Home » Developing our people

Developing our people

More employees than ever at City of Cockburn, Western Australia, are accessing inspirational workplace leadership training once reserved for supervisors attending traditional 1-2 day training courses.

Leadership Learning Modules is the City’s unique approach to providing continual development opportunities to its 1000 plus employees.

Human Resources Manager, Cliff McKinley, said employees were gaining an increased knowledge of Cockburn’s inclusive workplace culture, while reducing time spent away from the core work functions they were passionate about.

The 2-3 hour in-house modules catch employees at the awareness-raising stage of learning, giving an insight into the City’s models, frameworks, and processes and their associated consistent languages.

And employees are coming away from their training with increased knowledge via a more enjoyable training experience.

Learning & Development Coordinator, Sandra Morton, said, “We’ve found the short module approach makes it easier for participants to focus and be engaged for the whole session.

“This really improves their learning experience and maximises skill retention.”

The sessions cover a wide range of common leadership skills such as Building High Performance Teams, Delivering Presentations, Difficult Conversations, Bullying and Harassment, Diversity and Inclusion, Investigations – Focusing on the Right Things and Time Management.

They are supplemented by specialised modules facilitated by external experts on topics as diverse as Keeping Sane® In A Busy Workplace, Fatigue Management, Intro to Mindfulness and Intro to Emotional Intelligence.

Mr McKinley said the City still provided opportunities to attend longer 2-5 days training programs where necessary although the program’s success had resulted in less requests for longer, more expensive training.

“In such a large and diverse organisation, our module approach to learning has significantly improved the lack of consistency in how people issues are addressed.

“It’s led to an even better engaged and trusting culture.”

Digital Editions


  • Jack Iori honored by the Hills.

    Jack Iori honored by the Hills.

    The Hills Shire Council has officially named the grandstand at Kellyville Memorial Park Community Centre the Jack Iori Grandstand, recognising the enormous impact Jack Iori…

More News

  • Unwavering support and thanks in Bondi aftermath

    Unwavering support and thanks in Bondi aftermath

    Councils across NSW are being encouraged to continue to provide direct support for the Waverley community in the wake of December’s devastating terrorist attack at Bondi while Waverley has paid…

  • Redlands Koala population stable

    Redlands Koala population stable

    Redland City Council has become the first local government in south-east Queensland – and within the koala’s federally-listed northern endangered range – to report stabilisation of its city-wide koala population.…

  • Looking for “Red Fleet” Solutions

    Looking for “Red Fleet” Solutions

    The Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA) has met with NSW Emergency Services Minister the Hon Jihad Dib MP about the Red Fleet issue, which refers to local Councils currently…

  • Three small changes making big differences in grand programs

    Three small changes making big differences in grand programs

    Local government grant programs are designed to create community impact. Yet for many councils, the effectiveness of those programs is shaped less by intent and more by the processes that…

  • Alice skating program a success

    Alice skating program a success

    Free ice skating, packed programs and smiling faces have marked the end of a hugely successful school holiday program delivered through a partnership between Alice Springs Town Council, the Northern…

  • Supporting Waverley

    Supporting Waverley

    Councils across NSW are being encouraged to continue to provide direct support for the Waverley community in the wake of December’s devastating terrorist attack at Bondi. In the aftermath of…

  • New deputy for Liverpool

    New deputy for Liverpool

    Councillor Peter Harle has been elected Deputy Mayor of Liverpool City Council following the resignation of Cllr Dr Betty Green. Councillor Harle, who has served the office in the past,…

  • Erosion reef wins awards

    Erosion reef wins awards

    A West Australian-first coastal erosion research reef installed off C.Y. O’Connor Beach in 2022, reducing wave height and energy and blossoming into a thriving habitat, took out the 2025 WA…

  • More rehabilitation works for Coffs

    More rehabilitation works for Coffs

    Scores of local flood-damaged roads will be improved after the City of Coffs Harbour determined to expand rehabilitation works. An initial program of stabilisation works had already been approved for…

  • First-class Pump Track opens in Ballina

    First-class Pump Track opens in Ballina

    Ballina Shire Council is thrilled to announce the completion of the new Ballina Pump Track at Kingsford Smith Reserve in the heart of Ballina. Designed to national competition standards, the…