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Sunshine Coast Community Strategy 2019-2041

Council adopted the Sunshine Coast Community Strategy 2019-2041 at its Ordinary Meeting on 14 November 2019.

Purpose

The community strategy provides a long-term framework for how council and our community will work together to advance our shared goal of a strong community through to 2041.

Overview

The Sunshine Coast is experiencing a transformation from a regional centre to a regional city. Our community is growing each year. This growth brings exciting opportunities, however, we also need to plan and support our communities well to ensure we remain strong, continue to thrive and can adapt well to change. It is vital that council has a clear framework for the future so that people and places remain connected, inclusive and cohesive.

The purpose of the community strategy is to achieve 5 outcomes:

  • empower our community to live healthy and active lifestyles
  • focus on ensuring community places and spaces are vibrant, inclusive, accessible, adaptable and meet the needs of people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds
  • strengthen connection, inclusion and opportunity for all people in our community
  • build capacity in our communities to be connected, resilient and to respond to local issues
  • nurture creative and innovative approaches to building a strong community.

The community strategy consists of 2 parts, the:

Community Strategy 2019-2041 overview

Community Strategy Action Plan 2019-2024 review

Expiring in 2024, the Sunshine Coast Community Strategy is currently being reviewed, and a new Action Plan is being developed for the next five years (2024-2029).

To assist with the review, council delivered the Stronger Together community engagement program in the first half of 2023. The purpose of this engagement was to gather early input from community members, council teams and other stakeholders on current and emerging priorities and opportunities for our community.

Further community engagement will take place on the draft plan in 2024.

Community strategy annual reporting

The community strategy has a range of measures that are used to monitor and understand how we are progressing towards our 5 community strategy outcome areas.

The community strategy annual reports draw together a range of data, stories and insights to highlight and celebrate the valuable work achieved over past years to deliver on the priorities of the community strategy, in collaboration with our community partners:

2021 Community strategy forum – building a strong community together

Bi-annually, council brings the community together to create a shared, inclusive, regional identity. The forum allows everyone to have a say and focuses on deepening our understanding of who we are through connection with each other.

2021 Community strategy forum

Community support - programs and initiatives

Aligned to the action plan priorities, council offers a range of programs, initiatives, information hubs and directories and delivers projects and campaigns to support the important work in key sectors of the community and provides activities, information and resources for the broader community. Discover what is what is currently happening in your community at community support.

Community strategy leadership group

The community strategy leadership group (CSLG) brings together key stakeholders committed to contributing to a thriving community, to lead and guide the delivery of the Sunshine Coast Community Strategy 2019-2041.

The Community Strategy Leadership Group is a key partner in the Community Strategy Action Plan 2019 -2024 review and the development of the new five year plan.

Founded in 2020, the current membership of the CSLG will come to the end of its term in June 2024.

For full details of the group and its members, visit council’s Have your Say website.

Community engagement

Between September 2018 and July 2019, an extensive program of engagement was undertaken by council to ensure that the community strategy is shaped by, and reflective of, the diverse voices of our region. Approximately 1600 community members and stakeholders contributed through this engagement, with their voices and ideas creating the community strategy’s shared vision for the future of the Sunshine Coast as well as influencing the outcomes, priorities and action plan. Community engagement will continue to be one of our key methods of implementing and delivering the community strategy.

Find out more about the engagement program by visiting community strategy past consultation on council's Have your Say site, or by reading the our fact sheet (PDF, 359KB).

This video provides a snapshot about what the community strategy is about and how it has been developed.

Sunshine Coast Community Strategy 2019-2041

Previous strategies and related council plans

The Sunshine Coast Social Strategy 2015 is superseded by the adoption of the Sunshine Coast Community Strategy 2019-2041. The following documents have been incorporated into the community strategy:

  • Nambour Activation Plan 2015
  • Sunshine Coast Access and Inclusion Plan 2011-2016
  • Sunshine Coast Community Events and Celebrations Strategy 2011
  • Sunshine Coast Multicultural Action Plan 2017-2020
  • Sunshine Coast Positive Ageing Strategy 2011-2016
  • Sunshine Coast Community Safety Action Plan 2016-2020
  • Sunshine Coast Youth Action Plan 2018-2021.

More information

For more information about the community strategy, please contact council.

Alternative formats

Braille version can be accessed at the Nambour, Maroochydore and Caloundra libraries.

Accessible text version (DOC, 176KB) for the visually impaired using assistive technology.

Audio version:

  • Chapter 1 (MP3, 186KB) - Intro
  • Chapter 2 (MP3, 702KB) - Contents
  • Chapter 3 (MP3, 1648KB) - Inside cover
  • Chapter 4 (MP3, 981KB) - Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners
  • Chapter 5 (MP3, 412KB) - Our Vision - Together we thrive
  • Chapter 6 (MP3, 2479KB) - Looking Towards 2041
  • Chapter 7 (MP3, 1239KB) - Our goal - A Strong Community
  • Chapter 8 (MP3, 2632KB) - About the Community Strategy
  • Chapter 9 (MP3, 1597KB) - A broader view of Council
  • Chapter 10 (MP3, 3599KB) - The role of government in supporting strong communities
  • Chapter 11 (MP3, 1345KB) - A brief history of the Sunshine Coast
  • Chapter 12 (MP3, 3430KB) - Who we are: a demographic snapshot
  • Chapter 13 (MP3, 2714KB) - Trends and opportunities
  • Chapter 14 (MP3, 3153KB) - What our community told us
  • Chapter 15 (MP3, 1396KB) - A vision for a future where our communities are thriving
  • Chapter 16 (MP3, 2399KB) - The Community Strategy: Building a strong community together
  • Chapter 17 (MP3, 2122KB) - Outcome 1: Healthy, Active Communities
  • Chapter 18 (MP3, 1655KB) - Outcome 2: Vibrant Communities
  • Chapter 19 (MP3, 2336KB) - Outcome 3: Inclusive Communities
  • Chapter 20 (MP3, 2211KB) - Outcome 4: Connected, Resilient Communities
  • Chapter 21 (MP3, 2415KB) - Outcome 5: Creative, Innovative Communities
  • Chapter 22 (MP3, 3314KB) - Glossary
  • Chapter 23 (MP3, 3625KB) - Reference list
  • Chapter 24 (MP3, 377KB) - Back cover
  • Chapter 25 (MP3, 369KB) - Closing announcement.