Case Studies

Diagnostic Mapping. Decision Advisory. Outcome Support.

Building stakeholder alignment around a complex reform strategy 

The NSW Department of Communities and Justice was developing a major domestic and family violence reform strategy that involved government agencies, specialist services, industry representatives, policy experts, and people responsible for delivering services across the state. 

The NSW Department of Communities and Justice was developing a major domestic and family violence reform strategy that involved government agencies, specialist services, industry representatives, policy experts, and people responsible for delivering services across the state. 

CLIENT

NSW Department of Communities and Justice

SECTOR

Government policy & social services

PARTNERS

Government agencies, specialist services, industry

partner-4

The challenge 

Policy teams, delivery agencies, specialist organisations and sector experts did not always use the same language or view priorities in the same way. Senior government leaders needed an accurate understanding of where there was agreement, where concerns remained and how the strategy was likely to be received. 

The Department needed: 

Structured engagement across government and the specialist sector

A coherent account of the reform and what it was intended to achieve

Clearer pathways for advice, governance and decisions

Senior strategic counsel as the policy and stakeholder environment evolved

Communications that supported genuine consultation rather than appearing to predetermine it.  

What Codex Communications did 

Codex worked closely with senior executives, strategy leads and participating agencies. 

Our role combined stakeholder management, strategic advice and communications. It Includes

Mapping government, industry and specialist stakeholders

Identifying areas of influence, dependency, agreement and concern

Designing and sequencing the engagement process

Facilitating discussions and workshops with senior leaders and subject-matter experts

Helping translate specialist evidence into clear strategic choices

Advising senior government leaders on stakeholder expectations and likely reactions;

Developing the overarching reform narrative

Preparing executive briefings, key messages and engagement materials

Clarifying governance and approval pathways

Anticipating issues that could affect confidence in the strategy or its implementation

Codex acted as a senior advisory partner, helping leaders interpret what they were hearing and use that intelligence to improve the strategy. 

What Changed

The engagement established a clearer shared understanding of the reform across government, industry and specialist stakeholders. 

It helped senior leaders distinguish between genuine policy disagreement, implementation concerns and issues arising from inconsistent communication. Government teams were better prepared for engagement with the sector and had a stronger basis for making strategic decisions. 

The work also strengthened the connection between stakeholder engagement, policy development, governance and communications. 

“Codex Communication consistently added value by simplifying complexity, clarifying decision pathways, and ensuring communications supported rather than complicated reform delivery.” 

Natalie Juresic, Manager - DFV System Approach, NSW Department of Community & Justice.

Have a stakeholder story that needs one narrative?

Codex works with government, industry and research partners to turn complex programs into positions people can act on.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *