There's more on each of the nominees at the end of this post.
During Hayley’s time with Glenelg Shire Council, she has developed and nurtured many youth programs, such as our ‘12:25’ youth café, a local youth summit, and ‘Skittles’, our social support group for same-sex attracted and gender diverse young people. Hayley pioneered our council’s use of community-driven service plans, which has had a lasting impact on Council’s approach to community, and in particular youth, engagement. Hayley designed and ran an extensive, Shire-wide youth engagement project called ‘Voices and Choices’, which surveyed young people about topics including wellbeing, civic engagement, their view of Council, and the activities they would like Youth Services to support. Mindful of the particular challenges associated with being in a large, rural Shire with an incredibly diverse population, Hayley ensured everyone had the opportunity to contribute their ideas, particularly those who often face challenges in being heard or advocating for themselves
2 projects Yvonne has worked on as part of the Learn for Life Community Literacy Plan:
The Reading Bug Egg was a collaborative project funded primarily by CHETCC, and delivered by Rural Health Tasmania’s HIPPY program. The project was essentially a reading challenge which built a narrative around the ‘Egg’ and got the community excited about reading. By the time of its conclusion just under 3000 books had been read, and wide ranging community recognition had been achieved. Circular Head Council was acknowledged with a Local Government Award for Excellence in 2016 in the Small Councils category this project. The Tunnerminnerwait project told the story of a local indigenous man who was involved in resistance fighting against European settlement in the 19th Century. The project by the local secondary school engaged students in an aspect of our history that is not widely known and would not have been made possible without the support and seed funding from Council.
I have a passion for connecting the community I serve by empowering people and activating places through creative and sustainable business models.
Having worked previously in the private sector, running sport and recreation facilities for a profit, I am well aware of the high importance required in being a good financial steward of finances. Local Government is in a period of time whereby the stewardship of finances, and subsequent ability to be financial fit for the future, is imperative to ensuring a sustainable and prosperous future for the delivery of services to our communities.
Stephanie has shown significant development and leadership, particularly in enabling Councils vision for engaging with its community through innovative and modern practice communication practices. Stephanie has lead Councils communications team to ensure that consistent and timely information is provided to residents and ratepayers, in a personable and genuine way.
Stephanie has had a strong 12 months, testing her project delivery abilities, through the planning and implementation of Councils new brand, web site and associated systems/processes. Stephanie was required to utilise and develop mature change management approaches to ensure the ongoing success of Council's investment and that
the Community, businesses and visitors associate with Council's brand.
My internal desire for increased leadership in my organisation extends much broader than
my own existence. It is this awareness that leads me to believe that the more I am able to
influence and develop my peers, the better the organisation will be for both employees and the broader community. I have witnessed this first hand with such a small call-to-action I made to the WHS Committee of Newcastle City Council just last year. Watching our Waste Facility's Health and Safety Representative embrace the concept of RUOK? Day and present to a male dominated workforce on the concept of depression and suicide, particularly for men, has proven to me that to invoke change, just a small spark has to be
ignited.