Thank you for sharing your feedback

on the future of Darebin Community News.

We asked for your help to shape the future of Darebin Community News

From 28 May to 29 June 2025, we gathered community feedback on Darebin Community News through pop-ups and the online survey below.

At a glance, here's what you said:

  • There were 51 contributions in total and 90% of respondents said they found the content useful.

  • Connecting with the community and staying informed of local news and events were the main reasons why you read DCN.

  • Around two thirds of respondents were happy to keep receiving DCN in their mailbox and with it being published four times a year.

  • 15% of respondents rely exclusively on DCN for updates about Council services.

  • 14% of readers speak languages other than English at home including Spanish, Italian, Malayalam and Japanese.

What else did we learn?

The feedback gathered through this project will help us ensure DCN continues meeting the needs of our diverse and growing community, and contains stories that keeps them informed and engaged.

Contributions were made from nearly every postcode in Darebin, offering us valuable insights about the DCN readership and the types of content they value most. Click on the headings below to learn more.

  • 67% of respondents confirmed they receive DCN four times per year in their mailbox, while 20% said they do not.
  • 67% of respondents said they would prefer to keep receiving DCN in their mailbox, and 61% said they would be happy to receive an online newsletter.
  • 65% of respondents said they are happy with the current publication frequency of four times per year.
  • The content that readers value most are about Council services like new parks and information about “what’s on.”
  • Topics readers would like to hear more about most are Parks and Open space, Arts Programs and Events and Planning and Development.
  • 70% of respondents are happy with the current length of DCN (12 pages).
  • Seven of 51 readers speak languages other than English at home including Spanish, Italian, Malayalam and Japanese.
  • 43% of respondents are aware that DCN stories are available online translated into their own languages.
  • 15% of respondents rely exclusively on DCN for updates about Council services.
  • 60% always read DCN. 22% read it sometimes and 18% never read it.
  • Of those that read it, connecting with the community and staying informed about local news and events were the main reasons why.
  • Of those that don’t, not receiving it or knowing it existed were the main reasons why.
  • 90% said they find the content useful.

Collecting community feedback

Darebin Community News (or DCN) is delivered to Darebin homes four times per year. It’s a newsletter for the community, about the community, sharing local stories, events, services and updates.

To make sure DCN evolves with our growing community, we undertook a survey to understand the types of stories readers love, and what they'd like to see more of.

From 28 May to 29 June, we gathered community feedback on Darebin Community News through pop-ups and an online survey.

DCN survey

Speak to us face-to-face

Wednesday 18 June 2025 11:00 am to 01:00 pm

Preston Market

Center Square