This guide outlines the New South Wales (NSW) Government’s approach to consulting with regional, rural and remote communities, including Aboriginal communities, to make better decisions and improve the lives of people across NSW. Community and stakeholder engagement provides the platform to develop strong, effective and sustainable policies, programs and projects that meet community needs and deliver better outcomes. 

Challenges associated with community engagement in regional, rural and remote areas include:

• digital disadvantage and limited availability of well-resourced local media outlets
• sparsely populated regions
• long distances between individuals and communities
• diverse climates and communities
• cultural and linguistic barriers.

The guide draws on the collective knowledge of community engagement specialists and community feedback to ensure that the NSW Government engages in consultation processes that address these challenges, and recognise the priorities and expectations of regional, rural and remote communities.