Vaere Social is a strategic urban and social planning practice. I bring the evidence about how people live into decisions about how places are planned.
I'm Liesl Codrington. I've spent more than 20 years helping governments and industry work through complex planning, development and policy questions, in ways that are steady, clear and collaborative.
My work is practical and people-centred, and it's focused on shaping places and systems that hold together over time.
Services
Vaere Social helps governments and industry shape better planning, infrastructure and policy outcomes. Through social planning, impact assessment and strategic advisory, I provide clear, evidence-based insight for decisions on projects with significant social, environmental and community implications.
Each project is different, but the focus is consistent: understanding the context, identifying the patterns that are emerging, and turning that into practical, place-based advice that supports how communities change over time.
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Strategic advice on complex projects, places and policy, to support better decisions, long-term public value and resilient communities.
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Assessment of social and wellbeing impacts for infrastructure, development and policy, including risk, mitigation and statutory reporting. Mapped to the ACT Wellbeing Framework for ACT clients.
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Planning for community infrastructure to support growth, service needs and changing populations.
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Advice on affordable housing and social policy, with equity and access built into planning and development.
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Census, spatial and survey research to inform planning decisions, including demographics, community profiling and policy insight.
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Bringing climate adaptation and social outcomes together in planning, infrastructure and policy decisions.
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Original research and advice on inclusive environments and diverse community needs, including neurodiversity and sensory experience in public space.
Download the Capability Statement
About Vaere Social
Vaere Social is the practice of Liesl Codrington. The name comes from the Norwegian word være, meaning “to be”, and it’s pronounced “vair”. It reflects an approach that is grounded, thoughtful, and people-centred.
I work with government and industry on complex social and environmental challenges, bringing clarity, insight, and a strong understanding of community, planning, and policy systems.
My work is practical and future-focussed, supporting decisions that shape how communities and places evolve over time.
Planning for neurodiversity
How cities feel matters. Our environments can either support or overwhelm the mind, yet most planning frameworks still overlook sensory and cognitive diversity.
Planning for Neurodiversity is an insight paper from research conducted by Vaere Social with neurodivergent adults and families. It looks at how they experience public places, infrastructure and policy systems, and what planners can do differently.
Let’s talk
If you have a project, place or policy question that needs the social evidence done properly, I'd be glad to help. I work with government, developers and multidisciplinary teams in Canberra and across Australia.
Use the form to get in touch or email liesl@vaeresocial.au.