What is Participatory Community Development?
When it comes to creating lasting change in our communities, one thing is becoming clear: working for communities isn’t enough. We need to work with them.
That’s the heart of Participatory Community Development. It’s an approach that centres on the voices, knowledge, and leadership of the people who are most affected by the issues we’re trying to solve.
We are facing complex challenges and growing demand for new ways of working, so this approach isn’t just relevant — it’s essential.
What is Participatory Community Development?
Participatory Community Development is a way of working with communities, not doing things to or for them.
Instead of experts prescribing solutions, members of the community identify, shape, and test the answers. They are the decision-makers, not just the recipients.
At its core, this approach is about:
Listening deeply to the lived experience of community members.
Building relationships and trust over time.
Creating spaces of belonging where people feel safe to lead.
Often, people in community already hold the solutions. They just need to be invited into the process and given the resources and support to bring their ideas to life.
Why now?
Communities and services are facing a critical moment.
People are tired of top-down systems. Too often, programs and services don’t reflect what communities actually need, and rigid structures leave no room for flexibility.
We’ve seen lots of incredible work happening under the radar. Many grassroots efforts thrive at a local level but struggle to secure funding or recognition because they don’t “fit the box” of traditional funding models.
Our challenges are complex. Issues like housing, racism, climate change, and the cost of living are interconnected. Siloed service delivery can’t solve these problems alone.
There’s a growing desire for something different. Across sectors, people are searching for more relational, human, and hopeful ways of operating.
Participatory Community Development meets this moment. It shifts the focus from doing things for people to doing things with people — creating solutions that are embedded in the community, not imposed on it.
Common misconceptions
Despite its potential, some myths about community development persist. For example:
“Isn’t this just service delivery?”
Not quite. Service delivery is about meeting immediate needs. Community development, on the other hand, helps communities define and lead their own priorities — creating lasting change rather than short-term fixes.“Community development is too slow / fluffy.”
Real change takes time. Building trust, relationships, and local capacity doesn’t happen overnight. But when it’s done well, the outcomes are sustainable and owned by the community — and that’s what makes the difference.
Who is this for?
This training is for anyone who wants to shift from “doing for” to “doing with.”
Whether you work in health, social services, local government, or a grassroots organisation, if you’re ready to change the way you work and strengthen your connection with community, this is for you.
How Does it connect to mental health and wellbeing?
Community development isn’t just about projects — it’s about people. By addressing the root causes of distress — disconnection, poverty, racism, and exclusion — it creates the conditions for better mental health and wellbeing.
When people feel a sense of belonging, agency, and purpose, they thrive. That’s why community development is also deeply connected to suicide prevention and life promotion.
Why get involved in community development?
If you’ve ever thought:
“I wish I could work more closely with my community,”
“I want to be part of changing things,” or
“I want to add value to the work I do.”
…then maybe it’s time to get involved.
You’ll not only grow your understanding of citizen-led change but also connect with like-minded people who are ready to do things differently.
Our upcoming workshops and training aim to build a capable community
Life Promotion and Suicide Prevention FNQ are working with local providers to develop capable communities in Far North Queensland. We have a number of activities lined up for the rest of 2025, which we will share with you as we progress.
1. In-person workshops — Cairns (September)
Two introductory workshops will explore the principles, concepts, and practice of Participatory Community Development. Up to 30 people will join these interactive sessions to learn and connect.
2. Online “How To” series
From the initial workshops, 12 collaborative members will take part in a four-part online skills series, diving deeper into practical application.
3. One-on-one coaching
Participants will receive two coaching sessions to support them in developing their own community development project.
4. Community-led initiatives
With guidance from Agora Community Development and the Life Promotion and Suicide Prevention team, participants will design and implement up to 12 community-led initiatives across the Cairns, Cape, and Torres regions.
Stay in the loop
Keep an eye on our Collaborative events where we join together to discuss ways to improve suicide prevention and life promotion in FNQ.
Head to our Podcasts page to listen to inspiring people we work with talk about their experiences in suicide prevention.
Stay tuned for our soon-to-be-released video resources
