Total Work Cover Days Lost Worplace Injuries - Baw Baw Shire ...

Baw Baw Shire Council : Annual Report 2008/20099697Total Work Cover Days LostWork Cover Days LostDays Lost600500437 447466400300200140100005/06 06/07 07/08 08/09Days calculated on 7.6 hour standard work dayWorkplace InjuriesInjuries reportedWorplace Injuries80 7470636050434035302010005/06 06/07 07/08 08/09Work CoverIn 2008/2009 Baw Baw Shire Council had belowstate average Work Cover claims and hours lost.While the number of recorded workplace injurieswas slightly up on last year, the hours lost toWork Cover were significantly down on previousyears. (See graphs right)According to Council’s insurer Baw Baw ShireCouncil incurred five minor and eight standardWork Cover claims during 2008/2009, slightly upon four minor and five standard claims in 2007-2008.However, Council paid out $55,189 in workerscompensation in the 2007/2008 financial year andonly $8,930 in 2008-2009 as the claims were formuch less severe incidents.This was a very good result for 2008/2009,testament to Council’s efforts in providing a safework environment and working intensively withinjured workers to get them back on their feet assoon as possible.Insurance AuditsCouncil’s insurance scheme managers havechanged from annual audits to every two yearsfollowing a review of their process.This year Council was subject to a full audit byour public and professional liability scheme,Civic Mutual Plus. The state rankings from theseaudits will now be released every two years sowe will determine our position in all schemes in2010.The challenge from the Civic Mutual Plus audit isto implement actions identified in the audit reportthat will improve processes and systems in orderto minimise or limit risks and exposure to claims.InsuranceA challenge for the current year was to review ourapproach to recording and assessing the insuredvalue of building contents. This is yet to beimplemented and will be one of the areas of focusin 2009/10.

Baw Baw Shire Council : Annual Report 2008/20099899Organisation StructureChief Executive OfficerDavid PowellDirector Planning &Information:Phil StoneDirector CorporateDevelopment:Phil DrummondDirector Infrastructure& Environment:Vito AlbiciniDirector CommunityDevelopment:Debbie SalibaExecutive Management Team (L-R) Vito Albicini, Phil Drummond, Debbie Saliba, Phil Stone and David PowellKey PeopleInformationTechnology ServicesBusiness InformationStrategic PlanningDevelopmentApprovalsLocal LawEnvironmental HealthImmunisationSchool CrossingsBuilding ServicesBusiness ExcellenceCorporate PlanningHuman ResourceManagementOccupational Health &SafetyOrganisationDevelopmentCustomer ServiceRisk ManagementCommunications &MediaFinance & RevenueLibrariesCapital WorksContractingEmergencyManagementEnvironmentalManagementFleet MaintenanceParks & UrbanServicesRoad ManagementTechnical ServicesFleet ManagementBuilding MaintenanceFamily & Children'sServicesWest Gippsland ArtsCentreAged & DisabilityServicesCommunity Planning &DevelopmentRecreationEnvironment &SustainabilityProgramsTourismEconomic DevelopmentEvents ManagementMarketing & PromotionArts & CulturalDevelopmentDavid PowellChief Executive OfficerContact 03 5624 2420 or emaildavid.powell@bawbawshire.vic.gov.auDavid is responsible for the overall performance of theorganisation. His key responsibilities are to develop andmaintain an appropriate organisation structure and systems,recruit and develop staff, manage the relationship betweenthe elected Councillors and the organisation, and to developstrong relationships with the community, external agencies,the media and other levels of government to ensure the bestoutcomes for the Baw Baw community.David has worked in local government for more than thirtyyears including stints in regional Victoria at Shire of Narracanbefore amalgamation, Latrobe City Council, NillumbikShire Council, and most recently in Bayside City Council inmetropolitan Melbourne.He holds tertiary qualifications in business and engineeringand has worked across a broad range of local governmentfunctions.In his current role as CEO of Baw Baw Shire Council, Davidhas returned to work in the community in which he and hiswife have lived since the early 1980s.

Baw Baw Shire Council : Annual Report 2008/2009100101Phil DrummondDirector Corporate DevelopmentContact 03 5624 2521 or emailphil.drummond@bawbawshire.vic.gov.auPhil’s role is to lead the team that provides support services to theorganisation. The corporate development division provides financialmanagement, revenue collection, communication, risk management, humanresource management, customer service, governance and organisationaldevelopment services to the organisation. It supports and leads the focus ofthe organisation on continuous improvement. Phil also represents Councilon the board of the West Gippsland Regional Library Corporation.Phil’s qualifications include: Bachelor of Business; Graduate CertificateHuman Resource Management; Graduate Certificate Business Admin.Phil has been working in local government for 22 years, initially in financeand administration roles. Phil worked for the former Shire of Narracan priorto council amalgamations and has been with Baw Baw since inception in1994. He has filled senior human resource management and organisationaldevelopment roles whilst at Baw Baw and has been in his current role for 3½years.Phil StoneDirector Planning and InformationContact (03) 5624 2543 or emailphil.stone@bawbawshire.vic.gov.auPhil’s role is to lead a diverse group of services including Planning andDevelopment, Business Information and Technology services for Council. Hisportfolio includes delivery of the land use planning projects and planningscheme amendments, planning and statutory permits and communitycompliance functions. He is also responsible for delivery of the informationservices strategic plan, knowledge and information management andstrategic technology projects.Phil’s accomplishments include serving with the Australian Army inCambodia for the United Nations, managing professional services teams inthe commercial and health sectors.Phil holds qualifications in business, data communications and IT, and is anadvocate for business-focussed, contemporary management practices. Hehas a passion for improving service delivery through transparency, honestyand good old-fashioned customer service.Debbie SalibaDirector Community DevelopmentContact (03) 5624 2412 or emaildebbie.saliba@bawbawshire.vic.gov.auDebbie leads a diverse team of 5 managers who oversee 13 businessunits and 150 staff. Business units cover economic development, tourism,marketing, events management, arts and cultural development, communityengagement and planning, environmental management, community care,family and children’s services, the West Gippsland Arts Centre and recreationand leisure, including Baw Baw’s seven pools and the Warragul LeisureCentre.Debbie has seven years of local government experience and 18 years ofprivate sector experience generally in management positions across sectorsincluding manufacturing, agriculture and real estate.With post graduate qualifications in Business Excellence and diplomasin Business Management, Workplace Assessment and Training andOrganisational Self Assessment Debbie has a strong focus on leadership andcontinuous improvement.Vito AlbiciniDirector InfrastructureContact (03) 5624 2500Vito left Baw Baw Shire Council in August 2009Vito leads a large team that strives to provide quality infrastructure to meetCouncil’s service needs. Vito’s team is responsible for capital planningand delivery, asset management, property management, infrastructuremaintenance, waste management, land care / weed management,park management, emergency response management, transportationmanagement, drainage management, capital works, infrastructurestandards, street cleaning, public toilet management and engineeringservices.Vito has 18 years experience in local government previously working forKnox City Council, Kingston City Council, Whitehorse City Council and SwanHill Rural City Council. Vito has a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) GraduateDiploma of Municipal Engineering and a MBA.Vito has vast experience in asset Management, Operations Management,Contract Management, Project Management, Construction Management andFacility Management.

102Executive UnitCorporate DevelopmentInfrastructure & EnvironmentPlanning & InformationCommunity Living & DevelopmentBaw Baw Shire Council : Annual Report 2008/2009103Employees by DirectorateEmployees by GenderEmployee OpinionCouncil conducted the annual employee opinionsurvey in February 2009.Organisations throughout Australia andinternationally have used the same survey asBaw Baw Shire Council. Through best practicebenchmarking we are able to compare ourperformance with other organisations in thefollowing areas:• Leadership & Innovation• Strategy & Planning• Processes Data, Information & Knowledge• People• Customer & Market Focus• Processes, Products & Services• Business ResultsMany staff members went to considerableeffort to share their thoughts about how areasof Baw Baw Shire Council could be improved.Such suggestions included increased incentiveschemes, stronger leadership, communication,cooperation between divisions and careeropportunities. This information will beparticularly helpful in improving the means bywhich Baw Baw Shire Council attracts new staffand encourages them to stay.Baw Baw Shire Council is performing consistentlyacross the seven key survey categories, withtwo of the seven categories in the top 25% whencompared with other surveyed organisations.These are ‘People’ and ‘Customer and MarketFocus’. Two further categories came in the top50%: ‘Leadership & Innovation’ and ‘Strategy andPlanning Processes’. The remaining categoriesfell in the lower 50% when compared with thedatabase.On a scale of 1 – 7 overall staff satisfaction atBaw Baw Shire Council was measured as 5.03. (1being very unsatisfied and 7 being very satisfied)Baw Baw Shire Council’s leadership team usesthe survey data to continuously improve the waystaff members work, relate to each other anddeliver high quality and responsive service to thecommunity.Employees by DirectorateEmployees by GenderExecutive UnitCorporate DevelopmentInfrastructure & EnvironmentPlanning & InformationCommunity Living & DevelopmentEmployees by Position TypeCustomer Service Officer Debbie GilesFemaleMaleEmployees by Position TypeEmployees by Position TypeMaleFemaleFull TimeCategory 1Part TimeFull Time 152CasualPart Time 148Casual 62Employees by GenderCouncil’s Park’s and gardens team.RecruitmentA need was identified for a more efficient processfor the recruitment and selection of staff.Currently Council’s process is time consuming,the process is sometimes difficult and somerequirements are unclear for both managers andthe Human Resources team.Council commenced reviewing the recruitmentpolicy and procedures and begun thedevelopment of a resource guide to be completedearly in the new financial year. The new policyand recruitment guide will be supported withrecruitment education sessions for all managers.Skilled Staff Attraction & RetentionCouncil is faced with the challenge of attractingand retaining staff, especially in our skillsshortages areas:• Strategic and statutory plannersFull Time •Part Time •EngineersQualified accountantsCasual • Environmental health officers• Building surveyorsAlong with continued workforce and successionplanning, a ‘Retention and Attraction’ strategywill be developed over the coming financial yearto tackle staff retention in shortage areas so thatBaw Baw Shire Council will have the necessaryskilled employees to deliver the servicesexpected and required by the community.

Baw Baw Shire Council : Annual Report 2008/2009104Developing StaffOrganisation Development Business PlanAfter extensive consultation with business unitsacross the organisation over the past year, theOrganisation Development team finalised a threeyear business plan. The plan identifies a rangeof strategic improvements to be implementedacross the organisation including:• a staff attraction and retention strategy• corporate learning and development strategy• leadership development and workforceplanning initiativesA number of internal processes have also beentargeted for review to improve communication ofinformation, efficiency and ease of process, andto effectively manage risk.Flexible Work ArrangementsTo promote a healthy work/life balance andsupport a family-friendly work culture, flexiblework arrangements were introduced as an optionfor staff with parental and/or care responsibilitiesin accordance with recent changes to Victoria’sEqual Opportunity Act.Processes have been established whereby a staffrequest for a flexible work arrangement may beconsidered, such as varying work hours, applyingfor part time work or purchasing additional leave.Flexible work arrangements have supportedsome staff in their gradual transition back intothe workforce after maternity leave and haveprovided flexible options for staff to balance theirwork and family responsibilities.Health and Wellbeing ProgramBaw Baw Shire Council is committed to ensuringhealthy living is a priority for all our staff. Counciloffers a range of activities that encourageemployees to participate in well-being programsand initiatives. The aims of the Baw Baw ShireCouncil Health and Wellbeing program are:• To develop, implement and evaluate aneffective health and wellbeing programthroughout the organisation.• To provide a range of health resources andinformation designed to educate and motivateemployees to improve their health .• To provide a variety of activities and programsdesigned to bring balance to the workplaceand cater for the diverse needs and interestsof staff in the organisation.• To focus on achieving sustainable change forbetter health Health and wellbeing. and Wellbeing• To encourage healthy eating and to makehealthy eating options available to staff.The health and wellbeing calendar of eventswas developed in consultation with staff and waspromoted across the organisation. The programwas extremely popular this year with over 90% ofemployees participating in the program - 90% ofwhom rated the program as good or very good.The most popular activities for this year includedhealthy soup lunches and fruit baskets, pilatesand aerobics classes. Some memorable eventswere the health information sessions, Walk-to-Work day, Movember and the corporate triathlon.(see page 105)Satisfaction 2008-2009Staff and Councillors enjoyed the competition at the 2009Corporate Triathlon.Case Study: Corporate TriathlonBackgroundThe inaugural Baw Baw Shire Wild Dog TriathlonClub Corporate Triathlon was held on Saturday 28February 2009 in Warragul. Twenty teams foughtit out in either a relay or a team event, comprisingathletes representing local businesses andschools. Many of the teams (including Baw Baw)recruited members new to the sport, along withseasoned tri-athletes who were keen to representtheir organisation.ResultsHealth and WellbeingSatisfaction 2008-2009Health & Wellbeing Satisfaction 08/09 Health & Wellbeing Participation 08/09Health & Wellbeing ProgramParticpation 2008-2009Very GoodGoodAveragePoorVery PoorThe team event consisted of three people who allcompleted the 300m swim, 12 km bike ride and3 km run course. The relay team had it a littleeasier, with each member of the team completingone leg of the race.Very GoodGoodAveragePoorVery PoorHealth & Wellbeing ProgramParticpation 2008-2009ParticipationNon ParticpationBaw Baw Shire fielded four staff teams and twocouncillors also competed.The triathlon was a great success, encouragingthe local corporate community to be physicallyactive, with many participants competing for thefirst time. In the past local teams have travelledto Melbourne to compete, but a now great eventis hosted locally.The FutureThrough the Health & Well-being Programworkplaces are being encouraged to start gettingteams together and training for the event whichwill be held in 2010.105ParticipationNon Particpation

Baw Baw Shire Council : Annual Report 2008/2009106107Statutory InformationWhistle blowersThe Whistleblowers Protection Act 2001 (theAct) is designed to protect people (known aswhistleblowers) who come forward with adisclosure about improper conduct by publicbodies or public sector employees.Baw Baw Shire Council does not tolerateimproper conduct by its employees orcouncillors, nor the taking of reprisals againstthose who come forward to disclose suchconduct.Improper conduct means:• corrupt conduct• a substantial mismanagement of publicresources• conduct involving substantial risk to publichealth or safety• conduct involving substantial risk to theenvironmentThe Act requires that the above conduct would,if proved, be a criminal offence or constitutereasonable grounds for dismissal.Making a disclosure under the ActA disclosure is an allegation or report ofimproper conduct. A disclosure may bemade verbally or in writing and may bemade anonymously. If a disclosure is madeanonymously, it is important that it includessufficient details and evidence to enable thematter to be investigated.A copy of Council’s current establishedprocedures relating to a disclosure is available onits website.During 2008/09 there were:• no disclosures made to Council• no disclosures referred by Council to theombudsman for determination• no disclosures referred by the ombudsman toCouncil• no disclosures referred by Council to theombudsman to investigate• no disclosures taken over by the ombudsmanto investigate• no requests made under Section 74 for theombudsman to investigate disclosed matters• no matters that Council has declined toinvestigate• no disclosed matters that were substantiatedon completion of investigations• no recommendations of the ombudsmanunder this Act to CouncilInformation Availablefor InspectionFreedom of InformationThe Freedom of Information Act 1982 gives thecommunity a legally enforceable right to applyfor access to documents held by Council. Thisaccess is limited only by the application ofexceptions and exemptions provided for under thelegislation.A valid request for access must be in writing, beaccompanied by payment of the application feeand must provide enough information to enablethe documents to be identified.All requests for access are handled by Council'sfreedom of information officer who will alsoprovide assistance to the applicant in accordancewith the provisions of the FOI Act.Information available for inspectionThe following information is available forinspection at the Civic Centre, Civic Place,Warragul. For further details, pleasecontact Council’s Governance Coordinator on03 5624 2478.(a) details of current allowances fixed for theMayor and Councillors under Section 74 or 74A ofthe Act(b) details of senior officers' total salary packagesfor the current financial year and the previousyear including the gross salary, the amountof the Council or employer contribution tosuperannuation, the value of any motor vehicleprovided by the Council and the total value of anyother benefits and allowances provided by theCouncil(c) details of overseas or interstate travel (withthe exception of interstate travel by land for lessthan 3 days) undertaken in an official capacity byCouncillors or any member of Council staff in theprevious 12 months, including the names of theCouncillors or members of Council staff and thedate, destination, purpose and total cost of theoverseas or interstate travel(d) names of Council officers who were requiredto submit a return of interest during the financialyear and the dates the returns were submitted(e) names of Councillors who submitted returnsof interest during the financial year and the datesthe returns were submitted(f) agendas for and minutes of ordinary andspecial meetings held in the previous 12 monthskept under Section 93 of the Act except if theminutes relate to parts of meetings which havebeen closed to members of the public underSection 89 of the Act(g) a list of all special committees establishedby Council and the purpose for which eachcommittee was established(h) a list of all special committees established bythe Council which were abolished or ceased tofunction during the financial year(i) minutes of meetings of special committeesestablished under section 86 of the Act and heldin the previous 12 months except if the minutesrelate to parts of meetings which have beenclosed to members of the public under Section 89of the Act(j) a register of delegations kept under Sections87, 88 and 98 of the Act, including the date onwhich the last review under Section 98(6) of theAct took place(k) submissions received in accordance withSection 223 of the Act during the previous 12months(l) agreements to establish regional librariesunder Section 196 of the Act(m) details of all property, finance and operatingleases involving land, buildings, plant, computerequipment or vehicles entered into by the Councilas lessor or lessee, including the name of theother party to the lease and the terms and thevalue of the lease(n) a register of authorised officers appointedunder Section 224 of the Act(o) a list of donations and grants made by theCouncil during the financial year, including thenames of persons or bodies which have receiveda donation or grant and the amount of eachdonation or grant(p) a list of the names of the organisations ofwhich the Council was a member during thefinancial year and details of all membership feesand other amounts and services provided duringthat year to each organisation by the Council(q) a list of contracts valued at $100 000 ormore which the Council entered into duringthe financial year without first engaging in acompetitive process and which are not contractsreferred to in Section 186(5) of the Act(r) Councillor Code of Conduct, and(s) Register of Councillor Expenses andEntitlements.

Baw Baw Shire Council : Annual Report 2008/2009108109National Competition Policy Compliance: 2008-09Certification by Chief Executive OfficerBaw Baw Shire Council has complied with the requirements of the National CompetitionPolicy (NCP) for the period 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009, in accordance with the requirementsoutlined in National Competition Policy and Local Government – A Revised Statement ofVictorian Government Policy, December 2008 (2008 Statement) as set out below:Financial Report2008/2009A. Trade Practices ComplianceState whether the Council is compliant or non-compliant. Ifnon-compliant, justify or cite actions to redress.B. Local Laws ComplianceState whether the Council is compliant or non-compliant. Listall local laws made or remade during 2008-09 which impose arestriction on competition:C. Competitive Neutrality ComplianceState whether the Council is compliant or non-compliant for allsignificant businesses. List any significant businesses that arenon-compliant:CompliantCompliantCompliantI certify that:a) this statement has been prepared in accordance with the 2008-2009 National CompetitionPolicy reporting guidelines, which is pursuant to the 2008 Statement; andb) this statement presents fairly the Council’s implementation of the National CompetitionPolicy.Signed:David PowellChief Executive OfficerDate:16.09.09