Creative Ways to Get Honest Feedback From Participants

Will, EnableUs Community

Alright, welcome back to the EnableUs Community Podcast everyone! Will here, and as always, I’m joined by Winter. Today, we’re diving into — how you actually get honest feedback from participants? Not just the polite stuff, but the real, sometimes uncomfortable, gold that actually helps you improve.

Winter, EnableUs Community

Yeah, and it’s not just about ticking a compliance box, is it? I mean, we’ve talked before about how feedback is at the heart of person-centred services. But the reality is, a lot of participants hold back. Maybe they’re worried about repercussions, or they just don’t know how to say what they really think. And that’s a huge barrier if you want to actually make things better.

Will, EnableUs Community

Exactly. I had a mate—he runs a small provider service—who used to get these really vague, kind of surface-level responses. But then, after a participant with a cognitive impairment pointed out that the documentation was just too complicated, he actually went back and simplified everything. Not only did it make things easier for participants, but when audit time rolled around, the auditors were seriously impressed with how he’d responded to that feedback. It was a win-win.

Winter, EnableUs Community

That’s such a good example. And it’s not just about compliance, like you said. When you act on feedback, you build trust. Participants see that you’re listening, and that makes them more likely to stick around and even recommend you to others. It’s kind of the foundation for everything else—service quality, satisfaction, even business growth.

Will, EnableUs Community

Yeah, and I think sometimes people forget that feedback isn’t just a one-off thing. It’s ongoing. Like, you can’t just do a survey once a year and call it a day. You’ve gotta keep those lines open, keep showing participants that their voices actually matter. Otherwise, you’re just collecting dust, not data.

Winter, EnableUs Community

And if you’re listening and thinking, “But my participants never say much,” you’re definitely not alone. We’re gonna get into some creative ways to actually get that honest feedback in a sec, but just remember—if you make it safe and easy, people will open up. It just takes a bit of intention and the right approach.

Winter, EnableUs Community

So, let’s talk about how you actually get that quality feedback. First off, it’s not about asking everyone the same questions, right? You want to segment—think about who’s using group services, who’s one-on-one, who’s active, who’s maybe dropped off. That way, you get a much clearer picture of what’s working and what’s not.

Will, EnableUs Community

Yeah, and I reckon a lot of people default to the old survey link or a paper form, but honestly, that’s not always the best way. I mean, some people love a good survey, but others just… don’t. I’ve seen providers try anonymous video feedback, or even digital diaries where participants can just record a quick story about their experience. It’s way more personal, and sometimes you get insights you’d never get from a tick-box form.

Winter, EnableUs Community

Totally. And I remember this one community centre I worked with—they were struggling to get anyone to fill out their feedback forms. So, they started a monthly prize draw. Anyone who gave feedback, even just a quick emoji rating, went into the draw for a little gift card. Suddenly, their response rate shot up. It wasn’t about bribing people, it was just making it a bit more fun and showing that their input was valued.

Will, EnableUs Community

Yeah, gamifying it a bit. And I think offering different channels is key. Some people want to talk, some want to write, some just want to tap an emoji and be done with it. The more options you give, the more likely you are to get honest, useful feedback. And, like, if you’re using something like Jasper, you can actually automate a lot of that—send reminders, collect responses, and even present the results in a way that’s easy to understand.

Winter, EnableUs Community

And don’t forget about making it safe. If people think their feedback is going to be used against them, or that it’ll affect their support, they’re not going to be honest. So, be really clear about how you’ll use their feedback, and make sure they know it’s confidential. That’s how you build trust and get the real story, not just what they think you want to hear.

Will, EnableUs Community

Yeah, and sometimes it’s just about asking the right questions. Open-ended, not loaded, and giving people space to share what matters to them. It’s not always easy, but it’s worth it. And honestly, the more creative you get, the better the feedback you’ll receive.

Will, EnableUs Community

Alright, so you’ve got all this feedback—now what? This is where a lot of providers get stuck. It’s easy to collect feedback, but actually doing something with it, that’s the hard bit. That’s where tools like Jasper come in. You can tag feedback, track themes, and assign follow-ups so nothing falls through the cracks.

Winter, EnableUs Community

Yeah, and Jasper’s great for compliance too. Everything’s logged, so if you ever need to show an auditor what you’ve done with participant feedback, it’s all there—secure, organised, and easy to pull up. But it’s not just about ticking boxes. It’s about actually making changes that matter. Like, I know a provider who trialled longer session hours after a bunch of participants said they felt rushed. They used Jasper to track the feedback, roll out the change, and then follow up to see if it made a difference. It closed the loop, and participants really noticed.

Will, EnableUs Community

Yeah, and that’s the thing—if you don’t tell people what you’ve changed, they might not even realise you listened. Jasper can help you send updates, share stories of what’s improved, and keep that communication loop going. It’s about showing you’re committed to transparency, not just collecting feedback for the sake of it.

Winter, EnableUs Community

And honestly, that’s what builds long-term trust. Participants see that their voices actually lead to real change. Plus, it makes your life easier when it comes to audits and compliance. Everything’s tracked, reported, and you can focus on what matters—delivering great support.

Will, EnableUs Community

So, if you’re looking to take your feedback process up a notch, try mixing up your methods, make it safe and fun, and use tools like Jasper to actually turn feedback into action. That’s how you grow, keep participants happy, and stay audit-ready all at once.

Winter, EnableUs Community

Alright, that’s a wrap for today! Thanks for tuning in, and if you’ve got your own creative feedback stories, we’d love to hear them. We’ll be back soon with more practical tips and real-world stories to help you find and keep the right participants.

Will, EnableUs Community

Thanks, Winter, and thanks everyone for listening. Catch you next time on Finding Participants!