Growing demands placed on local Councils and resource centres in remote areas is highlighting a need to take a fresh look at building capacity among management as well as elected members. In many remote communities, the range of services delivered by one individual organisation or Council can exceed those delivered by the municipal Councils. As a result of location, many communities struggle to recruit and retain qualified staff for key roles.
With a significant cross cultural dimension and high expectations of compliance and sound financial management, it is old thinking to believe anyone can do the job. It is no longer accepted that capacity can be developed through periodic visits from government officials or through attending a one day workshop.
Recently there has been an effort to promote strong governance in Local Government. Much of this can seem irrelevant or a distant goal for those serving in remote areas. Due to the size of many remote organisations, management wrestles time between service delivery management, responding to daily interruptions and situations and compliance.
Management firm, Grosvenor McCorkell Pty Ltd recently launched a series of new services to remote Councils and resource centres in response to the need for increased capacity development of elected members and employed officers. Drawing from a proud record in remote Local Government management and a history in organisational development and change management for the private and not for profit sectors, Grosvenor McCorkell this year began offering remote Councils, resource centres and enterprises broader management services including:
- recovery management (assistance for organisations in financial or operation distress)
- remote contract management and training (Grant submission preparation, governance and management training)
- administration management and grant control (short term organisational management)
- temporary Chief Executive Officer placements.
Grosvenor McCorkell also offers Councils specialist forensic services – fraud and misconduct investigations and dispute management (investigation through to development of reports for litigation or dispute resolution) where Councils are in dispute with former employees.
In June 2005, Managing Partner, Tony McCorkell, announced the firm’s Management Partnership Program for remote organisations that were unable to finance long term management assistance. The Partnership Program offers Councils, resource centres and enterprises advice online and by telephone when needed.
Organisations are now able to take advantage of a ‘running partner’ to work through changes and issues with them as needed. This can cover any issue that arises throughout any day. This program is now being used not only to develop the capacity of the Chief Executive Officer but also to work with the elected members in some remote communities where the roles and responsibilities on a daily basis can become unclear. This is real action, real advice on real life situations that are faced in remote organisations.
For further information contact Tony McCorkell by email at tony.mccorkell@grosvenormccorkell.com, visit www.grosvenormccorkell.com.au or phone the Darwin office on (08) 8981 3471.
* Copy supplied by Grosvenor McCorkell
