South Gippsland has declared itself Australia’s first ‘Learning Shire’, joining many other communities across the world that have embraced this learning concept.
South Gippsland Mayor, Councillor Jeanette Harding, said Council was proud to be involved in such a wonderful initiative.
“South Gippsland Shire has a proud history of developing smart education collaborations,” she said.“This project reinforces Council’s commitment to life long learning for our community.”
She added that life long learning promotes strong communities, better placed to attract new business.
“Becoming a Learning Shire promotes economic development, assists to create employment and provides learning opportunities for all members of the community,” Councillor Harding said. “Council is committed to providing leadership to the community, emphasising that learning is at the heart of our social and economic development.
“We believe that the economic well being of our community is greatly aided by having a workforce that has the opportunity to enhance their existing work related skills.”
The South Gippsland community recently joined in celebrating the initiative at the inaugural South Gippsland Learning Shire Expo. Launched by the Victorian Minister for Housing, Aged Care and Community Building, Bronwyn Pike, the expo involved a range of education providers, including preschools, primary and secondary institutions, sport and volunteer groups.
A series of educational workshops were booked out across the Shire.
Minister Pike said the expo was a wonderful initiative that gave local people the chance to learn more about a range of educational courses and programs.
“This expo is a terrific example of what the South Gippsland community has to offer,” the Minister said. “Learning, in whatever shape or form, benefits people in so many ways, like boosting confidence, making new friends and improving workplace skills.”
South Gippsland Shire Council also encourages staff development, with Council staff recently competing in a Team Management Challenge, inspired by the annual Australasian Local Government Management Challenge (ALGMC).
South Gippsland is believed to be the first Council to apply the Management Challenge inhouse. Council’s CEO, Peter Bull was thrilled with the enthusiasm of staff towards the inhouse Challenge.
“This was a great opportunity for staff to apply their lateral thinking to situations that could actually occur in their workplace,” he said. “I was impressed by the way they responded to the challenge and used the experience to develop professionally.”
The program drew strongly on concepts and methods applied in the ALGMC, combining competitive aspects with management learning.
Facilitator of Council’s Management Challenge and the ALGMC, Mach II Director, Mark McKenzie-McHarg, said the inhouse Challenge provided a competitive environment for participants to learn about themselves, acquire practical management skills, and experience team challenges and dynamics under pressure.
“The high standard of staff performance reflects positively on the benefits of Council’s continuing investment in innovative staff development and training programs,” he said. For further information contact Peter Bull, telephone (03) 5662 9296.
