OECD Survey: Share Experiences of Government Engagement

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is currently undertaking a Country Review of Australia focused on strengthening civic space and citizen participation, and civil society organisations are being invited to contribute their perspectives through a national survey.

The review will assess Australia’s legal, policy, institutional and practical frameworks that shape the environment for civil society and public participation. Its goal is to develop evidence-based recommendations that strengthen transparency, inclusion and trust in public institutions.

As part of this work, the OECD is seeking input from civil society organisations (CSOs) across Australia about their experiences engaging with government.

The survey aims to capture:

• how CSOs engage with government at different levels

• the opportunities and barriers they encounter in participation processes

• perspectives on the broader environment supporting civil society engagement.

The insights gathered will provide critical input into the OECD’s analysis and recommendations, helping ensure the review reflects the lived experiences of organisations working across Australia’s civic landscape.

Broad participation is encouraged, as diverse responses will strengthen the credibility and relevance of the final report.

Understanding Civic Space

The OECD defines civic space as the set of legal, policy, institutional and practical conditions that allow non-governmental actors to access information, express themselves, associate and participate in public life.

The review examines three key pillars:

1. Civic freedoms – including freedoms of expression, assembly and association

2. The enabling environment for civil society organisations

3. The media and information ecosystem

Why Participation Matters

Citizen participation plays a vital role in effective governance. The OECD describes participation as the ways governments involve citizens and stakeholders throughout the policy cycle and in service design and delivery, ranging from information sharing and consultation to co-creation and co-delivery.

Civil society organisations bring important expertise, community connections and lived experience to these processes.

Who Should Participate

For the purposes of the review, the OECD defines civil society organisations as not-for-profit, non-state, non-partisan, non-violent and self-governing organisations outside of the family in which people come together to pursue shared needs, ideas, interests, values, faith or beliefs.

This includes both:

• formally registered organisations, and

• informal associations with a structure and regular activities.

Take the Survey

Civil society organisations across Australia are encouraged to share their experiences and insights by completing the survey.

Your input will help inform the OECD’s recommendations for strengthening civic participation and supporting a thriving civic space in Australia.

Complete the survey here:
CSO Questionnaire – OECD Review: Civic Space and Participation in Australia