Resources for place-based change
These resources are here to support PBIs and those working with them to implement practices identified in the 12 elements. They come from a mix of sources from Australia and globally. It is not a comprehensive list and will grow with time and through collaboration. We see this as a starting point. If you would like to contribute resources, feel free to get in touch.
Collaborative governance
These resources can support:
1.1 Community governance structures
2.1 Shared-decision making
2.3 Mutual accountability
3.2 Cross-sector collaboration
There is no one-size-fits all model for place-based governance. Depending on the local context, vision and maturity of a PBI, it can vary in formality, leadership, authority and representation.
Governance structures are a mechanism through which decisions can be shaped with communities rather than for them, strengthening buy-in and ownership of the initiatives.
These guidance documents on collaborative governance can be used to identify which structures might best suit your context. They outline considerations, processes, roles and responsibilities. Additionally, Culture Smart Governance explore how governance can be linked to support self-determination and cultural principles when working with First Nations communities.
Collaborative Governance: An introductory practice guide
Publisher: Collaboration for Impact. Year published: 2020 .
Collaborative Governance Framework
Publisher: Tamarack Institute . Year published: 2017 .
Governance Principles in Practice [videos]
Publisher: Queensland Council of Social Service . Year published: 2023.
Publisher: Australian Indigenous Governance Institute .Year published: 2023 .
Working with lived experience and diverse voices
These resources can support:
1.2 Responsive to local context
3.1 Shared Vision and Purpose
3.3 Trust and Reciprocity
3.4 Equitable contribution and influence
Communities are not homogeneous. Lived experience and cultural knowledge are key to ensuring place-based initiatives are responsive to context and should be recognised as a specific expertise.
The history and experience of marginalised groups, such as Refugees, First Nations or homeless communities, can shape how they will engage and perceive different stakeholders.
These frameworks and tools help you better understand how to create safe and inclusive processes and practices when working with different populations, including adaptations and considerations you may need to think about when designing programs and community engagement strategies.
NSW Settlement Strategy: Refugee Lived Experience Framework
Publisher: Multicultural NSW . Year published: 2024 .
A Toolkit to Authentically Embed Lived Experience Governance
Publisher: Lived Experience Leadership and Advocacy Network (LELAN) . Year published: 2023.
NCOSS Lived Experience Framework
Publisher: NSW Council of Social Service (NCOSS) . Year published: 2021.
Deep Democracy - Perspectivity
Publisher: Perspectivity Collective. Year Published: 2020.
(interactive e-learning) Publisher: NSW Aboriginal Land Council. Year Published: 2024.
Conducting stakeholder analysis
These resources can support:
3.2 Cross-sector collaboration
3.4 Equitable contribution and influence
1.4 Investing in Local Leadership
Working with multiple partners is part of place-based work. To develop tailored cross-sector plans that build on shared vision and purpose, it is critical to understand who should be involved, who holds influence and who can be potential barriers to change.
Stakeholder analysis should be regularly reviewed and updated to account for changes in purpose and actors. It can be done within an organisation or across multiple partners.
These tools give some suggestions on how to identify, disaggregate and prioritise stakeholders.
Conducting a Social Network Analysis
Publisher: Converge Network . Year published: 2023.
Social Network Analysis Project Toolkit
Publisher: Thriving Queensland Kids Partnership . Year published: 2025 .
Publisher: Tamarack Institute . Year Published: 2017.
Establishing and maintaining partnerships/collaborations
These resources can support:
2.1 Shared decision-making
2.2 Transparency
2.4 Continuous feedback loops
3.2 Cross-sector collaboration
Partnerships and collaborations are a fundamental aspect of place-based change. As they are often established in the early stages of an initiative, it is important to clarify guiding principles, expectations and accountability mechanisms. This helps sustain partnerships as well as institutionalise them so that they are not dependent on individual will. Partnerships and collaborations should be revisited at regular intervals to ensure they are fit for purpose.
These tools provide guidance on types of collaborations, the different stages and the structures and practices you can use to formalise them.
The Intersector Project Toolkit
Publisher: The Intersector Project . Year Published: 2014.
Publisher: Converge Network. Year Published: 2024.
Publisher: Community Door. Year Published: 2020.
Collaboration Health Assessment Tool
Publisher: Centre for Social Impact and Collaboration for Impact. Year Published: 2017.
Creating Change through Partnerships
Publisher: SNAICC – National Voice for Our Children . Year published: 2020 .
Advancing Collaboration Practice Fact Sheets
Publisher: Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) . Year published: 2013 .
How to Prepare for Conversations that Broker Difference
Publisher: Platform C and Collaboration for Impact. Year published: 2020.
Thriving Queensland Kids Partnerships Charter
Publisher: Thriving Queensland Kids Partnership and ARACY. Year published: 2024.
Building Partnerships with CALD Organisations
Publisher: Multicultural NSW. Year published: 2022.
aps-framework-for-engagement-and-participation.pdf
Publisher: Commonwealth Government. Year Published: 2020.
Building and maintaining trust
These resources can help:
2.1 Shared decision-making
2.2 Transparency
3.3 Trust & Reciprocity
Trust underpins all aspects of place-based change. Without trust between the community and the various stakeholders, interventions are unlikely to be successful.
Trust while hard to describe is something that can be built through consistent and transparent practices that demonstrate the link between action and intent.
These guides provide practical tips on the principles required to build trust, drawing on examples from different communities.
The policy paper on ‘Making government finance make sense’ looks at the specific area of participatory budgeting and ways to make resourcing more transparent.
Mini Guide 5: Building Relationships and Trust
Publisher: Office for Youth – Australian Government Department of Education. Year published: 2024.
Trust-Building Success: Tips for Engaging Local Communities
Publisher: Rhythm Foundation. Year published: 2024.
Making Government Finances Make Sense for Communities
Publisher: M Flanagan and M Miller-Dawkins. Year published: 2025.
Publisher: Qld Government. Year Published: 2023.
Defining a shared vision
These resources can support
1.1 Community governance structures
3.1 Shared vision and purpose
3.2 Cross-sector collaboration
A shared vision and purpose built on community priorities supports effective place based change. These tools look at different strategies for gathering community voice, and how to bring these insights together into shared vision and purpose.
Finding Shared Vision – Place-Based Approaches for Community Change
Publisher: Queensland Council of Social Service . Year published: 2019.
Collecting 1,000 Voices – A Collective Impact Approach [video]
Publisher: CMM Social Change. Year published: 2021.
Community Conversations: Data and Insights Hub
Publisher: The Shoebox Enterprises and Norwich City Council. Year published: 2025.
Community engagement strategies
These resources can support:
1.2 Responsive to local context
1.3 Valuing Local Knowledge
2.1 Shared decision-making
2.3 Mutual accountability
3.1 Shared Vision and Purpose
3.3 Trust and reciprocity
Community engagement is integral to all aspects of place-based change. It supports inclusion, trust, quality and sustainability of interventions. The level of community engagement though, may differ depend on the stage, maturity and activity of PBI. These guides discuss different types of engagement (based on IAP2), developing community engagement strategies, and concepts/tools for fostering community engagement.
Publisher: Collective Impact Forum. Year published: 2022.
Community Engagement 101: Ultimate Beginner’s Guide
Publisher: Visible Network Labs. Year published: 2023.
Publisher: Collective Impact Forum and Leading Inside Out. Year published: 2017.
Understanding community-led approaches to community change
Publisher: Tamarak Institute. Year Published: 2020.
Learning activities selection Guide
Publisher: FSG- Reimaging social change.
Centring equity and place-based approaches in systemic transformation |
Publisher: Inspired Communities, Tamarak Institute, Place Matters and Collaboration for Impact. Year Published: 2023.
Mapping Community Assets
These resources can support
1.3 Valuing local knowledge
2.2 Transparency in resource use
3.4 Equitable contribution and influence
Place-based change moves away from deficit models to embrace the strengths of community, and their contribution to finding solutions. Using a strengths based approach can help draw out the valuable resources of communities (often not visible) to find solutions to complex challenges. These mapping tools share ways to identify community strengths and map them to support desired outcomes.
SOAR: Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, Results [worksheet]
Publisher: National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD). Year published: 2021.
Tools for Agency-Led Asset Mapping with Communities
Publisher: Institute of Museum and Library Services. Year published: 2022.
Appreciative inquiry | Better Evaluation
Publisher: Better Evaluation Knowledge. Year Published: 2021.
Capacity building Assessment tool
Publisher: Menzies school of health research. Year: 2014.
Co-Design
These resources can support:
Community governance structures
1.2 Responsive to context
Valuing local knowledge
2.3 Mutual Accountability
3.3 Trust and reciprocity
Co-design with the community makes services and programs more responsive to context, accessible and effective. It is a distinct process. These tools help with the steps to set up spaces that foster co-design and enable different partners to meaningfully contribute.
Publisher: Agency for Clinical Innovation. Year Published: 2016.
Publisher: IDEO
Kimberly Co-Design Guide for youth wellbeing initiatives
Publisher: Kimberly Aboriginal Land and Cultural Centre. Year published: 2022.