Insights Interview Series - Member Engagement & Support

In our latest episode, we chat to Local Community Services Association (LCSA) to hear how COVID-19 has changed the way they engage with their members and how the speedy adjustments in technology has created new and exciting opportunities.
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LCSA is a member organisation made up of approximately 200 Community and Neighbourhood Centres spread around NSW - all locally run, locally led community organisations.

Traditionally, LCSA engaged with their members on a one on one basis, through Regional Representatives as well as at the annual conference however due to members being located all over the state, they hadn’t previously come together as a group on a regular basis.

But this started to change in early 2020 when many areas of NSW were impacted by the bushfires and forced member engagement to evolve, adapt and pick up.

LCSA stepped up their communication and checked in with members to ensure they were staying safe as well as provide the necessary business continuity support.

The first general online open forum kicked off on 31 March with approximately 60 members joining in. This peer to peer engagement created great support and connection amongst members.

From there the meetings have continued to evolve and will continue in a post COVID-19 world, led by the members and driven by their input – a crucial factor in creating enduring engagement.

Tune in to find out how these meetings have strengthened membership engagement, evolved with the direct input of members and the role unexpected elements such as the chat function have played.

LCSA continue to adapt as their members adapt and will continue to review at all areas of their engagement - ‘Is what we’re doing working? Is it engaging? Is it still something to continue? Or do we need to change?”

The meetings were just the start - they have seen huge growth in social media and website visits as the members realise the value of peak body organisations.

As Anthony Brown, Communications Officer explains, the key is to not set and forget with membership engagement but continue to re-evaluate.
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To find out more about LCSA, visit:

• https://www.lcsansw.org.au/ 
• https://www.facebook.com/LCSANSW/
• https://twitter.com/LCSANSW