Council has adopted the Civic Recognition Policy

Thank you to everyone who took part. At its meeting on 12 October 2026, Council adopted the Civic Recognition Policy.

What we heard
Between 4 August and 1 September 2026, we received 47 survey responses, along with feedback shared with Council directly and through community groups.

  • Many people supported the policy and the calendar. More agreed than disagreed that the calendar reflects Stonnington’s diversity.
  • Support for recognising Jewish community events, including Chanukah, was the strongest theme.
  • Some people thought Council should limit its role in recognition and stay neutral on which causes it recognises.
  • Views differed on some specific days, and people suggested additional dates for the calendar.

What changed
Feedback helped shape the final policy. The time a community group can request recognition was shortened to 14 days, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination now has its own place on the calendar, and the calendar now includes 2027 dates.

The Civic Recognition Garden will be established at the corner of Glenferrie Road and High Street, Malvern, opposite Malvern Town Hall. Information about each display will be available on Council’s website.

You can read the final Civic Recognition Policy and Council’s announcement.

Council recognises significant community events, causes and dates throughout the year, from flying flags at civic buildings to acknowledging cultural and religious occasions. Developing a formal policy ensures these decisions are made consistently, transparently and in a way that reflects the full diversity of our community.

The policy also ensures that recognition is intentional and inclusive rather than dependent on which groups are most visible or vocal. Importantly, recognising an event or cause does not mean Council is endorsing a particular belief or viewpoint.

Council currently makes recognition decisions, such as which flags to fly, and which events to acknowledge without a formal policy framework in place. This policy addresses that gap.

The policy is in draft form and your feedback will help inform the final version presented to Council for adoption. In particular, your input will help shape the values and principles guiding recognition decisions, and the process for community organisations to request recognition.

The policy covers:

  • Which flags are flown at Council's Town Halls and civic buildings.
  • A civic recognition garden at the Stonnington City Centre where flags and displays of significance will be shown throughout the year.
  • A civic recognition calendar of more than 40 events, causes and dates Council proposes to acknowledge.
  • A process for community organisations to request Council recognise an issue, cause or date of significance.

The policy does not cover:

  • Recognition of community volunteers: this occurs through the Stonnington Volunteer Awards.
  • Support for community events and festivals: these can be supported through Council's grants programs.

Privacy Statement

The personal information requested in this survey is being collected by Council for the purpose of community consultation.

To find out how your personal information will be used by Council please visit the privacy policy page.

What do you want to provide feedback on next?