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Dr Angelique Edmonds was seconded into the Integrated Design Commission to be Engagement Leader of 5000+, from Oct 2011-June 2012.

5000+ was a design-led project for the redesign, renewal and reactivation of inner Adelaide (encompassing the City of Adelaide – postcode 5000 – plus the seven adjoining councils).

The 5000+ project engaged thousands of people in dozens of forums, community events, and through online and social media. Working together across traditional boundaries, participants uncovered fresh ideas, new ways of looking at things, and new opportunities for collaboration. Through this process, 5000+ demonstrated significant innovation in integrating best practice urban policy, with best practice public participation.

A strategic approach of engagement by design early in the life of a project, policy or program proposal, can establish the groundwork for a meaningful process that integrates public, stakeholder and professional views, ensuring a more successful change outcome.

The 5000+ model of design-led engagement, with workshops, pilot projects, online engagement and public forums, ensures the most effective engagement tools are used for each project, its targeted stakeholders and partners. This model has greatly influenced the approach of the School for Creating Change. 

Project Partners
The partners
Federal: Australian Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government
State: South Australian Government partners include the:
Department of the Premier and Cabinet,
Department ofPlanning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI)
Department for Education and Child Development (DECD) +
Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (DCSI)
Local Government: Adelaide City Council + inner rim Councils;  Burnside, Unley, West Torrens, Charles Sturt, Norwood Payneham & St Peters, Prospect, Walkerville

Conversation Partners
Adelaide City Council, Renewal SA, Australian Institute of Architects, Australian Institute of Landscape Architects, Jam Factory, TACSI (The Australian Centre for Social Innovation), Tourism SA, SA Council for the Care of Children, Local Government Association of South Australia, Bike SA, Renewal SA, University of South Australia, Rundle Mall Authority, Tafe SA, GBCA (Green Building Council of Australia), Heart Foundation , PCA (Property Council of Australia) + South Australian Natural Resource Management Board

About the project

Effective engagement improves collaboration within government, increases civic participation and builds community capacity. People want to participate in decisions which affect their city. They want choice about how and when they engage.

The 5000+ project explored new ways to empower and inform conversations about city renewal, and to work across traditional boundaries.

5000+ deliberately challenged current models of ‘public consultation’, opting instead for design- led engagement. It tested new tools and practices, and created? a toolkit of new ways to work collaboratively across disciplines for integrated city renewal.

The critical strengths of the engagement process were:
.    Its methodology was partnership and dialogue driven
.    The strategy developed as partners grasped opportunities
.    The project created strategic creative alliances
.    The evolving guiding principles were explored through design testing, and were observed by the public
.    The method of engagement illustrated the value of a design approach, by communicating and ‘teaching’ design thinking in action.