7. Stakeholder Analysis 

CLIP analysis of DARU stakeholders

To consider the nature of the relationship between DARU and its stakeholders, CLIP analysis was undertaken. CLIP stands for collaboration or conflict, legitimacy, interest and power, and forms part of the IAP2 methodology and values (see Appendix B). Depending upon the nature of each of the CLIP variables, a stakeholder may be dominant, forceful, influential, dormant, concerned, vulnerable and marginal. Table 7.1 below describes each type of stakeholder in terms of their CLIP characteristics and the types of tools that are relevant to their engagement.

 

Table 7.1 CLIP characteristics and tools to engage each type of stakeholder

Stakeholder type	CLIP characteristics	Relevant tools
Dominant	Powerful Large gains or losses from the project Seen as legitimate by other stakeholders	Involve Collaborate Empower
Forceful	Powerful Large gains or losses from the project Not seen as legitimate by other stakeholders	Inform Consult Involve
Influential	Powerful Low gains or losses from the project Seen as legitimate by other stakeholders	Consult Involve Collaborate
Dormant	Powerful Low gains or losses from the project Not seen as legitimate by other stakeholders	Inform Consult
Concerned	Not powerful Limited gains or losses from the project Seen as  legitimate by other stakeholders	Involve Collaborate Empower
Vulnerable	Not powerful Large gains or losses from the project Seen as legitimate by other stakeholders	Collaborate Empower
Marginal	Not powerful Large gains or losses from the project Not seen as legitimate by other stakeholders	Collaborate Empower

 

 

The vast majority of DARU client stakeholders (24) were identified as ‘vulnerable’, largely due to their lack of financial and human resources as well as the time-poor nature of the sector.

Five organisations were found to be ‘dominant’ due to their roles with DAV, the PGG or available resources to undertake systemic advocacy. The Victorian Office for Disability, as the funder of DARU, and VCOSS as one of the auspice partners are both ‘dominant’. So too is DAV, due to its auspice role for DARU, representation on the PGG, and position as the state’s peak disability advocacy network.

One organisation was identified as marginal, because it is focused upon mental illness, and therefore not seen as part of the disability sector in Victoria.

Table 7.2 below lists the organisations that are ‘vulnerable’, ‘dominant’ and ‘marginal’. Note: there was no identifiable difference in the CLIP outcome or resource needs of FaCHSIA-funded organisations, as opposed to those funded by the Office for Disability.

 

Table 7.2 CLIP outcomes for DARU stakeholders

Vulnerable Action for More Independence and Dignity in Accommodation Action on Disabilities within Ethnic Communities Assert 4 All (BDRC) Association for Children with a Disability Brain Injury Matters Blind Citizens Australia Citizen Advocacy Sunbury and Districts Colac Otway Region Advocacy Service Collective of Self Help Groups Disability Advocacy and Information Service Disability Justice Advocacy Disability Resource Centre Gippsland Disability Advocacy Leadership Plus  Regional Information and Advocacy Council Reinforce Southern Disability Southwest Advocacy Association Melbourne East Disability Advocacy Migrant Resource Centre North West North East Citizen Advocacy VALID Women with Disabilities Victoria Youth Disability Advocacy Service

Dominant Disability Discrimination Legal Service  CAUS – Communication Rights Australia Office for Disability  SARU  Villamanta Disability Rights Legal Service

Marginal Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council

 

 

Engagement tools

Based upon the type of stakeholder defined through the CLIP analysis, IAP2 recommends different methods of engagement. There are five increasing levels of engagement and participation (see Figure 7.1 below), with increasing levels of responsibility and accountability upon both the stakeholder and DARU. They are: inform, consult, involve, collaborate, and empower.

 

Figure 7.1 IAP2 spectrum of public participation

Source: IAP2 (2007b)

 

Both ‘marginal’ and ‘vulnerable’ stakeholders should be engaged through collaboration and empowerment, according to the IAP2 framework.

Collaboration involves working with the stakeholder as a partner, by including them in the development of resources and in identifying alternative options to meet their needs.
Empowerment of stakeholders is about supporting them to make the decision on what resources are relevant and how they can best be made accessible.
The way Victorian disability advocacy organisations responded to and engaged with this stakeholder engagement project indicates there is a strong appetite to utilise DARU resources and to share information and ideas within the sector. What seems to be holding organisations back from further engagement with DARU is a lack of time and pressure from maintaining existing advocacy activities.

 

Collaborate

Areas for collaboration could include:

• provision of professional development and training
• development of the Certificate IV in Disability Advocacy
• review of the Code of Conduct  in 2013.

Because of the time-poor nature of the sector, it would be more effective for DARU to develop ideas and then canvas them with the sector. This approach would place fewer demands on organisations to be involved. Where they have greater capabilities or time, DARU could support them through the empowerment approach.

 

Tools for collaboration

• web 2.0
• working groups
• facilitated consensus building forums
• conferences and workshops
• brainstorming.
• Empower

Empowerment is suggested for making the most out of DARU’s biennial conference and forums. DARU can support advocacy organisations, but cannot undertake advocacy itself. As such, DARU should continue to facilitate forums and support organisations to develop and participate in the biennial conference. Empowerment is also relevant for supporting the sector to develop systemic advocacy capability.

 

Tools for empowerment 

• facilitating conversations and debates between stakeholders
• joint planning activities
• co-designing workshops for new resources
• brainstorming
• expert panel
• conferences and workshops.

 

Inform

Under IAP2 only ‘dormant’ or ‘forceful’ stakeholders are recommended to be engaged through an inform method; however, given the findings from the interviews and time poor nature of the sector, this strategy is suggested for:

• DARU Update – because stakeholders were universally supportive.
• The online resource library and equipment library – because these were not seen as important resources by advocacy organisations and so additional effort is not required. 

 

Tools for information

• fact sheets
• websites
• open houses
• newsletters and bulletins.

The list of suggested methods of engagement for each DARU resource is:

• Professional development and training Collaborate
• Code of Conduct Collaborate
• Certificate IV in Disability Advocacy Collaborate
• DARU Update weekly email Inform
• Online Resource Library Inform
• Networking and forums Empower
• Equipment library Inform
• Biennial conference Empower
• New resources Collaborate

The Department of Sustainability and Environment provides a comprehensive guide to the various engagement tools under the IAP2 framework, in Effective Engagement: building relationships with community and other stakeholders, Book 3 the engagement toolkit.

 

Stakeholder engagement plan – next steps

 

Existing DARU resources	Recommendation	Target stakeholder	Primary responsibility	Tool for engagement	Timeline	Importance
Professional development and training	Retain Increase provision of practical and advanced training for advocates Increase use of video and telephone conferencing between regional and metropolitan organisations Hold more sessions in regional Victoria	Disability advocacy organisations Self advocacy organisations	DARU	Collaborate	Next six months	High
Weekly email update	Retain The DARU Update was improved during the course of this project. No further action is required to the layout or content Expand distribution of the email to government departments and local councils No changes to the online Resource Library of articles	Disability advocacy organisations Self advocacy organisations Disability sector Community sector Federal, state and ;ocal government	DARU	Inform	Ongoing weekly project	High
Certificate IV in Disability Advocacy	Being developed To be launched in mid-2013 Note: many of the modules were mentioned as possible topics for training during interviews	Paid and unpaid disability advocates Self advocates Volunteers in advocacy organisations Social workers Disability workers Government	DARU	Collaborate	Over the next six months	Medium
Online Directory	Update contact details	Disability advocacy organisations Self advocacy organisations Government	DARU	Inform	The next six months	Medium
Forums	Retain through its relationship with VCOSS, DAV, national disability sector and broader community sector Link into the DHS Community Building Web conferencing	Disability advocacy organisations Disability advocacy networks Self advocacy organisations Government	DARU DAV	Empower	Every four months	Medium
Equipment library (hardcopy)	Maintain without expending additional resources, otherwise retire	Disability advocacy organisations Self advocacy organisations	DARU	Inform	Within the next 12 months	Low
Biennial conference on strengthening disability advocacy	Retain frequency Include advanced and practical advocacy sessions. Include section on the NDIS and the State Disability Plan Determine priorities for the disability advocacy sector	Disability advocacy organisations  Self advocacy organisations Self advocates People with a disability Government	DARU DAV SARU	Empower	In 18 months	Low
Code of Conduct	To be reviewed and updated in 2013 to reflect policy and legislative changes	Disability advocacy organisations Members of the board or governance group Self advocacy organisations	DARU SARU	Collaborate	Commence in late 2013	Low

 

 

Possible New DARU resources	Recommendation	Target Stakeholder	Primary Responsibility	Tool for Engagement	Timeline	Importance
Forum on Advocacy and the NDIS	Being developed	Disability advocacy organisations Self advocacy organisations Self advocates Government	DARU AFDO SARU DAV Office for Disability	Collaborate	Begin in early 2013	High
Online fact sheets	Practical tip sheets (2-3 pages) for advocates to use in their work.	Advocates Self advocates Citizen advocates	DARU SARU	Inform	2012	High
Support for systemic advocacy	Facilitate development of systemic advocacy within the sector	Victorian advocacy sector	DARU DAV VicRAN	Empower	2012-13	High
NDIS page and/or blog on the DARU web page	To be developed. May be made a member-only benefit on the DARU web page.	Disability advocacy organisations Self advocacy organisations	DARU VCOSS DAV VicRAN SARU	Inform	2012	Low