We are committed to making it easy for everyone to participate in our engagements. If you have specific requirements or any questions please contact the Community Engagement Team on 9298 8000 or email HaveYourSay@knox.vic.gov.au.

Language and translations

You can have this page translated into our top 10 language groups.

Click the language drop-down in the top right corner of this page. It will have a picture of a world globe next to it 🌍.

If you do not speak one of these languages, contact Council through TIS on 131450.

If you would like a translator at a pop up, please notify the project team as early as possible.

Sight and hearing resources

A text document of this page content is available upon request if your screen reader is not compatible with this webpage.

If you have any other questions, concerns or requests to ensure this engagement is accessible for you, contact us at haveyoursay@knox.vic.gov.au or call 9298 8000.

Pop ups

The locations of the pop ups are physically accessible. They are in busy locations so may be noisy and have a lot of people moving around. If you need a quiet space or one to one conversation please contact the project team directly.

The Council and Health and Wellbeing Plan 2025-2029 has been shaped by our community and reflects the vision, values, and aspirations of the people of Knox.

The Knox Community Vision 2035 describes our long-term hopes and aspirations for Knox:

Knox: where we connect with our people and our environment, ensuring they are safe, supported and have every opportunity to thrive.

This plan progresses our Community Vision and guides Council’s strategic direction, planning, and resource allocation over the next four years, bringing the Community Vision to life in meaningful ways. It provides a roadmap for how we will improve services, infrastructure, and support for residents, while ensuring our decisions are informed by data, feedback, and emerging needs. It is Council’s promise to the Knox community, guiding where we put our focus and effort.

Our themes and strategic objectives

Enhancing community connection to vital services and resources: Our community can access important local services and resources through Council’s delivery, advocacy, and partnerships.

Embracing connection, inclusion and diversity: Our diverse and connected community is strengthened by creating opportunities to actively participate, connect and learn.

Caring for and enhancing our environment: Our environment is greener, healthier and sustainable through Council’s environmental protection and enhancement, working in collaboration with our community.

Leading, listening and governing responsibly: Our community feels empowered, heard, and has trust in Council through responsible governance, proactive communication and engagement, and transparent decision making.

Being a strong voice for safety: Our community feels safe, respected and supported in public spaces and at home through Council’s delivery, advocacy and partnerships.

Planning our future city: Our neighborhoods, housing and infrastructure meet the needs of our changing community through effective planning, delivery and advocacy.

Health and wellbeing priorities

Health and wellbeing are the cornerstones of a strong, cohesive, and resilient community.

Knox’s Council and Health and Wellbeing Plan 2025-2029 integrates the Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan with the Council Plan, ensuring that our priorities for supporting, protecting, and improving the health and wellbeing of our community are at the forefront of everything we do.

Health and wellbeing priorities

Our health and wellbeing priorities are embedded in the plan’s themes, strategic objectives, strategies and measures, reflecting our commitment to a holistic approach to community health. The eight health priorities are:

• Reduce harm from alcohol, smoking, vaping and gambling
• Advocate for equity across our community
• Promote equal participation opportunities and celebrate our diverse community
• Support prevention of all forms of violence by promoting safety and respect
• Support access to affordable and nutritious food
• Build resilience to emergencies and threats, including climate change
• Create opportunities for active living
• Improve social connection and mental wellbeing

Find out more about the Community Vision, Council and Health and Wellbeing Plan 2025 - 2029, Financial Plan 2025 - 2035, Asset Plan 2026 - 2035.

To ensure Knox’s Council and Health and Wellbeing Plan 2025-2029 reflects the voice of our community, a detailed research and engagement program was undertaken:

• The State of Knox Report 2024 enabled us to understand key demographics and changes in our community since 2020, including social, economic, and environmental conditions in Knox.
• Using over 100 previous engagement activities, we analysed the recurring themes and what matters most to you when it comes to your values, aspirations, and priorities.
• An equity impact assessment was undertaken to ensure the voices of our diverse community were incorporated through targeted and deliberative engagement. This enabled us to capture voices representative of our multicultural community, First Nations people, people with a disability, children and young people.
• We held many community engagement activities where more than 1100 Knox community members shared insights, helping us to validate what we’ve learned, to identify current challenges and aspirations, and to shape priorities for the next four years.
• A representative Community Panel took part in deliberative engagement, helping us interpret the findings from the broader community, providing recommendations, and shaping the key elements of the Council and Health and Wellbeing Plan 2025-2029, including themes, strategic objectives and strategies, along with confirming health and wellbeing priorities.
• Councillors and staff were also engaged to ensure that the plan reflects the role of Council.

You can find out more about the community engagement on the Our Knox project page.

Council is commencing the development of the 2026-27 annual plan and budget which identifies how we allocate our resources and deliver our communities highest priorities of the Council and Health and Wellbeing Plan 2025-2029 and Asset Plan 2026-2035.

In preparing the plan Council will consider:

• Feedback from the Have Your Say Annual Planning Cycle 2026-27 survey and other in person community engagements
• Formal submissions to Council
• Regulatory requirements and minimum standards
• Council financial plans and available resources

The prioritisation of Council resources and services for the 2026-27 annual plan and budget impacts the whole of our community.

For this project we will be engaging our community at the level of Consult on the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2) Spectrum.
This means we will listen to what you say and consider it when we make a decision.

Council will consider feedback in determining resource allocation for the 2026-2027 financial year and prioritising the annual actions for the Council and Health and Wellbeing Plan 2025-29.

The diagram below illustrates when the community can influence Council's plans:

• Council and Health and Wellbeing Plan
• Annual Budget
• Financial Plan
• Asset Plan

You have the most influence when we are developing the Plans every four years.

Annually, you can learn about the Plan’s progress and help inform the annual actions and budgets. This is the engagement that is currently underway.

• The Council and Health and Wellbeing Plan 2025-29
• Budgetary constraints
• Non-discretionary expenditure required by legislation (eg maintaining minimum standards)