Participation level:
- High (Stakeholders participate in decision)
Innovation level:
- Low (Traditional)
Facilitator skill level, and other support required:
- Low (No special skills)
Can be used for:
- Engage community
- Discover community issues
- Develop community capacity
- Communicate an issue
- Medium (2-12 people)
- Individual
Speakouts aim to provide people with specific information on an issue with a venue in which to share their expertise. In this way, speakouts determine issues and gain insight into various perspectives in relation to a community issue or proposal.
Speakouts allow participants to express their views to a wide audience, and result in a wider airing of views, and greater awareness of other people's contributions to a particular process or issue. Speakouts open up possibilities of collegiate action when participants are experts working in similar fields.
- Useful when conflicting viewpoints exist.
- Useful when debate is required to refine understanding of issues.
- Useful when a particular group or individuals are affected by a project.
- Can educate.
- Allows organizers to meet people and develop networks.
- Can be difficult to direct (often speakouts occur because groups feel their voices are not being heard).
- Popular with activists, and may not have a balance of opinions.
- The discussion may be difficult to incorporate into a formalized consultation program.
Organizing Speakouts
How many people to organize?
Time required:
- Medium (6 weeks-6 months)
Cost:
- Medium (AUD$1,000-AUD$10,000)
- Low (< AUD$1,000)
- Identify the issue of interest.
- Book venue and invite experts.
- Publicise 'speak out' / 'Soapbox'.
- Take care of legal and other responsibilities.
- Hire facilitator.
- Organise recorders.
- Explain time limits to each speaker (five minutes maximum).
- After the event, prepare statement/report for media and authorities.