18.10.2010
The Government 2.0 Taskforce administered a project fund to support the development of Web 2.0 tools and applications that enable engagement between government and the community, or support the innovative use of government information.
In October 2009, the ALRC and the social business consultancy Headshift made a successful application for the funding to conduct an online consultation pilot for the ALRC’s Family Violence Inquiry. The grant covered the costs of Headshift’s services and hosting and programming requirements.
Headshift was engaged in November 2009 to assist the ALRC to run an online engagement pilot (Project 15) with stakeholders in the Family Violence Inquiry. The project provided a case study of how an agency might improve its online engagement capabilities by following best practice in the use and management of Web 2.0 tools and community management practices.
The Family Violence Consultation Pilot was a closed online community that enabled frank and open discussion in a secure environment between the ALRC and a specific group of stakeholders—women’s legal services—spread across Australia. The ALRC identified a number of key issues and invited participants to discuss them and any other relevant issues. The responses were used to inform the ALRC’s consideration of the issues raised by the Family Violence Inquiry. Suggestions and case studies provided may be included in the relevant inquiry publication with participants having the option to remain anonymous.
The Project 15 Case Study Report, completed by Headshift, outlined the engagement process for the design and set-up of the online community, including some early findings and recommendations for future applications of a similar nature and provides a valuable model for agencies considering online consultation.
Homepage of the Women’ Online Forum, showing some of the facebook-like features.