market research services, or if deliberation is a bit like market research. While both areas involve people and information, they involve them in very different ways. The two concepts differ in terms of intent, design and process. This myth post drills down into the key differences between the two, how they might sometimes intersect and why they’re separate, specialised fields.

,

#MONTHLYMYTH: BELIEFS ARE UNCHANGEABLE

,
#MONTHLYMYTH: BELIEFS ARE UNCHANGEABLE

Our beliefs are shaped by our reality and impact how we show up in the world. In this #MonthlyMyth, we explore how we develop our beliefs, and have the ability to change them. It also discusses why being aware of your personal beliefs is important in community engagement work.

,

#MONTHLYMYTH: DELIBERATION IS FOR THE COUNCILLORS NOT FOR THE PEOPLE!

,
#MONTHLYMYTH: DELIBERATION IS FOR THE COUNCILLORS NOT FOR THE PEOPLE!

We often hear councillors and staff saying they don’t need to involve the community in deliberation as it is the role of councillors, or any elected official, to deliberate on an issue and make decisions. It is important to note that deliberative engagement does not supersede or dismiss the role of councillors in making decisions.

In this #MonthlyMyth, we discuss the five main ways that deliberation can help decision-makers and add value, rather than take away their decision-making powers.

,

#MONTHLYMYTH: CALL IT DELIBERATION & IT WILL BE

,
#MONTHLYMYTH: CALL IT DELIBERATION & IT WILL BE

Deliberative democracy isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ type of deal.  Deliberative processes can come in multiple packages, and deliberative elements can be integrated into a range of different engagement approaches.  However, a truly deliberative process is built around some simple core principles, and it’s risky to call a process ‘deliberation’ if it doesn’t truly hit the mark. 

So, what are the principles of deliberative democracy, and how would we know if a process wasn’t truly deliberative?

,

#MONTHLYMYTH: FACILITATORS NEED TO BE CONTENT EXPERTS

,
#MONTHLYMYTH: FACILITATORS NEED TO BE CONTENT EXPERTS

Facilitators work across many industries, audiences and topics, and sometimes the issues or information being considered are complex or technical.  We’re often asked how we manage to move across so many broad ranging issues and projects, and whether we need to become ‘experts’ in each topic before we facilitate.

This #MonthlyMyth explores some of the misunderstandings that sit behind this myth, highlights the true role of a facilitator, and uncovers how facilitators really work with information and content.

,

#MONTHLYMYTH: DELIBERATION IS ALWAYS THE ANSWER

,
#MONTHLYMYTH: DELIBERATION IS ALWAYS THE ANSWER

Deliberation can be refer to either a micro-process (something you can build into part of a session or engagement process) or a full deliberative democracy process (such as a citizens’ jury).   

Deliberative engagement has a lot of potential benefits - these processes can lead to new solutions to challenging problems, improve policy outcomes and engender trust between citizens and decision makers.

So, is deliberation always the right answer/process? The short answer is no. 

,

#MONTHLYMYTH: STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT IN DELIBERATIVE PROCESSES

,
#MONTHLYMYTH: STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT IN DELIBERATIVE PROCESSES

We’re kicking off our 2019 #MonthlyMyth series by addressing a topic we’re often asked about. We’ve noticed that it’s an issue that makes organisations nervous.  There’s a fear that (where a randomly selected panel or jury is involved) stakeholder and interest groups will be cut out of the conversation and oppose the process or decision.  

Luckily, not only is it important to incorporate these groups in a deliberative process, there’s also lots of ways they can be involved.    Today we’re exploring why it’s a good idea to do so, and giving you seven ways to bring them on your deliberative journey.