The introduction of an organisational framework for employment engagement at Wodonga Council has been the driving force behind building a dynamic organisational culture.
Organisational Excellence focuses on eight areas to build capacity for long-term organisational sustainability through customer-focused operational, financial and performance excellence.
This framework has created the foundation and involvement of staff-lead areas such as the Green Team that focuses on educational activities to assist staff to make informed choices for themselves and the environment.
The Above and Beyond initiative shows gratitude for hard-working staff, and the RALF (Relationships, Attitude, Learning and Fun) area organises staff social events.
The Health and Well-being Team provides staff with the tools and knowledge to improve their health and well-being.
Manager people and workplace Marni Jones, co-ordinator of Organisational Excellence, said the success of the framework was a result of the combined effort of balancing the diverse needs of the staff, community and their stakeholders.
“Everything we work towards is with the best interest of the community in mind.
“It needs to not only support a constructive and innovative culture for our staff but is financially responsible now and into the future.
“Striving for organisational excellence through this plan is a whole-of-council responsibility.
“It requires every person to contribute and become responsible for the outcomes. We want everyone to change their thinking from ‘me’ to ‘we’.”
The organisational plan is a living document that will be reviewed annually and measured.
Positive initiatives of the framework include all-staff forums that include guest speakers, workplace training and master classes; popular all-staff barbecues, increased functionality of internal communications and ongoing corporate and volunteer organisation alignment.
Ms Jones says the feedback from staff had been very encouraging and welcomed the commitment to continue employment engagement at a council and community level.
“We want the council to be known as forward-thinking, responsive and responsible.
“The great thing about Organisational Excellence is that it is adaptive.
“It has been designed to allow us to assess our outcomes and make changes when needed to move forward.”
