March 2017 Profile Magazine

Quarterly magazine for Local Government Professionals AUTUMN 2017

AND THE 2017

WINNERS ARE…

Advocacy update

Pride March

2017 XLP scholarship

LGPro is advocating on a number of fronts

Participants express what it means to them

Meet the recipient from a rural Council

Solutions for every challenge within Council’s unique risk profile

• Property & asset management

• Employee benefit administration

• Governance evaluation

• Insurable risk management

• Medical/Private Health insurance consulting

• Recruitment solutions

• Enterprise risk management • People risk management • Catastrophe planning and hazard mapping

• Work Health & Safety • Employee wellness programs

• Employee engagement surveys

• OH&S/Safety audits & due diligence

• Community Engagement Surveys

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03 9211 3313 paul.crapper@aon.com

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• Leadership & Talent consultancy

• Negotiating the best coverage with insurers • Benchmarking your risk in the industry • Analysing claims experience for best outcomes • Progressing Council through its risk maturity lifecycle, to reduce exposure and premiums.

PROFILE AUTUMN 2017

Connect with us at

LGProVIC

Profile is published by Local Government Professionals (Inc) LGPro Level 3/58 Lorimer Street Docklands 3008 Ph: (03) 9268 6400 Fax: (03) 9646 0469 Email: info@lgpro.com Website: www.lgpro.com DEADLINES Profile is published quarterly.

The deadline for the Winter 2017 edition is Monday 1 May 2017.

CONTRIBUTIONS Story ideas and photographs are always welcome. Please contact Vicki Amiguet, LGPro’s Manager Communication and Sponsorship on (03) 9268 6400 or via email to vickia@lgpro.com ADVERTISING For information or to book advertising in Profile, please call Vicki Amiguet on (03) 9268 6400 or via email to vickia@lgpro.com

Contents

6-11 2017 Annual Conference round up A six page pictorial spread on this fantastic event.

16-17 2017 LGPro Awards for Excellence winners and finalists Photos of the nine category winners in the 2017 Awards for Excellence, plus a list of the finalists.

22-23 Advocating for gender equity in Local Government See how LGPro has taken the lead in promoting gender equity in the sector and the results of our efforts.

26-27 Achieving social media success with less Featuring the program and speakers for the 2017 LGPro Social Media Conference with the theme: Social Success with Less – Reaching your community regardless of resources.

CREDITS Publisher: LGPro (03) 9268 6400 Editor – Vicki Amiguet Design: Bull Design Group (03) 9561 3313 www.bulldesigngroup.com.au

28 A new breed of Local Government CEO Meet LGPro Board President and CEO of Glen Eira City Council, Rebecca McKenzie and read about her thoughts on leadership.

Cover picture: Winners of the 2017 LGPro Awards for Excellence celebrate their success.

Picture above: Large numbers of 2017 Annual Conference delegates took the opportunity to network at the Welcome Event.

45 Making her mark in the sector New LGPro Member, Leanne Ansell-McBride who has only worked in Local Government since October but is already singing its praises.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Important role LGPro plays in the sector ›

As incoming President I’m fiercely passionate about the important role that strong and effective peak bodies can play in our sector.

We are experiencing a time of

two outstanding female Local

introducing specialised Wednesday

significant change and opportunity

Government CEOs, taking our

afternoon workshops and a

for Local Government in Victoria,

total representation back to 12

more concise and focused full

and the Board and I are excited to

out of 79. For this to still be the

day conference program on

represent your views, advocate for

case in 2017, despite all the talk

the Thursday.

change, and invest in building the

about equality of opportunity

capability of our talented workforce.

and celebration of diversity,

In this context, we know that it is

is frankly an embarrassment.

Our conference theme ‘Small Change, Big Difference’ really resonated with participants,

important that we change with you,

That being said, we have been

with keynotes Holly Ransom,

and to that end we have begun

really pleased with the response

Dianne Vella-Brodrick and Phil

to explore enhancements to our

that we have received from the

Ruthven all providing new insights

membership model, our program

Minister for Local Government

and perspectives on some of

offerings, and our advocacy

and from DELWP and Local

the challenges that we face in

approach. In the coming weeks

Government Victoria to our

ensuring that as a sector we

we will be commencing a process

campaign for greater intervention

remain contemporary, relevant

of consultation to seek your views

in order to achieve sustainable

and connected to our people

and input before we implement

change. We now have a number

and our communities.

change. Keep an eye out in our

of new initiatives emerging that

regular email updates for further

together should help to improve

information on how to get involved.

job ready candidate pools,

Advocacy update

reduce bias and discrimination in selection processes, and build

It’s been a busy few months on the

accountability for a measurable

advocacy front as we have worked

shift in the numbers.

closely with Wangaratta, Alpine, Indigo, Murrindindi, Mansfield and

Pride March

The organising committee of volunteers, supported by LGPro staff, did an amazing job and should be congratulated for what your feedback indicates has been our most successful conference yet.

There were some outstanding projects and initiatives celebrated

Loddon Councils to develop a joint

I was thrilled to join with colleagues

in our 2017 Awards for Excellence

submission to Local Government

from across the sector at the

– all of which are improving

Victoria for funding for a workforce

2017 Pride March. It was great

quality of life and amenity for local

planning project funding. If funded

to see such a huge turnout of

residents and communities. We

we will see the development of a

Local Government professionals

look forward to celebrating your

model workforce planning template

celebrating the diversity of the

success and profiling your initiatives

that will be trialed in the pilot group

sector, and proudly demonstrating

through future LGPro events and

Councils before being offered

support for LGBTIQ inclusion.

publications over the coming year.

to the rest of the sector.

Finally, I wanted to provide a

REBECCA McKENZIE

Achieving greater gender

personal reflection on our recent

PRESIDENT

equity in the sector is also one

Annual Conference which was a

of our priority platforms. Over

huge success. This year we listened

January and early February we

to your feedback and implemented

have been disappointed to lose

changes to the conference format,

4 | PROFILE AUTUMN 2017

CEO’S MESSAGE

Learnings from the Annual Conference ›

I hope you got a great deal out of the 2017 Annual Conference, I know I did and from the feedback we have received, so did those who attended.

I attended the Emerging Leaders Program presentation and I was filled with admiration for the honesty and intelligence they applied to their project topic ‘Local Government – Faster Better Leaner Stronger’ and the way the group have developed a series of eight brief videos as part of a ‘Why I work for Council’ social media campaign.

They didn’t shy away from the areas of performance that the sector needs to improve on; rather they embraced them as opportunities to review how and what the sector does and how it’s communicated.

Taking a positive approach But more than turning a problem into an opportunity, the thing that impressed me most was their commitment and pride in their work and their willingness to take a positive approach to promoting it.

These Emerging Leaders weren’t

Making a difference in people’s lives At the dinner on Thursday night, amongst about 600 people celebrating fantastic work, there was one moment that for me crystalised the real ability that the sector has

felt they had to consult Ratepayers Victoria. I encouraged them to look for people and groups who engage with their Council and use its services.

It’s people like Bec Paton, a

the lives of the people we serve.

true community representative,

When Bec Paton, a parent who has a daughter with a disability and who worked on a winning project as a member of the Ballarat Disability Advisory Committee

who seeks to achieve important community outcomes that they should be consulting. I’m not sure they know that people like Bec even exist.

and also a volunteer with the

It was great seeing so many of you

organisation, Touched by Olivia

at the Annual Conference and I look

spoke about how gratifying it was

forward to catching up with you

to work with Ballarat Council to

again soon.

create the Victoria Park Inclusive Playspace. It brought into focus that being engaged and local makes these sorts of connections and achievements possible.

Consulting the right people

looking to defend the sector against criticism, nor were they

discussion I had just a couple of

looking for a “don’t give it oxygen”

days before the conference with

approach. Through their Why I

the Essential Services Commission.

work for Council’ campaign they

I always try my best to be both

are promoting real people who do

honest and respectful and in

meaningful work in the sector and

discussion with them about their

who do it with real pride and care.

work on a sector productivity

everything we can to get these

I couldn’t understand why they

to make a significant difference in

It also made me think about a

I believe we should all be doing

factor was costly and unproductive,

DAVID PREISS CEO “I needed a password eight characters long so I picked Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.”

– Nick Helm

President Rebecca McKenzie and CEO David Preiss pictured at the Annual Conference Welcome Event.

review they mentioned their need to consult Ratepayers Victoria.

positive, humanising messages

In addition to airing my view that

out to as many people as possible.

a productivity review to establish if there’s a need for an efficiency

PROFILE AUTUMN 2017 | 5

2017 CONFERENCE

AN OUTSTANDING SUCCESS This year’s Annual Conference was an outstanding success with 745 delegates registering to attend conference sessions and the dinner.

The new format saw the conference start with five specialist workshops and a walking tour on Wednesday afternoon where participants heard from expert speakers on topical issues in Local Government and received tools to help them in their role.

Thursday was an action packed day for delegates with three keynote addresses, a presentation by our 2016 Emerging Leaders, four Short Talks, a Sharing the Wisdom session where winners from the 2016 Awards for Excellence discussed their winning projects, and an Are you Paying Attention quiz feature session.

The day concluded with the Annual Conference Dinner attended by almost 600 people where the winners of the 2017 LGPro Awards for Excellence were announced.

From left, Rebecca McKenzie (LGPro President), John and Anni McArthur (Principal Sponsors of the Annual Conference) and David Preiss (LGPro CEO).

Conference delegates supported the ‘take a selfie’ promotion with conference sponsors and exhibitors.

6 | PROFILE AUTUMN 2017

The 2017 ELP participants ready for a great year. See their names on P51.

Yarra Council staff, Joanne Murdoch and Rose Barletta with Michelle Cox, LGPro Membership Manager (centre).

Keynote speaker, Holly Ransom.

Marianne DiGiallonardo from Maroondah Council asks a question.

Contestants in the ‘Have you been paying attention’ feature session.

Shannon Di Lisio (Borough of Queenscliffe) with David Chapman (LG Hub).

Short Talk presenter, Nasir Sobhani.

Darren Brownscombe (Port Phillip Council) contributed to the 2016 ELP presentation.

Vaughan Williams (Northern Grampians Shire) catches up with a colleague.

Craig Donaldson (Ballarat City Council) chats with a colleague at the pre dinner drinks.

Participants in the Walking Tour on Wednesday afternoon stop for a break.

Adam Nulty and Mark Taylor from Aon who were Major Sponsors of the conference pose for a photo.

PROFILE AUTUMN 2017 | 7

2017 CONFERENCE

AN OUTSTANDING SUCCESS Mandy Nicholson performs the Welcome to Country at the conference opening.

Diana McDonald (Horsham Rural City Council) enjoys a drink at the Welcome Event.

The Minister Local Government, Aboriginal Affairs and Industrial Relations, Natalie Hutchins officially opened the conference.

2016 ELP participant Lisa Ippolito (Hume City Council).

LGPro Board Member and CEO of the Rural City of Wangaratta, Brendan McGrath chaired one of the sessions.

Simon McCuskey (Brimbank Council) did a fantastic job compering the Feature Session.

LGPro President Rebecca McKenzie chats with a delegate.

8 |

LGPro Board Member Celia Haddock and Michael Byrne from Maribyrnong Council.

Nathan Costin (YMCA Victoria) talks to delegates about the services they offer.

Cat McDonald (Casey City Council) at one of the Wednesday workshops.

Short Talk presenter, Phil Cleary.

Short Talk presenter, Tania de Jong.

LGPro Board Member Liana Thompson catches up with Sainath Tavate (Baw Baw Shire) at the Welcome Event.

Conference delegates enjoy a relaxing massage from on site Massage.

A large crowd attended the pre dinner drinks.

An delegate shows her appreciation at the Feature Session.

From left, Vicki Amiguet (LGPro) Tony De Fazio and Noelene Duff (Whitehorse Council), Joanne Murdoch (Yarra Council), Railey Orger (Yarra Ranges Council) and Ilias Kostopoulos (Whitehorse Council).

Delegates listen to one of the sessions.

PROFILE AUTUMN 2017 | 9

2017 CONFERENCE

AN OUTSTANDING SUCCESS

Delegates enjoyed socialising at the Welcome Event on a balmy Melbourne evening.

Shivaun Brown from Murrindindi Shire poses a question.

Delegate share a laugh at the Feature Session.

Adrian Gasperoni (Hindmarsh Shire Council).

One of the discussion groups in the Sharing the Wisdom session.

Nick Williamson from Fluid Industries presented in one of the Wednesday workshops.

Delegates interact during one of the sessions.

10 |

Kamal Singh from Casey City Council at one of the Wednesday workshops.

Almost 600 people attended the Annual Conference Dinner.

Stephen Wall (Maribyrnong Council CEO) presented in the Sharing the Wisdom session.

Technology played a big part in the conference.

Tony Calderone from McArthur talks to a delegate.

The Sharing the Wisdom session encouraged lots of interaction between Councils.

The Short Talk presentations created a lot of interest.

Delegates at one of the sessions.

Mark Leitlinger (Murrindindi Shire).

LGPro Board Member, Sasha Lord.

Michael Kennedy (Russell Kenney) with Dennis Hovenden (Frankston Council CEO).

Keynote speaker, Phil Ruthven.

| 11

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

2017 ANNUAL CONFERENCE SPONSORS AND EXHIBITORS LGPro would like to thank the following sponsors for their support of our 2017 Annual Conference.

PRINCIPAL SPONSOR

MAJOR SPONSORS

WEDNESDAY WORKSHOP SPONSORS

SHARING THE WISDOM SESSION SPONSOR

THURSDAY MORNING TEA SPONSOR

THURSDAY LUNCH SPONSOR

THURSDAY AFTERNOON TEA SPONSOR

EXHIBITORS

12 | PROFILE AUTUMN 2017

2016 EMERGING LEADERS

The 2016 LGPro Emerging Leaders incredible journey Written by the 2016 Emerging Leaders

›

As part of the 2016 LGPro Emerging Leaders Program, the 23 leaders accepted the challenge of responding to the topic ‘Local Government – Leaner, Stronger, Faster, Better’.

Researching this controversial and

leave a legacy, to provide a practical

and highlight how Councils can

contemporary topic took us on an

resource which supports the sector

collaborate and use technology

amazing 12 month journey where

and embraces collaboration across

to highlight these themes, and

we were privileged to hear from

Councils, beyond the life of the group.

strengthen us as a united sector.

Our presentation at the 2017 LGPro

The videos and social media toolkit

Annual Conference incorporated

have been developed by us and

the group’s learnings and reflections

are available for all Councils to use.

some incredible current and acting CEOs from rural and metropolitan Councils and to brainstorm our ideas with community leaders.

throughout the year, as well as

We want you to use this toolkit

We collated data and reports that

showcasing a series of videos

and join the #WhyIWorkforCouncil

had already been published in this

and a social media toolkit entitled

campaign to celebrate the people

space and had the opportunity to

#WhyIWorkforCouncil.

who make Local Government such

reflect on the waxing and waning of policies and trends in the sector.

In order to be Leaner, Stronger, Faster and Better we felt that

a fantastic sector, to raise awareness of the amazing services that Councils deliver and to encourage

Equally as important as the group

the sector (all 79 Councils across

work was the opportunity for

Victoria) need to unite to create a

personal development; the year

positive Local Government brand,

offered us a journey of discovery

one that embraces digitalisation,

as we learnt who we are (and want

increases the flow of talent through

to be) as leaders.

targeted recruitment and retainment,

Click here to see the 2016 LGPro

and improves collaboration within

Emerging Leaders final report and

and between Councils.

social media toolkit. Scroll down

All of this has allowed us to not only explore how to work together to achieve our main objective (to

Rather than rehash the myriad of

complete our ELP Project), but also

reports which exist on these topics

how we can use this opportunity to

we decided to lead by example

employees to reflect on their own values and motivations and answer the question of “Why I Work for Council” for themselves.

to the bottom of the page and the report and toolkit can be found in the Links & Downloads box.

The 2016 emerging Leaders celebrate the end of the successful year.

PROFILE AUTUMN 2017 | 13

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2017 LGPRO AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE

Congratulations to the following winners and finalists in the 2017 LGPro Awards for Excellence which were presented at the Annual Conference Dinner on Thursday 23 February.

INNOVATIVE MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE Brimbank City Council, Electronic Planning Application Process

HIGH COMMENDATIONS • Northern Grampians Shire Council, Activity Based Working • Whitehorse City Council, Employee Flexibility Project

The winning Brimbank team of Kristen Gilbert, James Bruscella, Stuart Menzie and Justine Resta with award sponsors Bronson Justus from JLT and David Chester from Zurich in the back row.

SERVICE DELIVERY INITIATIVE Surf Coast Shire Council, The Fire Game

FINALISTS • Casey City Council, Digital Casey • Knox City Council, Immerse • Maroondah City Council, Active & Healthy Ageing Initiative – IT Clinic

Front row from left Virginia Morris and Sally Sneddon from Surf Coast Shire Council. Back row, from left, Bronson Justus (JLT), Keith Baillie (Surf Coast) and David Chester (Zurich).

SPECIAL PROJECTS INITIATIVE

HIGH COMMENDATION

Moorabool Shire Council, CASIMO (Community and Social Infrastructure Model) and Community Infrastructure Framework

• Kingston City Council, Residential Aged Care Reform

FINALISTS • Brimbank City Council, Business Transformation #CommunityFirst • Greater Shepparton City Council, GreaterSheppUpdate

Front row from Moorabool Shire, Joe Morgan-Payler, Justin Horne and Raeph Cumming. Back row, from left, Bronson Justus (JLT), Robert Croxford (Moorabool CEO) and David Chester (Zurich).

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS INITIATIVE Knox City Council, Gardens for Wildlife

HIGH COMMENDATION • Surf Coast Shire Council, Spring Creek Community Panel

FINALISTS • • • •

16

Front row representing Knox Council, Irene Kelly, Nadine Gaskell and Yvonne Cardinia Shire Council, Bless Collective Food Van Allred. Back row, from left, Bronson Justus (JLT), David Yeouart (Knox Council) Corangamite Shire Council, Retail Area Facade Improvement Program and David Chester (Zurich).

Knox City Council, Knox Midnight Basketball Program Maroondah City Council, MABELS Project (Mothers and Babies Engaging and Living Safely)

COMMUNITY ASSETS & INFRASTRUCTURE INITIATIVE $1.5 MILLION & UNDER Ballarat City Council, Victoria Park Inclusive Playspace

HIGH COMMENDATION • Maribyrnong City Council, Revitalisation of Maidstone Tennis Courts & Heritage Pavilion The winning team from Ballarat City Council with the award sponsors Bronson Justus from JLT and David Chester from Zurich.

FINALISTS • Ararat Rural City Council, Pomonal Hall Renewal Project • Kingston City Council, Mordialloc Preschool • Moreland City Council, Redevelopment of Bush Reserve • Moyne Shire Council, Mailors Flat Community Hub

COMMUNITY ASSETS & INFRASTRUCTURE INITIATIVE OVER $1.5 MILLION Latrobe City Council, Moe Rail Precinct Revitalisation Project – Stage 1

From left, Bronson Justus (JLT), Luke McGrath, Gary Van Driel, Geoff Derham, Steven Piasente from LaTrobe City Council and David Chester (Zurich).

HIGH COMMENDATION • Swan Hill Rural City Council, Heartbeat of the Murray

SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE

HIGH COMMENDATIONS

Cities of Banyule, Moreland, Port Phillip, Stonnington, Whitehorse and Yarra, The ESD Policy – Planning Reform for a Sustainable Future

Representatives from the winning Councils of Banyule, Moreland, Port Phillip, Stonnington, Whitehorse and Yarra with the award sponsors Bronson Justus (JLT) and David Chester (Zurich).

• Manningham City Council, Zero Additional Maintenance Water Sensitive Urban Design

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION Yarra City Council, Working with Pride From left, Bronson Justus (JLT), Maryanne Clarke and Cameron Gray (Yarra City Council) and David Chester (Zurich).

FINALISTS • Wyndham City Council, RACE • Yarra Ranges Council, Yarra Glen People’s Panel • Yarra City Council, Yarra’s Gender Equity Strategy

YOUNG ACHIEVER Hayley Rowe, Glenelg Shire Council

HIGH COMMENDATION • Stephanie Ristevska, Maribyrnong City Council

FINALISTS

(listed in alphabetical order by Council)

2017 Young Achiever, Hayley Rowe from Glenelg Shire Council with award sponsors Bronson Justus (JLT) and David Chester (Zurich).

THE 2017 LGPRO AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE ARE PROUDLY SPONSORED BY:

• Megan Gill, Cardinia Shire Council • Jason Amos, Mount Alexander Shire Council • Trenton Fithall, Northern Grampians Shire Council

Awards for Excellence publication sponsor

17

2017 LGPRO AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE

INNOVATIVE MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE

Brimbank City Council, Electronic Planning Application Process Brimbank City Council’s electronic planning application process began with a simple conversation between a Council director and her 25 year-old son who had received a parking ticket which he couldn’t believe he couldn’t pay online.

But it got the Director thinking… has Local Government missed something here? After all her son was the customer and he should be able to transact with the Council anywhere, anytime on any device. People buy and pay online from their smart phones all the time so why not for Council services?

So the ‘Business Transformation Project #CommunityFirst’ was born. It consists of multiple projects which interlink and work towards the ultimate goal of bringing services online and making the customer interaction experience quick and easy. This included a new mobile responsive website, online payments with online transactions and forms establishing a single view of a customer, and a digitisation program.

An outcome of the above projects was what is believed to be a Local Government first – being able to provide the planning permit application process as completely digital from end to end inclusive of: •

•

•

The customer submitting their application including all required documents and online payment The entire workflow of the application process including internal and external referrals, advertising, delegate reports, generating invoices within the department via the accounts receivable system for additional costs and customers subsequently being able to pay them online Marking up of the endorsed plans and the issuing of the permit

18 | PROFILE AUTUMN 2017

The Business Transformation team set out to deliver the planning process online and provide an improved customer experience.

As the digitisation program ran parallel to the website work stream, the Council was able to achieve a significant transformation of the internal processes which resulted in the planning department’s planning permit process changing from being 100% paper-based to 100% digital in the space of just 18 months.

Since a ‘soft launch’ of the new process in July 2016, hundreds of applications and payments have been generated and paid on the website all without a significant marketing campaign.

Builders and developers have praised the Council for the easy to use online application process. Feedback from these applicants includes saving hundreds of dollars in printing costs and time where they previously had to go into the office to apply and pay.

Other benefits have included up-skilling of staff to more value-added activities using new technologies and the removal of activities like folding plans, creating paper files and physically moving those files through the process.

The ‘time creation’ provided through the initiative has allowed for a greater customer focus when processing applications.

Additionally, the new system has been rolled out to other Council departments to enable digital activities.

This truly community focused project has delivered many benefits including cost and time savings for both the organisation and the applicants, development opportunities for staff members, and sharing the lessons learnt with other Councils.

HIGH COMMENDATION Northern Grampians Shire Council, Activity Based Working In 2015, Northern Grampians Shire Council flagged Activity Based Working (ABW) as a way of allowing staff to access a corporate network and data from anywhere, at any time, using any device.

The concept was almost unheard of in small rural Councils and took a significant amount of planning and consultation to implement. Despite a short timeframe, limited budget and initial resistance from staff, the organisation thought outside the box and has managed to create a working environment that is both collaborative and productive.

The decision to take away individual desks and replace them with shared spaces means staff now arrive at work each day and have a choice of different stations to work from. They have the freedom to move to any of these spaces (silent rooms, focus rooms and collaboration areas) depending on their needs and changing work requirements.

the spaces, while under-desk storage has been replaced with secure personal lockers for staff to store their belongings and confidential documents.

The ultimate goal is to encourage a paperless environment and utilise digital mediums wherever possible. Technology enables documents to be read and shared without hard copy production, minimising clutter in the workplace, improving efficiency and minimising costs.

Northern Grampians CEO Michael Bailey said the benefits of ABW had expanded beyond the four walls of the organisation and were positively impacting on the local community. “Internally, our organisational culture has changed. Staff have instant access to information from anywhere and they are empowered to work autonomously.

They are sharing ideas and collaborating on projects and they have a better understanding of one another’s roles,” he said.

A mixture of sitting and standing desks, lounges and benches have been introduced into each of

Whitehorse City Council, Employee Flexibility Project Whitehorse City Council embarked on a major change project to implement a fair, equitable and sustainable framework for flexible work options for its employees. A cross functional working group developed the framework, oversaw a pilot project and then championed the roll out of the framework to the entire organisation.

Evaluation of the project has seen improved engagement and satisfaction with flexibility offerings for employees and a reduction in turnover in the organisation which delivers cost savings and better customer service to the Whitehorse community from engaged and satisfied employees.

Council sought to develop a fair and equitable means of addressing flexibility issues within the organisation and to establish a transparent process that provided consistent rules and expectations for all flexibility options for staff at Whitehorse.

The cross representational change process delivered a structured framework for application and consideration of flexible work requests.

In addition it empowered people managers to clarify request details and apply fair decision making to ensure that the identified flexibility principles, including individual and organisational needs were met.

The size of the organisation and varied nature of work and locations meant that different solutions to consultative mechanisms and team issues and options were explored and applied. The project was piloted in a number of work groups which enabled issues to be identified, considered and resolved before it was rolled out to the rest of the organisation.

The project reflects best practice Human Resources leadership. It has enhanced employee understanding of the accountabilities of management and how employee flexibility can impact on Council’s overall objectives and customer service. It has also allowed people managers to gain a greater understanding into factors that motivate employees and enhance employee satisfaction.

PROFILE AUTUMN 2017 | 19

2017 LGPRO AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE

SERVICE DELIVERY INITIATIVE

Surf Coast Shire Council, The Fire Game The Fire Game is an innovative and educational board game designed as a tool for residents and visitors in high fire risk areas to test and develop their bushfire survival skills.

Created by Surf Coast Shire Council’s Resilient Communities Program, the game seeks to enhance community engagement and awareness of bushfire risk in the municipality which is one of the most fire prone areas in Australia.

The board game was developed in collaboration with local emergency service agencies and community stakeholders including the Country Fire Authority, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Victoria Police and local grade 5/6 students.

Players move their way around the board, which geographically reflects the Surf Coast Shire, aiming to answer questions in four different categories: before a fire, during a fire, after a fire and fire knowledge.

The game has a range of question types, including multiple-choice, true or false, scenario responses, picture cards and activity cards. It also includes a stack of chance cards that outline a variety of likely positive and negative scenarios that either reward or penalise players.

Incorporating key safety messages, a wide range of emergency scenarios and locally relevant information, the game enables people to explore the complexity of fire emergencies in a fun, engaging and non-threatening way.

Integrating the scenario concept into a board game format facilitates greater application in different contexts, making it easier to engage a wider range of people. Game play allows people to put their preparedness knowledge to the test through all phases of an emergency

20 | PROFILE AUTUMN 2017

(before, during and after) and build their understanding of the required elements of a good fire plan.

is a means to interact with the thousands of tourists who visit the area over the summer period.

The Fire Game was introduced to the community at a range of events. At each event the buzz and energy in the room was fantastic, with the game sparking enthusiastic conversations. At the end of each session participants were asked: Did you learn something valuable? and Are you going to take action as a result?

Both questions received a positive response of more than 95%.

The ground-breaking game has sparked interest from high risk municipalities across the state and from NSW and Tasmania.

The Fire Game embodies the themes of the Council’s Resilient Communities Program -AWARE : PREPARED : CONNECTED! It is the culmination of years of working together with local emergency service agencies and key community stakeholders to develop a program that responds to the extreme bushfire risk faced by Surf Coast Shire townships.

It has become a core part of Council’s service delivery of community engagement for fire awareness. Its innovative approach appeals to both permanent and non permanent residents and its adaptability

FINALISTS Casey City Council, Digital Casey Digital Casey is a unique project which brings together a team of specialists to dramatically and rapidly transform the City of Casey’s services to a digital format. Using agile and humancentred design methods, Digital Casey has already transformed three high volume Council services making the process easier for users and resulting in cost savings for Council.

When the Digital Casey team came together in April 2016 they were charged with redesigning 14 of Council’s highest volume transactions.

Digital Casey completely transformed the Disabled Parking Permit application process, reducing it

from 11 steps to six. The Council collaborated with large and small volume builders to design the Asset Protection Permit process which would be easy to use, fast to complete and would not create any additional workload for builders. It has reduced the time it takes for Council staff to input details from 15 to five minutes. The Pet Registration process has been digitised and now has four steps for customers applying online as opposed to 19 steps it used to take. The entire process is also now managed by one Council department rather than three departments, creating savings of approximately 80% to customers.

Knox City Council, Immerse Immerse is an annual program in Knox providing 30 exhibitions in 30 venues for 30 days from mid November to December. The objective is to make available high-quality contemporary art to the community in familiar yet unexpected places.

Immerse engages and promotes local artists, community centres and business, encourages art sector development and raises the profile of visual arts in Knox. It also fosters partnerships and networks between artists, organisations, community centres, local businesses and Council.

Knox Council does not possess a dedicated facility for exhibiting visual art so supporting and promoting local artists and the visual arts in general presents a significant challenge.

In addition, many cafes and community centres had expressed a desire to exhibit artwork within their premises. The Immerse exhibition program was designed to bring those two interests together, to create temporary exhibition spaces within the city to celebrate the arts by utilising a variety of available public and private spaces.

More than 100 applications were received, two thirds from local artists. The exhibition raised the profile of the visual arts in Knox, reaching a large number of people, including many of whom had not previously engaged with the arts. It has generated substantial interest and importantly has created new networks, collaborations and partnerships between artists, business and community.

Maroondah City Council, Active and Healthy Ageing Initiative – IT Clinic This successful IT clinic started following a pilot project called Room 105 which provided free one-to-one intergenerational IT training and support to the older people in the Maroondah community in a secondary school environment.

The project assisted with IT needs and also helped participants to gain more confidence with their mobile devices and various online functions. It addressed the needs of both the community and the school within existing budgets and resources.

For Ringwood Secondary College it satisfied the Year 9 InterGreat curriculum finding a project where the students were able to make a difference to the community as their central theme.

For Council it responded to a need identified in community consultation during the Active & Healthy Ageing Initiative where elderly people said they wanted affordable IT training in the local area.

The pilot project generated around 80 individual student consultations during four sessions over a four week period. It was so successful that it led to the ongoing monthly, free community service now known as the IT (Intergenerational Training) Clinic at Ringwood Secondary College. The project is meeting a real need of the ageing population in Maroondah and has allowed the school to adhere to Victorian curriculum needs.

PROFILE AUTUMN 2017 | 21

ADVOCACY

Promoting gender equity in the sector ›

As the peak membership body for people working in Local Government, LGPro is proud to have taken a lead role in promoting gender equity within the sector.

While the organisation has always aimed to have gender balance on the LGPro Board and in key leadership programs, there was a deep concern at the disproportionate representation of women achieving senior roles in the sector.

LGPro President Rebecca McKenzie had been discussing her concerns with the Minister for Local Government, senior government executives and other female CEOs and LGPro Board members. “We knew there was a wide level of empathy for the issue, but no-one knew where to start with different solutions,” she said.

So LGPro decided to take the lead using comprehensive information and data gathered from Victoria’s 79 Councils as the basis of a report titled “Addressing Representation of Women at CEO Level in Local Government”. The report was presented to the Minister for Local Government, Natalie Hutchins

by female Board Members on International Women’s Day on 8 March 2016.

Ministerial Women’s Roundtable In response to the report, the Minister announced in June last year that she was forming a Local Government Ministerial Women’s Roundtable to focus on practical changes to lift the number of women in senior roles in the sector. Its membership includes every female Council CEO, and representatives from the three peak bodies. The Roundtable will meet twice a year and the first meeting was held in October last year.

Ms McKenzie is confident that the Roundtable will help to provide a collective view to address the challenge of increasing the level of diversity at executive, and particularly CEO, levels for the sector, and the value that women, as well as men, can bring to these roles.

She hopes it will achieve a commitment to some systemic changes that will drive a sustainable shift in the numbers, and that shared accountability for change is addressed.

New initiatives A number of initiatives are being worked on following the first Roundtable, and by the Gender Equity in Local Government Working Group that has representation from DELWP, Local Government Victoria, and male and female CEOs. These include a gender equity toolkit for Councillors undertaking recruitment, consideration of employment targets as part of the Local Government Act review, and trialing a gender equity ‘listen and learn’ program in four Councils.

LGPro is also exploring initiatives to help increase the pool of job-ready female candidates, including the introduction of a sector secondment program that would enable potential

LGPro female Board members presenting the “Addressing Representation of Women at CEO Level in Local Government” report to the Minister for Local Government, Natalie Hutchins in March last year.

22 | PROFILE AUTUMN 2017

candidates to develop greater confidence in the transferability of their leadership skills and knowledge while building overall sector capability.

Ms McKenzie says LGPro is well positioned to contribute to this agenda not just through advocacy, but also through providing professional development and leadership programs, by working with CEOs in the sector, and by celebrating when progress is made and raising the profile of those who are successful role models through our publications.

Why there are not more women in senior roles?

She says LGPro research indicated there were a range of reasons there are not more females in senior roles in the sector. The biggest is the crisis of confidence that women often experience when assessing their readiness for taking on the next level roles.

“Women will only apply when they feel they are able to do 95% plus of a role, whereas men are more willing to take a chance and learn on the job. There are also a number of basic job design factors that make CEO roles less attractive to women. Sometimes unsociable working hours, managing Councillor behaviour, and the perception that you need to relocate outside of metropolitan Melbourne or incur significant commute times, are all things that women have cited,” she said.

As one of only 12 female CEOs she says she hasn’t experienced overt bias. “However I do believe I have probably experienced unconscious bias, and for all I know I’ve exercised it as well. It’s sometimes a little amusing introducing myself to people, and when they ask what role I do at Council I explain that I am the CEO. Their eyebrows raise, quickly followed by the words ‘oh…really?

That’s a big job!’ I do sometimes wonder if I’d get the same reaction if I was a 47 year old man,” she said with a laugh.

Female Board executive A FIRST FOR LGPRO

For the first time in the history of LGPro we have an all female Board executive comprising Rebecca McKenzie (President), Robyn Mansfield (Vice President), Celia Haddock (Treasurer) and Sasha Lord (Secretary).

Rebecca said she is proud to lead LGPro’s first all female executive who were elected by their Board colleagues late last year and are all well qualified for their roles.

“Eight of the 11 current Board members are female and this high level of female representation on the Board is another first for LGPro,” Rebecca said.

“LGPro is playing a leading role advocating for gender equity within the Local Government

sector so it is important that we promote this within our own organisation.”

With the LGPro Board elections scheduled at the end of this year Rebecca encouraged people working in the sector to consider standing to represent the interests of officers in Local Government.

Here is what our executive Board members had to say:

Rebecca McKenzie: I think it’s great that we have a

strong and capable Board and executive that is representative of the sector’s diversity, and that we’re putting our money where our mouth is – but this isn’t just a gender issue for me. We have talented men on the Board as well, and we work well together as a team.

I must admit that Board related gender rarely gets raised around the Board table. We’re all there volunteering our time to do our best for the sector and that’s our focus.

Robyn Mansfield: The appointment of an all-female

executive to the LGPro Board demonstrates the strength of women leadership in the Local Government sector, providing encouragement to young women entering the sector to strive for leadership positions, and sending a message that it’s time for change at senior levels. LGPro has shown continued commitment to gender equity and it is our hope that we will see a gender balance in CEO and executive Local Government roles in the near future.

Celia Haddock: It is a great privilege to serve on the LGPro Board

and executive and to represent more than 50,000 officers working for their local communities across Victoria every day. The Board works hard to promote and support the development of all leaders, including the development of our Future Ready program to promote more women leaders. We are keen to see the sector continue to move forward towards greater gender equity in the leadership of Councils and this is reflected in the membership of the elected Board and executive.

Sasha Lord: I’m extremely proud to be part of an all-female

executive team. There are plenty of reasons to improve women’s representation on boards, among them, diversity. Having the LGPro Board vote in an all-female executive team sends a clear message from LGPro about our position on the future of women in leadership roles within the sector.

PROFILE AUTUMN 2017 | 23

ADVOCACY UPDATE

Workforce planning for the future ›

LGPro is supporting the Rural City of Wangaratta in seeking $75,000 in State Government funding on behalf of six Victorian rural Councils – Wangaratta, Alpine, Indigo, Murrindindi, Mansfield and Loddon – to develop and implement a framework and template for Workforce Planning (WFP).

The application for funding was

an increasingly complex and

of tomorrow, a project LGPro

submitted in February through

demanding environment,” she said.

undertook with PwC to promote

Local Government Victoria’s FAST Program. If successful it will enable the six Councils to establish a workforce planning framework that takes account of the needs of the individual Councils, as well as the regional needs. It will also facilitate

The WFP submission seeks to deliver a complete approach from initiation to implementation for the group of six Councils. It was developed by HR practitioners with support and input from CEOs.

greater collaboration and the

“While rural and regional Councils

sharing of services and resources

will gain most benefit if this funding

between the Councils.

submission is successful, we believe

LGPro President, Rebecca McKenzie said that WFP had been identified in LGPro’s Future Ready report as a priority for the sector. “We believe that WFP is a critical area

that there is significant benefit to all Councils and it is our intention to offer the model to the entire sector once the development and trial phase is complete,” Ms McKenzie said.

requiring reform if the Local

WFP was one of the key activities/

Government sector is to deliver

priority projects identified in

positive community outcomes in

Future Ready: a roadmap for the Local Government workforce

the need for professionals in the sector to drive necessary reform.

This project was directly funded and supported by more than 70 Victoria Councils.

Ms McKenzie said WFP is an area of operation that is of shared interest for Local and State Government and its effective deployment will support the long term sustainability of the sector. It is understood that the Government is considering mandating workforce planning as part of the current Local Government Act review.

LGPro will keep our members informed about the progress of this submission.

PROFILE AUTUMN 2017 | 25

Achieving social media

success with less

The 2017 LGPro Social Media Conference on Wednesday 10 May aims to provide people working in Local Government with the tools to achieve success with less.

The one day conference, being held at Rydges Melbourne,186 Exhibition Street, Melbourne, will show how innovative and effective social media practices can bridge the communications gap between Councils and their communities without blowing the budget.

It targets everyone working in the digital media space in Councils including the areas of communications, PR and community engagement.

The program includes a keynote speaker, concurrent workshops, lightning talks, an on the couch session and networking over drinks and canapes.

Conference theme: Social Success with Less – Reaching your community regardless of resources

Keynote Speaker:

Jules Lund

Jules Lund, TRIBE, Founder, TV and Radio Host After 15 years hosting some of the biggest TV and radio shows in the country, Jules Lund has changed direction to become Australia’s leading authority on Influencer Marketing. Jules launched his tech company, TRIBE in November 2015 which is a digital marketplace that connects social media content creators with leading brands to transform word of mouth recommendations. At this year’s conference Jules will talk about Citizen Marketing and what an explosive trend it will be in 2017.

He will share his prediction on why tech has finally allowed User Generated Content to take flight and why even the photos in your camera roll are worth far more than you think.

For further information about TRIBE go to www.tribegroup.co To connect with Jules: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/ in/juleslund Twitter: https://twitter.com/JulesLund Instagram: www.instagram.com/juleslund

26 | PROFILE AUTUMN 2017

Join the convers ation #LGProSM 17 The 2017 LGPro Social Media Conference is proudly sponsored by:

Concurrent Sessions: Doing more with less, demystifying content – presented by Damien “Will” Willoughby, Shepparton City Council This session will empower participants to produce content that works for social media. Will is keen to share the tricks, tips and tactics that has seen Greater Shepparton organically increase its Facebook community by 400% in two years, while increasing web traffic seven- fold.

Connect with captions –

Engaging with a hard to reach audience – presented by Mark Bayly, Victoria Police and Simon Osborne Yarra City Council This session will highlight how two very difference organisations are connecting with hard to reach audiences through various social media platforms, what has worked particularly well, the challenges encountered, how they have been covercome and how it’s all being resourced without access to a huge budget.

presented by Steve Fuery, Bass Coast Shire Council

Managing Social Media Storms –

Have you ever watched a captioned video on a device somewhere noisy, like a bus, train, crowd or a footy match? Adding closed captions to your videos means everyone can enjoy them. This session looks at efficiently creating great captions to post to YouTube, Facebook and Vimeo. And they get a tick for accessibility too.

presented by Angie Pantazi, Maroondah City Council

Lightning Talks:

On the Couch session:

This year there will be two separate Lightning Talks sessions where Councils will outline how they are creating meaningful social media content that has the ability to reach the right audience without necessarily having to rely of too many resources to achieve this.

Based on the model that was adopted at last year’s conference, speakers will be given six minutes each to present on their innovative initiatives highlighting how they have benefited both their Council and the communities they service. There will be time for questions at the end of each presentation.

This session will be led by the conference facilitator, Dan Hogan, Customer Engagement Manager at Melton City Council. Delegates will participate in an informal conversation with a panel of speakers around what it is that customers value most and what it means to exceed customer expectations.

A case study session focusing on real examples of how Maroondah City Council’s Communications & Marketing team has dealt with various social media storms in an environment of high risk aversion and discomfort with social media.

Registrations for the 2017 Social Media Conference will open towards the end of March. For further information visit 2017 LGPro Social Media Conference.

Supporting the LGBTIQ community More than 35 people brandishing rainbow jackets, t-shirts, banners and flags joined LGPro and the VLGA as they marched with Darebin, Banyule, Moreland, Maroondah and Yarra City Councils to support the LGBTIQ community in the 2017 Pride March.

This was the third year LGPro had organised Local Government officers and their friends and families to participate in the march under the Celebrating ALL people working in Local Government banner, and the number of marchers has increased each year.

LGPro strongly advocates for diversity and inclusiveness in the workplace and actively encourages people working in the sector to lead by example and support each other.

All involved agreed the 2107 Pride March was an amazing experience and two participants share their thoughts below: Kelisha Nikitas, Team Leader Community Inclusion at Whittlesea City Council has been attending the Pride March for more than 15 years, but usually as a spectator. She said the opportunity to march with her colleagues this year was something she couldn’t miss.

Pride means a lot to Kelisha. “Pride in feeling that everyone is accepted for who they are. Pride in showing the world that the Melbourne LGBTIQ community is vibrant, loving and resilient. Pride that so many diverse people can come together to show unity,” she said.

“Local Government should support events such as this as it is our role to advocate, support and work alongside all of our community members especially when it comes to advocating for people’s human rights.

We also have a role in setting the scene… assisting in building a culture of acceptance, not just tolerance,” she said.

Alex Francis, Place Making Officer – City Futures at Glen Eira City Council decided to participate in the march following the formation of a LGBTIQ staff representative group at his Council.

He believes it is important to ensure that LGBTIQ Local Government staff are represented and to create an awareness of diversity and to give all people working in the sector the right to be their authentic selves.

“Diversity in our workforce and community must be recognised and supported and events such as the Pride March visibly shows that support,” he said.

If you would like to join LGPro’s Rainbow Network, email sig@lgpro.com

LEADERS IN LOCAL GOVERNEMNT

A new breed of Local Government CEOs › Rebecca McKenzie regards herself as part of a ‘new breed’ of Local Government Chief Executive Officers who have broken the mould of people’s stereotype vision of the traditional Council CEO.

However, the Glen Eira City Council

my career has ended up – I have

but you need to be able to read

CEO and President of LGPro is quick

no regrets.”

the situation, understand the political

to point out that this by no means says that the previous model of CEO wasn’t effective. Rebecca simply believes there is now an openness on the part of some Councils to

Rebecca says she has been lucky to have some great CEOs and Directors

Rebecca says the sector has an

and encouraged her.

excellent foundation of strong

“I’ve also had both formal and

management and strategic thinking

informal mentoring relationships.

skills are as important, if not more

I found these particularly helpful

important, than the technical skills

when I made the transition to CEO

of being an engineer, accountant

as it’s one of those jobs that you

or town planner.

never really know what you’re in

role having been at Glen Eira since February 2016. Prior to that she was CEO at Mitchell Shire for three and a half years. Her other Local Government role in Australia was Director Corporate Services at Yarra Ranges Council.

Starting out in human resource management, Rebecca never dreamt that she would end up as a CEO in Local Government dealing with everything from designing new suburbs and activity centres, managing Councillor relations,

way to navigate it.”

along the way who have supported

recognise that leadership, relationship

She is currently in her second CEO

context, and work out the best

for until you’re in the middle of it.

Attributes of a great leader

managers and she is seeing more and more amazing leaders emerging from that cohort as the sector changes and recognises the need to be more agile, more empowering and more connected to our communities.

She joined the LGPro Board in 2012 and took over as President in December last year. “I am really

To be a great leader Rebecca

committed to the work that we are

believes you must be authentic as

doing at LGPro. I feel strongly that

people need to connect with you to

Local Government should have

be able to believe in you and your

strong and effective peak bodies,

vision. They need to trust you and

and that leaders should step up and

will only do this if they feel that

give something back to the sector.

you are authentic.

Similarly empathy is another important trait as good leaders need to be able to see things from others’ perspectives – this goes for residents, Councillors and staff.

Challenges facing the sector As far as challenges facing the sector now and in the future she says…. where do I start? “Financial and long term sector sustainability, managing the impact of growth in a way

supporting fire affected communities,

Tenacity is vital; if you believe in

that is future focused yet protects

or handling a $150 million budget.

something you have to have the

amenity and quality of life, helping

courage to see it through and to

the community to understand the

Taking opportunities

push through the barriers in order to

Local Government value proposition,

As opportunities emerged in her

achieve it. “In this job you need to have

ensuring that State and Federal

career Rebecca made sure she

the skin of a rhino at times,” she joked.

Governments consult well with us

took them which led to her working in Local Government in the UK, at a university in Ireland and in State Government in Queensland. No matter the role, she says she has always worked hard, and put effort

Rebecca believes great leaders need to be strategic to be able to see beyond today and create a compelling vision for the future that people can understand and buy into.

into managing relationships and

And finally, in Local Government

her reputation. “My only plan was

you also need to be politically astute.

to achieve the best that I could,

“You don’t need to be politically

in a job that I enjoy. I love where

aligned, in fact it’s better if you’re not,

28 | PROFILE AUTUMN 2017

on things that will impact us, and being sufficiently organisationally agile to respond to the new world order of disruptive technologies and increasing expectations,” she said “I think we need leadership that is equally agile and clear, transparent governance, and a preparedness to explore and try new things.”

My Council Services Council to Community Community to Council

•

•

Waste

o�o

I

Get active

Centres

Contact Council

Contact Us:

1300 760 011

PROFILE AUTUMN 2017 | 29

LOOKING FOR SOME WAYS TO SPREAD THE WORD OR GET THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED, BUT UNSURE WHERE TO START? ASK OUR SOCIAL MEDIA EXPERTS HOW WE CAN ASSIST YOU IN ENGAGING WITH YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY

ADVOCACY UPDATE

Protecting Council officers ›

LGPro is very disappointed that the campaign calling for more protection for authorised Council officers carrying out their duties has not been supported by the Victorian Attorney General, Martin Pakula.

In a letter to LGPro, Mr Pakula said

calling for the same sentences to

impacts and costs imposed on

the intent of reforms imposing

apply to offenders who assault

their colleagues and employer.

statutory minimum sentences

Council officers to those that apply

for offences involving attacks on

to emergency workers. Concerns

emergency workers and custodial

have also been raised in meetings

officers was to confer greater

between LGPro and the Minister

protection on those who the

for Local Government.

community relies on to respond

“It is sad but true that our officers working in the areas of domestic animal control, parking, food regulation enforcement, public health and wellbeing, planning

The lack of legislative protection

and environment enforcement

for Council workers was also

and regulation, tobacco control,

highlighted in LGPro’s December

building regulation and local laws

The categories of officers that have

2015 submission to the Local

are frequently subject to abuse and

been included in the legislation are

Government Act review. Part of

sometimes assault while carrying

very specific, and the Government

our submission called for “the

out legitimate duties, including

does not have plans to extend these

introduction of a specific offence

enforcement of State legislation,”

statutory minimum provisions, the

provision(s) within the new Local

she said.

letter said.

Government Act that applies to

to emergencies and to directly manage Victoria’s prisoners.

LGPro President, Rebecca McKenzie said the Attorney General’s response was “extremely disappointing and somewhat surprising” due to the increasing number of assaults being reported on Council officers simply carrying out their jobs.

LGPro wrote to both the Sentencing Advisory Council and the Minister for Local Government expressing concerns about the increase in the number of Council officers being assaulted in the line of duty and

causing serious injury or the death of a Council appointed authorised officer mirroring the current offences to which section 10AA of the Sentencing Act applies using the definition of ‘serious injury’ within section 15 the Crimes Act.”

“We believe that when a person assaults a Local Government authorised officer while in the execution of their duties, they should be subject to the same mandatory sentencing arrangements as those people who assault police, emergency workers, hospital

Ms McKenzie said the current

staff and fire fighters and we will

sentences handed out to

continue to campaign to protect

perpetrators of these assaults

them,” she said.

on authorised Council officers is inadequate and does not take into account the trauma caused to the individual and their family and the

LGPro will continue to lobby the Minister for Local Government and Attorney General on this issue.

Program for outdoor workers

›

LGPro’s Ignite program has assisted hundreds of new supervisors, team leaders and coordinators to develop leadership and management skills.

This successful program has

update their leadership skills or

examples participants can take back

now been tailored specifically

are interested in moving into a

and use in their workplace setting.

for outdoor workers and will be

supervisory role in the future.

Session dates are: Wednesday

offered for the first time in May.

The content and case studies have

3 May, Thursday 15 June, Thursday 20 July and Tuesday 22 August.

It is designed for outdoor workers

been adapted to ensure it is relevant

who are new or who have limited

to outdoor workers and the duties

For further information on the

experience in a supervisory role,

they perform.

program content and to register

have no previous formal leadership training and want to extend and

The program will be held over four, full day sessions and will include

visit Ignite for Outdoor Workers or call (03) 9268 6400.

PROFILE AUTUMN 2017 | 31

CORPORATE PARTNERS DIRECTORY 2017

2017 LGPro Corporate Partners Directory CORPORATE PARTNERS McArthur Aon Risk Services Australia Aten Systems Australian Institute of Management Australia Post Australian Receivables Limited Bang the Table CAMMS CIE Legal Clear Horizon Consulting Community Chef Council Jobs CT Management Group Cube Group Customer Service Benchmarking Australia Davidson Group Deakin eAwards Fifth Ocean Technologies fmconsult Holland Thomas & Associates Horner Recruitment HR Legal HWL Ebsworth Lawyers .id (the population experts) Infor Insight SRC iPlatinum Jardine Lloyd Thompson Jo Fisher Executive JWS Research Kernow Environmental Services Lingford Consulting Services LMH Consulting/Outside the Square Local Government Software Solutions Maddocks Lawyers Market Solutions MAV Insurance, Liability Mutual Insurance McArthur Mecwacare Morrison Low Consultants MSC Corporation Australia National Australia Bank Nepean Industry Edge Training One Tree Community Services Onsite Massage Oracle Customer Management Solutions Our Say Page Seager Lawyers Procura Software Procurement Australia Productivity Matters Promapp Solutions QSR International Russell Kennedy Lawyers Salesforce SDS Group Skills Training Australia Symphony 3 Task Exchange The Management Edge Urban Maintenance Systems Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry VicTrack Vision Super Votar Partners Warner Group Well Done International Your Future Options Zurich Financial Services Australia

32 | PROFILE AUTUMN 2017

LGPro is grateful for the support it receives from its Corporate Partners. The following pages contain advertisements submitted by our financial 2017 Corporate Partners.

Please take a moment to learn about the many services, programs and products these organisations offer to the Local Government sector.

Local Government solutions built on 45+ years specialist experience and insight • Permanent, Temporary and Contract Recruitment • Executive Search • HR Consulting – Performance Management – Employee Engagement – Remuneration Services – Leadership Development – Organisational Development

Contact: t: (03) 9828 6565 w: mcarthur.com.au

2017 LGPro Annual Conference Principal Sponsor Note: All financial 2017/2017 LGPro Corporate Partners were invited to participate in this directory. Not all of our Corporate Partners took up the opportunity.

CORPORATE PARTNERS DIRECTORY 2017

Insurance, risk management & human capital solutions

Innovation

to enable smarter citizen services

Tailored to Council’s unique risk profile

Contact:

Paul Crapper

National Head of Local Government t 03 9211 3313 e paul.crapper@aon.com

Smarter community engagement Responsive information management Digitising asset works management

P 02 8197 7012 E info@atensystems.com COM0341E 1116

W www.atensystems.com

Did you know?

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www.cammsgroup.com Project Management | Risk Management | Strategy | People Performance | Budgeting | Powerful Data

PROFILE AUTUMN 2017 | 33

CORPORATE PARTNERS DIRECTORY 2017

Continuing to Support Local Government Commercial Law Litigation and Claims Management Risk Management Occupational Health & Safety Management Procurement and Contract Legal Services Building and Construction Legal Services Property Leasing

Contact Us 03 9948 2470 Level 11 644 Chapel Street South Yarra, Victoria

CIE Legal is a corporate and commercial law firm with over 30 years’ experience working with local government. We don’t just provide legal advice - we provide solutions.

www.cielegal.com.au

Community Chef aims to provide high quality, culturally diverse meals of superior nutritional value to individuals, organisations and communities.

Our extensive, nutritionally balanced and multicultural menu provides products that are easy to use with a taste that is second to none.

Our wide range of services include: HACC Packages Supply during facility refurbishment Extending standard menu offerings Simplifying daily and weekend food services Waste reduction Chef free meal preparation Reducing overall meal service costs Contingency supply

Community Chef can provide delivery direct to your door!

Contact us now to discuss your requirements.

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34 | PROFILE AUTUMN 2017

SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE ALERTS

www.counciljobs.com

CORPORATE PARTNERS DIRECTORY 2017

WE ARE CSBA Whether customer experience is an ongoing focus or you are just beginning to explore the possibilities, we can help you serve your customers better. At any stage in your customer experience journey, CSBA can bring our years of experience to bear.

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For more information, please contact our local government specialists:

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PROFILE AUTUMN 2017 | 35

CORPORATE PARTNERS DIRECTORY 2017

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As a long-standing supplier to Victorian Local Government, HORNER knows and understands your challenges and the need for councils to adapt at a time of significant change. We partner with councils Victoria-wide in providing effective staffing solutions, leading-edge training and a broad range of HR and OHS consulting services.

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Call Ben Hutchison for all Local Government recruitment enquiries on (03) 9604 2888

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36 | PROFILE AUTUMN 2017

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44 | PROFILE AUTUMN 2017

MEMBER NEWS

Leanne makes her mark in the sector ›

Leanne Ansell-McBride may have only been working in Local Government since October, but already she is already making her mark in the sector.

The Executive Manager of Strategy

at a strategic level. “This role, with

relationship. I think it is particularly

and Performance at Bayside City

its focus on strategy development

important to support and assist the

Council signed up as an LGPro

and its responsibility for all of the

next generation of leaders, in the

Member and mentor in our 2017

levers that drive alignment with

same way that other leaders have

Mentoring Program and has

strategy, was particularly exciting.

supported and encouraged me,”

spoken at an event promoting

I had also heard terrific things about

she said.

the breadth of opportunities

CEO Adrian Robb and his strategic

Local Government presents.

focus, and I thought I would be able

Leanne joined LGPro to build her networks, knowledge and

to work with him to really make a difference,” she said.

Leanne is passionate about supporting women in leadership roles and wants to promote Local Government as a great place to

understanding of the environment

In her transition to Local

work to senior women in other

in Local Government. “I also hope

Government, Leanne has noticed

sectors. This is why she spoke to

that LGPro enables me to build my

a greater focus on consultation

Deputy Secretaries and Executive

profile and reputation by giving

both internally and externally. The

Directors from the Federal and

back to the sector in a mentoring

need to build networks and circles

State Governments about her

capacity or through speaking

of influence also appear to be

career transition and the breadth of

at appropriate events. I have a

even more significant in the sector,

opportunities in Local Government.

particular interest in supporting

perhaps as a result of the greater

and promoting women in Local

focus on community consultation.

Government, and look forward to working with LGPro on their diversity initiatives,” she said.

never have previously contemplated

collaborative and supportive nature

such a step,” she said.

of her peers and by the breadth and diversity of the work Councils

and varied career holding

undertake. “It’s like a microcosm

senior executive roles in both

of the Victorian Public Sector with

State and Federal Government,

health, education, human services,

including Director of Corporate

the environment, economic

Delivery Services for the Victorian

development, planning etc etc!

Department of Treasury and

It is so much fun, and I am learning

Finance; the inaugural CEO

so much,” she said.

Development Centre; and Assistant Commissioner, People and Place at the Australian Taxation Office.

me afterwards to say they would

She has also been impressed by the

Leanne has had an interesting

of the Victorian Leadership

“A number of them approached

Mentoring has played a major role in Leanne’s career which is one of the reasons she signed up as an LGPro mentor, to “give back”

The role at Bayside to set the

to others. “I have been a formal

organisational strategy, build

and informal mentor for more

capability and drive accountability

than 10 years and have learnt as

interested her as she loves working

much as I have given through each

PROFILE AUTUMN 2017 | 45

PROGRAM NEWS

New online course ›

LGPro Online Learning, a partnership between LGPro and Global Vision Media (GVM), is expanding its online learning offerings to include a sector specific Child Safe Standards training course.

More than 20 Councils across

and quality of what we have

relevant. Specific Local Government

Victoria have already registered

developed for this and our other

examples are used in the delivery

interest in taking up the training

online courses.”

of the programs.

Online compliance courses

All of the courses are SCORM

that will be available from April.

LGPro CEO, David Preiss said initially a Council had approached LGPro to design a suitable Child Safe Standards (CSS) course after it was unable to find one that was both affordable and developed to

LGPro and GVM already offer six online compliance courses to support officers working in Local Government to perform their duties in the areas of:

a standard that was acceptable to

• Information privacy

them. “Councils have responsibilities

• OH&S

and obligations that their staff

compliant, meet all accessibility standards, provide reporting to ensure evidence of compliance is available when needed and adapt to all devices and can be used with any LMS or can be used as standalone, i.e. hosted.

LGPro also has the capacity to

• Workplace bullying & harassment

design online course to meet the

• Equal employment opportunity

needs of individual or groupings

a sector specific course would be

• Fraud prevention and awareness

of Council.

embraced by the sector which it

• Victorian Charter of Human

For further information on

need to address under the Child Safe Standards (CSS) so we knew

certainly has,” he said.

Rights and Responsibilities

“We are really fortunate to be

Metropolitan, regional and rural

working with Whitehorse City

Councils are now using the courses

Council and HR and L&D/OD

which were developed with a

practitioners to get their expert

high level of engagement from

input to ensure the relevance

Council officers to ensure they are

our online learning offerings visit LGPro online learning or to discuss your Council’s online learning requirements, contact Henry Tamasese on (03) 9268 6400.

And the winner is… ›

LGPro honours the outstanding work being done in the Local Government sector through a variety of awards that are offered during the year. Nominations for the following awards open in the next few months.

Sally Isaac Memorial Scholarship Fund Award

Aged & Disability Services Awards

Customer Service Award

is open to all women aged 35 years

celebrates the success of individuals

an individual or team that has

and under (not just those employed

and teams working in the aged and

improved customer service within

in Local Government) who have

disability services sector in Local

a Council. Nominations for the 2017

demonstrated achievements that

Government. Nominations for the

award open on Monday 24 April and

have improved community life.

2017 awards open on Monday 22

close on Friday 30 June. The winner

Nominations are now open and

May and close on Monday 24 July.

will be announced at the Customer

close on Friday 5 May. The winner

The winners will be announced at

Service Conference in September.

will be announced at the 2017

the Aged & Disability Services Seminar in September.

For further information visit

LGPro Women’s Network Dinner on Thursday 22 June.

For further information

For further information visit

visit Aged & Disability

Sally Isaac Award.

Services Awards.

46 | PROFILE AUTUMN 2017

is a biennial award that recognises

Customer Service Award.

For general information on LGPro awards contact the LGPro office on (03) 9268 6400.

VERNE KRASTINS FEATURE ARTICLE

Perspectives paraphrased as butterflies flutter ›

I attended the Thursday at this year’s LGPro Annual Conference. What a great line up of presenters.

The theme “Small Change Big

Resistance is futile, and so will

experiences seem less extreme.” 4

Difference” might allude to the

be the journey if Councillors and

At the same time, “each connection

famous butterfly effect, where tiny

staff, top to bottom, can’t describe

you make with a young person

events lead to large unanticipated

a similar future and evaluate

(or anyone of course) is a significant

outcomes. The context is that

progress using common classes

step in their lives.” 5

change is unavoidable, but how

of evidence. Here, wellbeing

well are we equipped to foresee

may be a good option, but note:

and navigate?

“A state of wellbeing is the

Speakers did well presenting educated guesses about the future and clues on how best to go with this flow. I’ll explain by paraphrasing a few statements made (with bracketed clarifications).

Where inspiration lies “Change happens in the community

presence of flourishing (feeling good), optimal functioning (doing good) and resilience (bouncing back and forward).” 4

Reverse mentoring “A hallmark of great leaders will be the diversity of the five people they spend most time around.” 3

Regarding the nature of work, “sloth is an underrated virtue” because “the future will see the concept of the employee as the last vestige of slavery” 6. This alludes to two future facts of life, based on trends – decisions are increasingly made by technology, and that outsourcing (externals doing the work) is becoming the norm.

On that theme, let’s finish with an actual quote: “Change the world,

not in Canberra (or Council

I especially love that one. Despite

chambers). Councils (as servants)

all the effort put into engaging

are at the centre of the universe.” 1

with a diversity of constituents, the

The future of Local Government will

professionals doing so tend to hang

rely on individual choices, amongst

around with each other or people

employees and communities alike.

of similar fortunate backgrounds.

“The times, they are a changing”!

“We all have a talent – apply it for those who need it or better from it.

Give your life a purpose and you’ll discover the purpose of life.” 2 These two clarify our jobs.

Communities rather than institutions are the source of innovation and progress. What we public servants can do best is to enrich the process.

Direction and purpose “Resistance (to change) boils down to not knowing the direction.

For instance, I spoke with a Place Manager a few years back who had no idea what happened in

one voice at a time.” 7

VERNE KRASTINS Sector Connector

the municipality after 5.15pm, only knew powerbrokers, and had never spoken to a homeless person.

A very singular perspective.

Engagement, communication and the nature of work There’s much to contend with.

Would a range of people in your

Communication today is “word

organisation articulate the same

of mouth on steroids”3, while

objective?” Are the “evidence points”

psychologically“ we focus on

outlining the path understood? 3

the negative because positive

References: 1. Phil Cleary, community campaigner. 2. Nasir Sobhani, founder of ‘Clean Cut. Clean Start’ - haircuts for the homeless.

3. Holly Ransom, CEO of Emergent. 4. Dianne Vella-Brodrick, Centre for Positive Psychology, Melbourne University. 5. Tarik Bayrakli, GM Sports Without Borders. 6. Phil Ruthven AM, Founder of IBISWorld. 7. Tanya De Jong, Founder of Creative Australia.

PROFILE AUTUMN 2017 | 47

PROGRAM NEWS

Navigating the challenges of leadership › Brooke Love, Director of Works and Services at Corangamite Shire Council, (pictured) is the recipient of Local Government Victoria’s scholarship to participate in LGPro’s Executive Leadership Program (XLP) in 2017.

Local Government Victoria offers

challenges of effective leadership,”

in merit where merit is due and

the scholarship to further promote

she said.

so I don’t advocate for positions

and support the representation of more women CEOs in Local Government by offering leadership training development.

Receiving the scholarship is an achievement for Brooke both professionally and personally and she hopes the program will help

based on a gender split. I advocate for the change of focus with how things could be achieved and the acknowledgement of skills and expertise as relevant. The

Brooke, one of 24 participants in

her to gain new techniques for

XLP this year, sees the scholarship

communicating with impact and

as an opportunity to support

improve her strategic thinking and

female executive leaders to

ability to influence people and to

Brooke has enjoyed her 15 year

navigate challenges in leadership

ask the hard questions. Networking

career in the sector as she is

in a traditionally male oriented

with others in the industry will also

passionate about delivering quality

environment. “For me, as a female

be a positive outcome.

outcomes for local communities,

employed in a rural Council and in a traditionally male role, it is an avenue to gain access to this esteemed program and the opportunity to enhance my knowledge and awareness in strategic governance and to learn tools and tips in navigating the

In regard to gender equity, Brooke believes societal traditions are changing and women are being more recognised but they are also being asked to step up and be counted as equivalents where their predecessors have been or

scholarship and XLP program are both substantial enablers,” she said.

but she also likes to have real conversations around what matters and what is achievable. She sees Local Government as the touch point organisation that can really assist in making a difference in many facets.

counterparts are male. “I believe

2017 XLP participants Debbie Bach,

Celia Haddock,

Kendrea Pope,

Northern Grampians Shire Council

Maribyrnong City Council

Moonee Valley City Council

Michael Chesworth,

Russell Hopkins,

Lisa Raywood,

Murrindindi Shire Council

Whittlesea City Council

Banyule City Council

Jill Colson,

Jill Karena,

Lucy Roffey,

Manningham City Council

Macedon Ranges Shire Council

Buloke Shire Council

Gail Conman,

Craig Lloyd,

Leon Schultz,

Moonee Valley City Council

Greater Bendigo City Council

Wodonga City Council

Matthew Cripps,

Brooke Love,

Debbie Seddon,

Baw Baw Shire Council

Corangamite Shire Council

Whitehorse City Council

Leanne Deans,

Pamela Martin,

Grant Thorne,

Brimbank City Council

Cardinia Shire Council

Moreland City Council

Malcom Foard,

Adam McSwain,

Ron Torres,

Manningham City Council

Swan Hill Rural City Council

Glen Eira City Council

Barry Green,

Sharon Morrison,

Chris Waites,

Rural City of Wangaratta

Loddon Shire Council

East Gippsland Shire Council

48 | PROFILE AUTUMN 2017

MEMBER NEWS

Welcome to new Individual Members ›

We would like to welcome the following new members who joined LGPro between 19 November 2016 and 28 February 2017. We look forward to working with you to shape our wonderful sector.

Leanne Ansell-McBride, Bayside City Council

Melissa Forlano, Wellington Shire Council

Ros Pruden, Casey City Council

Marcus Ballard, Monash City Council

Sheena Frost, Casey City Council

Craig Ralston, Moyne Shire Council

Shaun Barling, Surf Coast Shire Council

Linda Glanville, Maribyrnong City Council

Dale Rogers, Moyne Shire Council

Emma Bertoli, Latrobe City Council

Sophie Holdsworth, Glen Eira City Council

Leon Schultz, Wodonga City Council

Jody Blythe, Mornington Peninsula Shire

Russell Hopkins, Whittlesea City Council

Jeanene Simmons, Port Phillip City Council

Grant Breheny, Port Phillip City Council

Misty Johannsen, Cardinia Shire Council

Kamal Singh, Casey City Council

Sarah Brigham, Mornington Peninsula Shire

Susie Kewley, Moyne Shire Council

Warwick Smith, Wangaratta Rural City Council

Tilla Buden, Yarra Ranges Council

Mark Leitinger, Murrindindi Shire Council

Gaye Stewart, Glen Eira City Council

Chris Callahan, Banyule City Council

Shannon Di Lisio, Borough of Queenscliffe

David Straw, Greater Bendigo City Council

Ashlee Camm, Boroondara City Council

Craig Lloyd, Greater Bendigo City Council

Carolyn Terry, Boroondara City Council

John Canny, Murrindindi Shire Council

Kathryn McBride, Greater Geelong City Council

Ron Torres, Glen Eira City Council

Robert Chapman, Bass Coast Shire Council

Erin McFadden, Stonnington City Council

Maree Walker, Rural City of Wangaratta

Michael Chesworth, Murrindindi Shire Council

Naomi McNamara, Murrindindi Shire Council

Jude Whelan, Knox City Council

Gail Conman, Moonee Valley City Council

Adam McSwain, Swan Hill Rural City Council

Joshua Williams, Darebin City Council

Lesley Cook, Moyne Shire Council

Kirsten Miller, Horsham Rural City Council

Graham Wilsdon, Yarra City Council

Claire Coulson, Wodonga City Council

Yvette Myhill, Swan Hill Rural City Council

Warwick Winn, Manningham City Council

Kate Deppeler, Pyrenees Shire Council

Sarah O’Connor, Mildura Rural City Council

Peter Wright, Yarra Ranges Council

Here is more information on LGPro Individual Membership or call our office on (03) 9268 6400 and ask to speak to Michelle Cox our Membership Development Manager.

PROFILE AUTUMN 2017 | 49

SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS

Special Interest Groups have impact in the sector ›

LGPro’s 30 Special Interest Groups are set for a busy and productive 2017 with more than 40 meetings scheduled and more to be planned during the year.

Several of the SIGs kicked off the

City Council. The group had a

Review of the Native Vegetation

year by shaping the programs for

productive meeting discussing

Clearing Regulations and the Flora

the Wednesday workshop sessions

ways to forge a better working

and Fauna Guarantee Act, while the

of our 2017 Conference and the

world. They heard from Dennis

Statutory Services SIG is engaged

feedback from these sessions

Hovenden CEO Frankston City

in consultation in the Domestic

has been really positive.

Council; Tim Frederico, Director

Animals Amendment (Puppy

Corporate Development at

Farm and Pet Shops) Bill 2016.

The Executive & Personal Assistant Network adopted the 2017 International Women’s Day #BeBoldForChange theme at its meeting on 1 March at Frankston

Frankston City Council; Fiona Redding, The Happiness Hunter who spoke about “Creating Balance

If you are not already actively

to Increase Productivity” and

participating in a SIG we encourage

Rebecca Waymouth, RWR Racing.

you to join. Our SIGs support

The Corporate Services SIG discussed shared services and heard case studies from Whittlesea City Council and the Goulburn Valley Regional Collaborative Alliance at its February meeting.

Executive and Personal Assistant’s Network members at their recent meeting.

Join a SIG

Local Government professionals working in similar fields by providing participants with a valuable opportunity to network, share best practice, learn about the latest developments and to improve practices and knowledge. Accessing

Biodiversity Planners Network

knowledge from individuals who

members are sharing their

work in a similar environment

expertise by providing input

is invaluable and should never

through submissions on the

be underestimated.

Below is a list of LGPro SIGs that you can join: Activity Centre & Place Managers

Consultation & Research

Indigenous

Aged & Disability Services

Corporate Planners Network

Learning & Development

Arts & Culture

Corporate Services

Procurement

Behaviour Change Network

Customer Service

Project Management Framework Best Practices

Biodiversity Planning Network

Events Network

Property Network

Carbon Management Network

Executive & Personal Assistant Network

Risk

Community Development

Family, Youth & Children’s Services

Statutory Services

Communications & Web Network

Health & Wellbeing

Volunteering

Community Safety

Human Resources

Young Professionals Network

Start benefitting from a Special Interest Group today, just email sig@lgpro.com and tell us which SIG you want to join.

50 | PROFILE AUTUMN 2017

All matters relating to Local Government events › LGPro’s Events Network is about keeping its participants informed on all matters relating to events in the Local Government sector.

It provides people working in events

“Last year we had pretty good

tries to maintain social connections

roles in the sector with information

attendances at our meetings and

with its participants.”

on the latest developments, the

those attending got a lot out of

opportunity to sound others out

them. Highlights of the year were

about any problems or issues they

visits to the regional centres of

may be experiencing, plus the

Phillip Island and Bendigo who did

chance to network with others

a great job of showcasing their

working in similar roles.

fantastic locations,” Frank said.

One of the Network Convenors,

“The Network has been operating

Frank Angarane, Events Coordinator

since 2007 and in that time has

at Bass Coast Shire Council, said the

been able to stay relevant and

group generally met four times a

provide a good sounding board and

year sharing the meetings between

network for participants. It also has

metro and regional Councils.

an education component to it and

The group is open to all people working in events in Local Government. This varies from Council to Council, but generally includes those working in the arts, community development and communications event areas.

For further information visit LGPro Events Network.

2017 Emerging Leaders Good luck to the 2017 Emerging Leaders listed below who will start their program this month.

Marcus Ballard,

Shannon Di Lisio,

Mark Osborne,

Monash City Council

Borough of Queenscliffe

Rural City of Wangaratta

Mandy Banks,

Penni Ellicott,

Jeanene Simmons,

Manningham City Council

South Gippsland Shire Council

Port Phillip City Council

Shaun Barling,

Krysten Evans,

Kendall Sinclair,

Surf Coast Shire Council

Baw Baw Shire Council

Whitehorse City Council

Emma Bertoli,

Melissa Forlano,

Liz Smith,

Latrobe City Council

Wellington Shire Council

Hobsons Bay City Council

Jody Blythe,

Sophie Holdsworth,

David Straw,

Mornington Peninsula Shire

Glen Eira City Council

Greater Bendigo City Council

Grant Breheny,

Nicole Hunter,

Brooke Templeton,

Port Phillip City Council

Knox City Council

Cardinia Shire Council

Kirsty Bromfield,

Misty Johannsen,

Bradley Thomas,

Nillumbik Shire Council

Cardinia Shire Council

Mount Alexander Shire Council

Chris Callahan,

Naomi McNamara,

Banyule City Council

Murrindindi Shire Council

Rob Chapman,

Sarah O’Connor,

Bass Coast Shire Council

Mildura Rural City Council PROFILE AUTUMN 2017 | 51

COUNCIL NEWS FROM ACROSS VICTORIA

What’s happening in Local Government Japanese delegation visits Moonee Valley

›

Moonee Valley City Council hosted a delegation from the Matsubara City in Japan in February to showcase its leading community safety projects in action.

The Council was the first Australian Council to be formally certified a ‘safe community’ by the Pan Pacific Safe Communities Network in 2014.

Nillumbik launches new, mobile accessible websites

›

Nillumbik Shire Council launched a new Council website in October 2016.

In our ever changing digital world, building a new website is not unusual, but this rebuild was different because accessibility and the needs of the mobile device user were critical.

Research told the Council that website traffic was increasing by 24% each year and that more than 65% of residents were accessing the website from mobile devices.

So it was these statistics that determined the Council’s design priorities.

Once the Council site was launched, the Youth, Edendale Community Environment Farm and the Living & Learning websites were rebuilt on the same platform, with accessibility and responsiveness again at the top of the design and functionality priorities.

Following the successful launch of these websites, the Council built a new tourism website called The Artisan Hills.

The responsive design of the tourism site means visitors to the area can find activities, restaurants, boutique wineries, parks and other things to do quickly and easily via their mobile phone.

The look and feel of the suite of websites strengthens the Council’s brand and caters for the needs of residents as well as visitors to Nillumbik.

Moonee Valley Mayor, Cr Andrea Surace, said that since receiving this accolade, Council has been leading the way in its community safety initiatives.

“Council was extremely honoured to be able to share with the Matsubara City Mayor and delegates some of our best practise safety projects in action.

Since receiving accreditation as a safe community. Moonee Valley is still one of only four Victorian Councils to achieve this accreditation,” Cr Surace said.

Cr Andrea Surace with delegates from Matsubara City.

Integrated water facility for Manningham

›

Manningham Council is breaking new ground in the area of water management with construction of the $2.8 million Bolin Bolin Integrated Water Harvesting Facility.

The project incorporates a “Whole of Water Cycle” management approach that will enable the sustainable capture and treatment of storm water for reuse for the irrigation of sports grounds located at Bulleen Park, Carey Sports Complex and the Freeway Golf Course.

On average, the facility will harvest approximately 35 megalitres of stormwater annually: • Relieving demand for potable water consumption • Reducing pollutants going to the Yarra River (124kg of nitrogen annually) • Minimising the demand for extraction from the river for irrigation purposes • Ensuring sustainable environmental flows within the Yarra River

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“Our tour of Moonee Valley kicked off with an example of our highly regarded Better Moves Around Schools programs in place at St Monica’s Primary School, Moonee Ponds. We also highlighted our work to improve safety in pedestrian movements in and around Union Road, Ascot Vale, during the visit.”

• Minimising local flooding issues by enhancing the drainage outlet from the local catchment The project involves the construction of a 1.5 megalitre combined wetland and storage lake on Crown Land adjacent to the Bolin Bolin Billabong. Two, 214.7 kilolitre storage tanks will be constructed within Bulleen Park and will be managed

by Manningham Council. A secondary 3.30 ML (minimum) storage will be constructed within the “Freeway Golf Course” (Columba St, Balwyn North), on land managed by the City of Boroondara.

The project has been supported by Melbourne Water, as part of its Living Rivers Stormwater Program; the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning; City of Boroondara and Carey Baptist Grammar School and received some Federal Government funding. Work is expected to be completed in August.

COUNCIL NEWS FROM ACROSS VICTORIA

What’s happening in Local Government Raising the digital profile of rural Councils

›

Southern Grampians Shire Council’s Manager Business Systems, Russell Bennett, along with other key Council officers, are working towards implementing a digital transformation program for the benefit of residents, businesses, future investors and visitors to the Shire. The program aims to: • Ensure that the Southern Grampians community is in a position to take advantage of the opportunities that digital transformation can bring • Develop a strong local digital ecosystem that provides a pathway for developing a more digitally connected community; an economy that can rapidly respond to the business opportunities in the digital area; and Council leadership in providing digital services for the community • Work together with key partners such as local education providers, local health services, local businesses and the community to create a healthy digital ecosystem • Be a ‘Smart Connected Community’ leader amongst rural Councils

Council staff save a life

• Partner with surrounding Councils where possible to implement initiatives regionally To kick off the phased approach to digitally transform into a smart connected rural community, the Council recently implemented a Community Internet of Things (IoT) Network which provides the Southern Grampians community with access to a network, where they can connect sensor devices to the internet for no cost.

Russell and his team are being noticed for their efforts, having been awarded the ‘Rural or Regional Team Achievement Award at the MAV Technology Conference in 2016 and being invited to speak to 79 Victorian Councils regarding SGSC’s Digital Transformation journey.

He has also been approached

by The Association of Local Government Information Management (ALGIM) in New Zealand to speak at their National Conference in 2017 to present on how smaller rural Councils can digitally transform and achieve similar benefits to larger metro Councils.

From left, Grant Farrell, Shaye Mulhall, Minister for Ambulance Services Jill Hennessy, Shane Scoble, Ambulance Victoria CEO Tony Walker and Castlemaine team manager Kellianne Jones at the Community Hero Awards presentation.

›

Each year Grant Farrell, Shane Scoble and Shaye Mulhall undergo first aid refresher training alongside

their work mates at Mount Alexander Shire Council. The trio never expected the cardio pulmonary resuscitation skills they learnt would help save a life.

In August last year, a woman ran into the Council Depot in Castlemaine to seek help for her son. Grant, Shane and Shaye, who were on their lunch break, responded immediately arriving at the scene to find the man slumped over a garden fence. They lifted him to the ground, placed him in recovery position, checked his vital signs and rang 000.

On advice from the operator the trio began CPR. When the ambulance arrived paramedics requested the team continue to rotate their CPR duties as they prepared to defibrillate the patient. The paramedics said the quick response of the team and effective CPR were critical in helping the man survive.

In December last year, the Minister for Ambulance Services Jill Hennessy presented Grant, Shane and Shaye with a Community Hero Award at Parliament House.

They were among 18 people honoured with a medal and certificate out of 139 people nominated by paramedics across the state.

“I’m very proud of the team – they literally saved a life and stayed calm in an incredibly stressful situation,” said Darren Fuzzard, Mount Alexander Council CEO. “This case highlights how the community can step in and help patients at a time of need to help paramedics save lives. It also demonstrates that investment in first aid training for employees not only protects the safety and wellbeing of staff on the job but can provide lifesaving

Systems Administrator James Kruger, Manager Business Systems Russell Bennett and Manager Economic Development and Tourism Hugh Koch accepting the MAV Rural or Regional Team Achievement Award in 2016.

skills to the broader community,” he said.

PROFILE AUTUMN 2017 | 53

COUNCIL NEWS FROM ACROSS VICTORIA

What’s happening in Local Government

Better understanding Council customers

›

As part of an organisation-wide

the team developed and ran a series of

as it enabled us to identify some really

transformation program, and to

28 customer journey mapping workshops

rich insights about our customers –

inform the development of the next

around nine of the most important

for example, who knew that a planning

Council Plan, the City of Boroondara

life events, to hear from a customer’s

permit and kindergarten enrolment

has developed an innovative process

perspective their practical and emotional

share the same pain points!?”

to better understand how its customers

goals and pain and delight points during

see and experience Council.

those life events.

Based on insights from a New Zealand

Simon Wong, Customer Experience

events, and contribute to Council’s long

Government initiative, an internal service

Improvement Digital Lead, said “Attending

term planning to improve end-to-end

design team considered the hypothesis

the workshops was really eye-opening,

customer experiences.

The next step is to group Council products and services under these life

that customers don’t really engage with government services unless a “life event” requires them to do so.

The team applied this perspective to a Local Government context, identifying 15 key life events that bring customers into contact with Council. These included: having a baby, sending children to school, starting a business, moving house, getting a pet, building or renovating a home, volunteering, immigrating and retiring. With the assistance of a design consultant,

Customer Experience Improvement project officers Vanessa Lau and Kate Delbridge work with consultant Kate McCready to map customer journeys.

New website puts customers first

›

Cardinia Shire Council has launched its new website www.cardinia.vic. gov.au with a major focus on putting the customer’s needs first.

The Council wanted the new website to become another branch of the customer service centre by giving residents the ability to do business online, 24/7. In short, it needed to take a step away from the typical Local Government website in Australia.

UK-based developer Jadu helped to deliver the website which was launched in mid January. The website is userfocused, accessible (WCAG AA compliant), transaction-based, responsive on all devices, and easily adaptable according to the time of year or enquiries being received

54 | PROFILE AUTUMN 2017

The website team faced a number of hurdles in delivering on the goals. All website content was rewritten and reworked with residents in mind - meaning it needed to be brief, accessible, and as jargon-free as possible. Hours of work also went into replacing many of the PDF forms with online forms and introducing online payment options. Customers can now complete and submit most forms entirely online, including signing the form, uploading supporting documents and making payments.

The team also ensured all existing third party online portals and products were integrated into the site as seamlessly as possible, which included reskinning the products to bring them in line with the clean new look.

Cardinia Shire Council’s digital transformation continues; there are several improvements and additional features now in the works. In mid 2017 the MyCardinia customer service portal will be launched, giving all residents and businesses in Cardinia Shire the ability to manage and track Council transactions and services.

Pauline Bennett & Krysten Evans

›

Pauline Bennett Pauline Bennett is the Manager Organisational Development at Whitehorse City Council and is an LGPro Board Member. She started working in Local Government in late 1999 at Nillumbik Shire Council and worked there for five years before moving to Manningham for two years, both as Manager Organisational Development (OD).

What she enjoys outside of work?

near Kilmore when I was working

for education for women, Judy

I love spending time at the beach

at Nillumbik.

Dench as she has had a varied and

or in the country in winter. We get down to Anglesea a bit and love walking on the beach and having

Something about her that may surprise people?

interesting career in cinema and TV and has a kindness about her and maybe Shannon Bennett (no relation

I speak and read Indonesian and

unfortunately) who can cook us

have written a book that was

a good meal and tell us about his

The most famous person she has met?

successfully published on Health

passion for fresh produce.

Moira Kelly – an inspirational woman

secondary students.

who adopted overseas children

What she enjoys most about her job?

Her last holiday destination?

Working with the amazing people

Fiji (although Japan looming very

in Local Government. We need to

soon in April).

convince our communities about

family and friends down to stay.

with severe disabilities and ensures that they receive treatment in Australia for their medical conditions.

and Human Relations for junior

Greensborough on building a house

Three famous people she would like to invite to dinner and why?

for her and her children at a farm

Malala Yousafzai – a passionate

I worked with the Rotary Club of

how committed we are to making their lives better.

young woman who is advocating

Krysten Evans

›

Krysten Evans is the Governance Advisor at Baw Baw Shire Council. She started her Local Government career in 2010 as a Community Development Officer, and was also Coordinator Healthy Children at Latrobe City Council.

Amusing situations she has faced at work?

Emotive, angry, elated (all different sorts of reactions) from community members in the Council Chamber, makes for a very interesting meeting.

One time there was a near brawl that escalated to the outside air bridge.

Her favourite film in recent times and why?

La La Land. Firstly, Ryan Gosling is my dream boat. But in all fairness the movie is such a beautifully filmed,

romantic-comedy-musical that has it all: amazing screenplay, direction, cinematography and performances! An amazing mesh of modern meets old time movie filled with good music, laughter, dancing, freedom and fun.

What really annoys her?

When there’s no chocolate left in the staff chocolate draw! Absolutely devastating! Oh and when I go to K-mart and it’s closed!

What three things she would take to a desert island?

Oh it’s a struggle between necessities and indulgences.

I think I would choose chocolate, a good book and my iPod.

Her worst job ever?

I used to work as a Debt Collector at GE money. It was a really great organisation to work for, but collecting debt from people in hardship everyday was pretty heart wrenching and challenging.

PROFILE AUTUMN 2017 | 55

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CALENDAR

Diary Dates PROGRAMS

PROGRAMS

LGP MASTERING MANAGEMENT

Connect with us at

LGProVIC

DATE

INFORMATION

The 2017 program has commenced.

Nominations for the 2018 program open in September

To equip and support senior executives in Local Government.

To learn more visit XLP

The 2017 program has commenced.

Nominations for the 2018 program open in September

For those who aspire to positions of leadership and to those who aspire to provide leadership in a particular area of interest in Local Government Victoria. To learn more visit ELP

Commences on Thursday 27 April

For Local Government Managers wanting to further develop their skills. To learn more visit Mastering Management

First program commences on Wednesday 3 May

Program for people working in outdoor roles to develop the competencies required to manage and lead people. To learn more visit Ignite for Outdoor Workers

Friday 28 April, LGPro office Tuesday 28 June, LGPro office

Designed for those who are new or recently appointed to the sector. To learn more visit Induction to Local Government

Tuesday 28 March

To help Local Government staff use new communication technologies to better engage with residents and communities.

To learn more visit Engaging Citizens

Wednesday 22 March (metro) Thursday 23 March (Gippsland regional)

Designed to provide anyone writing Council reports with a better understanding of what makes a good report. To learn more visit Local Government Report Writing

Tuesday 21 March

To support non-finance staff to perform their financial planning and reporting responsibilities. To learn more visit Core Financial Skills

Tuesday 9 May (regional, rural south west) Wednesday 17 May (metro)

To provide people working in non governance roles with a better understanding of governance and its importance to Councils. To learn more visit Good Decision Making

Thursday 11 May (metro) Thursday 25 May (regional Gippsland)

This program introduces career thinking and planning and management skills to Executive/Personal Assistants, Administrative Support Officers and Customer Service staff.

To learn more visit Thinking Career and Leadership

CONFERENCES

CONFERENCES/SEMINARS Wednesday 10 May, Rydges Melbourne, 186 Exhibition Street, Melbourne

For people working in Local Government who want to learn more about social media

Thursday 22 June, Melbourne Park Function Centre

This forum addresses the issues, opportunities and challenges facing women in the sector

Thursday 11 May

For CEOs to discuss issues of common interest

Thursday 22 June, Melbourne Park Function Centre

A networking dinner for women and men working in Local Government

Nominations open on Tuesday 14 March and close on Friday 5 May

A $10,000 educational scholarship open to all women aged 35 years and under who have demonstrated achievements in improving community life

Customer Service Award

Nominations open on Monday 24 April and close on Friday 30 June

This biennial award recognises an individual or team that has improved customer service within a Council

Aged & Disability Services Awards

Nominations open on Monday 22 May and close on Monday 24 July

These awards celebrate the success of individuals and teams working in the aged and disability services sector in Local Government

LGPro Women’s Professional Development Forum

EVENTS

EVENTS/ACTIVITIES

2017 LGPro Women’s Network Dinner

AWARDS

AWARDS

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