Across Australia, many residents feel unheard by their councils – and it’s not just a perception issue. It’s a call to action.
Datascape’s recent community engagement research into citizen sentiment reveals a growing disconnect between local governments and the communities they serve. While 52 per cent of Australians consider themselves “engaged” with council services, only 27 per cent feel truly heard by their council – a significant drop from 35 per cent the year prior. Meanwhile, nearly two in three Australians say they’re unaware of the full range of services their council provides, and only 46 per cent feel well-informed about council activity.
Even more concerning, just 28 per cent believe their council is transparent with financial management, over 90 per cent want clearer, more accessible financial reporting and only 39 per cent say it’s easy to find out how their council is investing in the community.
These figures paint a clear picture – communities want more visibility, more responsiveness, and more trust from their local councils. And they’re open to new ways of achieving it.
The opportunity: Digital done right
Despite the growing pressure, there’s optimism too. When asked how engagement could improve, many citizens pointed to a simple solution: smarter use of technology.
More than 60 per cent of Australians say their council doesn’t have a strong relationship with technology, and nearly half would be more likely to engage if council issues could be addressed digitally.
In fact, two in three people support the idea of a council app, with interest jumping to more than 80 per cent among younger generations. 70 per cent say they’d feel more confident in their council if it invested more in technology.
These responses highlight a clear public appetite for accessible, digital-first channels of communication — not to replace traditional ones, but to enhance and complement them.
From passive to participatory: Antenno in action
Datascape’s Antenno app is helping councils bridge the gap between digital expectations and community outcomes. Designed with simplicity and inclusivity in mind, Antenno enables residents to; report local issues in real time – from potholes to graffiti – complete with photos, location pins and notes; receive timely, location-based alerts from council; stay informed about services and initiatives relevant to their suburb or street; and feel heard through direct, push-notification responses.
Antenno doesn’t just digitise service requests – it redefines council-community engagement beyond the constraints of other council social media platforms.
In Western Australia’s Shire of Manjimup, the first council in the country to roll out Antenno, community feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Locals say they feel more informed, more connected and more aware of what their council is doing with their rates. Councils, in turn, are seeing clearer communication pathways and greater trust.
Meanwhile, Tasmania’s Central Coast Council has integrated Antenno into its day-to-day operations since 2022.
“We’re now getting a third of our service requests through Antenno,” said Sarah Searle, Director of Corporate Services.
“People are reporting issues that would’ve otherwise gone unnoticed – and they’re doing it because it’s just that easy. Working with Datacom was straightforward, supportive, and delivered great outcomes.”
To explore how Datascape and Antenno can support your council’s journey toward more meaningful, tech-enabled engagement, visit datacom.com
