At the 2008 Local Government Managers Australia National Congress at the Gold Coast,
Local Government FOCUS invited delegates to nominate individuals or teams from their council who are improving their council’s operations or enhancing service delivery within their community.
In this edition, we showcase the final two of our high achievers for 2008.
Rick Henke, Youth Centre Coordinator,
City of Salisbury, South Australia
Located 25 kilometres north of Adelaide in South Australia, around 20 per cent of the City of Salisbury’s population of 117,000 people are aged between 12 and 25 years. With a significant level of disadvantage in the City, these young people require additional support, other than entertainment and activities.
Salisbury Councillor, Alex Coates, said the City’s Youth Centre Coordinator, Rick Henke, has stepped up to this challenge.
“Rick came to Salisbury around two years ago after working for a not for profit community services organisation in the Murray Mallee,” he said. “He was charged with managing a new and unestablished youth centre, building it up from scratch. He got on top of this very quickly, engaging with local service providers to initiate educational and entertainment programs, as well as housing referrals, food packages and so forth.
“Two years on, the centre now has over 55 volunteers and is booked out seven days a week for youth, educational and general activities. Rick relates well with the young people and youth engagement has gone from strength to strength under him.”
Council has invested more than $1 million in developing the infrastructure for Twelve25 – Salisbury Youth Enterprise Centre. With around 3,500 to 4,000 people passing through the doors every month, it is not only a place for youth services, but is home to community radio station PBA-FM, and a number of activities and meeting places for adults.
With regard to youth services, Twelve25 delivers development programs that enhance social interaction, education, employment and enterprise opportunities. It also supports a Case Management Youth Support Service. This includes working with Centrelink, and providing advice on legal issues, personal problems, drug and alcohol issues, housing and other problem solving.
Rick said the level of disadvantage in the area is a key challenge that the centre aims to overcome.
“There is a growing demand for employees, but many of our young people don’t have the skills to fill the vacancies,” he said. “There are also a lot of social challenges for youth throughout our northern suburbs, such as intergenerational unemployment, significant levels of disengagement from schools, lack of housing opportunities, pressure from peers to conform to bad behaviour, a lack of Year 12 completion, plus drug, alcohol and health issues.
“Council has a role in advocacy and a unique opportunity to look and think strategically. Even if we don’t have the solution, we do have the capacity to be advocates on an issue, and we attempt to refer people to other relevant service providers whenever we cannot solve a problem ourselves.”
With regard to employment and education, the centre works in partnership with schools to improve retention levels, and where a young person has disengaged from school will offer an approved FLO (flexible learning opportunities) program, which delivers practical, hands on education to small groups.
The centre also partners with local and regional organisations to run employment initiatives, such as hospitality courses, to move people into employment very quickly.
Rick Henke said this is very satisfying.
“You work with someone very closely over four to six weeks, and the success of moving them from unemployment is not just about finding a job, it is about improving their self esteem and creating circumstances that will see them financially stable,” he said. “It really is a life changing transformation.”
With only three staff members, Rick Henke said Twelve25 is highly reliant on volunteers, and provides opportunities for them to develop skills to achieve their own goal of moving into employment.
“So far this calendar year, 19 volunteers have moved from volunteering with us into jobs,” he said. “We provide opportunities for them to develop their skills and access low cost training and they work in all roles, from reception and administration to the delivery of programs and venue management.
“Our oldest volunteer is over 60 and the youngest 15 years old.”
Family Day Care Coordination Unit,
City of Wagga Wagga, New South Wales
Located in southern New South Wales on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River, the City of Wagga Wagga covers almost 5,000 square kilometres and is home to more than 57,000 residents.
Council’s General Manager, Lyn Russell, nominated the Family Day Care Coordination Unit to appear in FOCUS as a result of its tremendous service to the community.
“They are a bright and happy group and are great role models to the rest of the organisation,” she said. “Their customer service is exemplary. Dealing with the public on a regular basis, Council receives nothing but positive feedback about them.”
Established in Wagga Wagga in 1976, Family Day Care provides quality, home based childcare within the municipality. It is a Federal Government initiative that is auspiced and delivered locally with the support of Coordination Units.
Wagga Wagga’s Coordination Unit comprises a Service Manager, Carer Family Liaison Officer, Child Development Officers, Playsession Leader, Administrative Coordinator and Administrative Assistants.
Service Manager Kristy Lyons oversees the running of the service. She said carers register through the Coordination Unit and Council then ensures that both they and their home environment meet necessary State and Federal requirements.
“We also provide carers with support and training to ensure a quality childcare service is provided,” she said. “For example, Coordination Unit members regularly visit a carer’s home to guide them on educational programming and appropriate routines for children.
“We also host playsessions each week during school terms, which provide a range of activities, such as craft, music, outdoor play and language experiences. Playsessions provide children with an opportunity to interact with other children in a larger group, while also giving carers an opportunity to exchange information and gain new resources and ideas.”
Kristy Lyons said the provision of childcare on an inhome basis is a great initiative, as it allows siblings to be cared for together, and also enables children to socialise with children from other families.
“By nurturing children in a safe and healthy childcare environment, surrounded with opportunities to make choices in a fun way, children will learn and grow to become positive individuals within our community,” she said.
“It is also a great opportunity for families looking to work from home. Each carer can care for up to five under school aged children and up to seven children under 12.
“Wagga Wagga has over 80 registered carers throughout the local area that are able to provide families with flexible childcare arrangements, including full time, part time, weekend and public holiday care, as well as before and after school care, emergency, overnight, respite and casual care.
“However it is an ongoing challenge to provide enough spaces for the number of children needing care. To overcome this, we are constantly promoting Family Day Care, holding regular information sessions to encourage new carers to sign up.
“We get out in the community, attending playsession venues, community events and shopping malls, and we also hold open days, to show potential carers how the system works.”
Kristy Lyons said the diversity within the team is what makes being a part of it so enjoyable.
“You never know what to expect,” she said. “No day is the same and the role constantly provides stimulating challenges that keep it interesting.”
Kristy believes the team are great communicators, which is key to their success.
“We are also a very supportive team, and there is always someone to provide support, whether it be in a work or nonwork related capacity.
“We keep each day fun, but get down to business and are serious when we need to be.”
