Wollongong’s future should not be decided by the loudest voices
Today's op ed is by Zach Kitschke, Canva’s global chief marketing and communications officer
Too often, the future of a city is shaped by the people who have the time, confidence or connections to speak up.
They write submissions, and their views matter. But they are not the whole community.
When other voices are missing, the people who speak loudest can end up sounding like they represent everyone else.
That’s why we’re trying to make it easier for more people to have a say.
If Wollongong Goals is going to mean something, we need to hear from every part of the region – especially people and communities who may not usually take part.
I grew up in Scarborough, studied at UOW and began my career at Wollongong City Council. Wollongong has always been home to me.
Together with Wollongong City Council, we are asking one simple question: what is one goal you would like to see achieved in your community, Australia or the world?
There is no right or wrong answer. It could be a ordable homes, a greener city, safer streets, more opportunities for young people, or a stronger sense that we look out for one another.The point is not to ask people to become policy experts. It is to make it easier to say what matters before decisions are made, plans are written and priorities become fixed.
Our aim is to hear as many goals as possible. Together, they can reveal where Wollongong’s hopes overlap, the ideas worth building into plans, and the challenges that need more attention.
The early response has been encouraging, with thousands of people already sharing their hopes. So far, 80 per cent of goals have come from 10 suburbs. Wollongong, Thirroul and Dapto are leading in raw numbers, while Mount Kembla, Otford and Haywards Bay have contributed fewer.
The suburbs themselves vary enormously in size. But the picture is a useful reminder that we still have work to do to make sure the conversation reaches every community.
Council will consider the findings alongside its existing Community Strategic Plan, budget and community engagement processes.
Canva is funding the Goals platform because we believe technology can help more people participate in shaping the places they live. The goals belong to the community; our job is to make them visible and useful.
After submissions close, we will publish the results and share them with Council and the community. We will help connect people and organisations working on the same challenges, so shared priorities are clearer, better championed and harder to ignore.
The risk is not that Wollongong lacks good ideas. It is that too many remain unheard.
Thank you to everyone who has already shared a goal. I hope more people add their voice. Add yours at wollongonggoals.org – Wollongong’s future should be shaped by more than the people who have traditionally had the time and confidence to speak up.
Zach Kitschke is Canva’s global chief marketing and communications officer. He grew up in the northern suburbs and still has family in Wollongong. Wollongong Goals is a non-commercial partnership between Canva and Wollongong City Council.
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Genevieve Swart
