The role of every member of staff at Sydney City Council will include the task of city ambassador as visitors flood in for the Olympics this month. Anticipating this, Sydney City Council introduced a staff induction program last December.
Dubbed City Safari, the program has already received acclaim from the Institute of Municipal Management, winning for Council the Gold Award for Progress and Staff Development.
City Safari comprises a three CD set which provides staff with the City’s mission and objectives, and gives up to date information on the City’s programs and services via a virtual reality tour. Staff can access City Safari via the organisation’s Intranet.
Deputy General Manager Cliff Haynes said City Safari has been an invaluable induction tool, particularly in the lead up to the Olympics.
He said the City has undergone an intensive ‘building mode’ over the past four years. In the minds of some members of the public, this has created disruption to their every day lives.
However, by keeping all staff informed of Council’s works programs and services, the public can readily be informed of the progress of works and the long term benefits.
Following the ‘building mode’, came the ‘city care mode’. Cliff Haynes said Sydney is now embarking on the ‘event mode’ where Council will provide a 24 hour a day operations centre, additional street and maintenance crew shifts, and extended call centre hours.
Keeping tabs on Council operations during this intense activity has been possible for Council’s 720 staff members, new and old, with the assistance of City Safari.
Council has an annual staff turnover of 15 per cent, so City Safari has been a great asset in new staff inductions.
Available to staff since December last year, City Safari presents information in an interesting and fun format. Celebrity Julie McCrossin features on the program, assisted by an animated character called Bobcat. The benefits of City Safari are ongoing.
Staff will continue to access Council’s key corporate directions, staff development, occupational health and safety issues, and motivational tools long after the last Olympic visitor has gone home.
