Bringing councils and communities into the same conversation
Councils and community organisations are often working toward the same outcomes, but from different angles. Councils bring policy, funding, and responsibility. Community organisations bring lived experience, local knowledge, and trust.
What’s often missing is a practical way for both to think clearly together — without hierarchy, consultation fatigue, or the same voices dominating the room.
BrickTalk creates that shared space.
What BrickTalk offers
BrickTalk designs hands-on workshops where council officers and community representatives work side-by-side to explore issues, surface insight, and build shared understanding. Using the LEGO® Serious Play® method, participants build models, share stories, and reflect together — making complex issues visible, discussable, and easier to act on.
This isn’t consultation theatre. It’s structured thinking that leads somewhere.
Why councils and community organisations belong in the same room
When councils and community organisations build together:
- Every voice contributes equally
- Assumptions surface early
- Power dynamics soften without being ignored
- Conversations move beyond opinions
- Shared understanding forms quickly
Instead of talking about communities, councils are thinking with them.
Where BrickTalk fits
BrickTalk workshops are commonly used within:
- Community engagement and development programs
- Libraries and lifelong learning initiatives
- Age-friendly and wellbeing programs
- Place-based planning and precinct renewal
- Economic development and small-business engagement
- Cross-department or cross-partner alignment sessions
They work equally well for mixed groups of council staff, community leaders, volunteers, residents, and service providers.
What people leave with
BrickTalk sessions are designed to produce outcomes you can use:
- A shared picture of the issue or opportunity
- Clear priorities and focus
- Stronger relationships across council–community boundaries
- Agreed next steps that feel owned, not imposed
- A common language that supports follow-up work