Our Story
The idea of ChatterBox Projects was born in 2013 at a dinner party with friends (and a glass or two of wine). I (Sam) was talking with friends about the frustration of only hearing from the connected, the engaged, the outraged and the overly passionate when engaging with the community.
How do we get everyday people to want to influence things that affect them and engage more regularly? I had just spent a year hitting the streets with a series of creative pop-ups while working at Banyule City Council to develop two strategic plans, an Arts Plan and a Recreation Plan. I used a 1950’s refurbished caravan that I bought from Geelong and had the local Men’s Shed help me refurbish the van. The caravan, named Nellie, after the first woman to hold office in Victoria, (and who had once been Mayor of the then City of Heidelberg), hit the streets at festivals, in parks, shopping strips and sportsgrounds, reaching people in their local neighbourhoods.
That project enabled me and my team to connect with people who had never engaged with Council before, including families, young people, seniors, newly arrived migrants, and everyday residents who just happened to be passing by. The conversations at the pop-ups were often raw, honest, and rich with local insights. However, this was a resource intensive engagement project that required not only a lot of people on the ground and time but a lot of data entry and analysis that often didn’t get done!! This was not sustainable!!
From this experience and realising this would be a great opportunity for others, a business idea was born and I registered ChatterBox Projects the day after the dinner party. I then started the process of developing my new business idea to support local and state government departments to undertake genuine and transparent engagement via place-based pop-up events.
Later that year, ChatterBox Projects’ first custom-designed and built pop-up trailer arrived. Since then, ChatterBox Projects has grown into a highly skilled community engagement consultancy with a reputation for creative, inclusive, and strategic engagement. We are no longer just about place-based pop-up engagements, we have expanded to become an experienced and skilled end-to-end communications and engagement consultancy with a range of specialist staff.
Our purpose
At ChatterBox Projects, our aim is to amplify community voices and ensure people have a genuine say in the decisions that affect them (places, spaces and policies). We’re driven by a belief that inclusive, respectful, and creative engagement leads to better outcomes and stronger, more connected communities.
Our purpose is grounded in:
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Equity and access - We’re committed to creating safe, inclusive spaces where all people, regardless of age, background, ability, culture, gender identity or experience, feel welcome and respected.
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Human rights and fairness - We align our work with the Charter of Human Rights, Equal Opportunity Act, and Gender Equality Act, ensuring our engagement practices uphold dignity, fairness, and representation.
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Community-led thinking - We center lived experience, local knowledge and shared problem-solving. We don’t speak for communities; we create the conditions for communities to speak for themselves.
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Professional integrity - We are guided by the principles and ethical standards of the IAP2 Australasia Core Values and The Engagement Institute’s Code of Ethics. This ensures our work is honest, respectful, transparent, and grounded in genuine intent to engage.
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Social and environmental responsibility - Through local procurement, our not-for-profit initiative (The Happy Streets Project), and environmentally sustainable practices, we aim to leave a positive legacy beyond each project.
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Cultural safety and inclusion - We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land and strive to embed cultural safety and First Nations perspectives into our work wherever possible.
Through all our projects, we are guided by one clear purpose: to make engagement more genuine, inclusive, and effective so that communities are not just consulted, but truly engaged and heard.
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