Inside Local Government
Understanding, Navigating and Partnering for Change
Overview
Local governments can be powerful partners in creating positive change in communities, but understanding how to work effectively with them isn't always straightforward.
Inside Local Government takes participants behind the scenes of local government to better understand how they work, how priorities are set and decisions are made, and where opportunities exist to influence and collaborate.
The course explores the people, politics, planning, policy and processes that shape local government. It equips participants with practical strategies for navigating local government structures, building the right relationships, aligning ideas with local priorities and developing stronger partnerships for community outcomes.
Participants will also explore the realities and constraints local governments operate within, helping them develop realistic asks and identify opportunities where collaboration can create mutual value.
Who should attend
This course is designed for social change agents, community workers, leaders and volunteers who want to engage and collaborate effectively with local governments. It is particularly relevant for people who who want to better understand, navigate and work with local government to influence priorities, build partnerships and achieve positive community outcomes.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, participants will be better equipped to:
Understand the local government landscape, including its role, responsibilities and the diversity of approaches across different councils.
Navigate local government structures and identify the right levels and people to engage with.
Understand how decisions are made, including the role of strategic planning, operational planning, budgets and Council processes.
Identify opportunities for influence by connecting their work and objectives with local government priorities.
Recognise the constraints local governments operate within and develop realistic approaches to engagement and advocacy.
Build stronger collaborative relationships by exploring what enables, and gets in the way of, effective partnerships.
Apply practical principles for partnership that support more effective collaboration and lasting community benefit.
Meet your Facilitator
Our course delivery is led by Founder and Principal, Sarah Janali. Sarah combines theory and practice to create fun, engaging learning experiences, practical tools, and frameworks. She has a reputation for fostering environments that enable practitioners to learn from each other.
Sarah brings deep experience working at the intersection of local government and community. She spent 15 years working inside local government and alongside communities, and for the past four years has worked as an independent consultant, supporting local governments, community organisations and communities to work together to achieve positive social outcomes.
Sarah is a Churchill Fellow, having undertaken international research exploring the role of local governments in fostering welcoming and inclusive communities. She also holds a Master of Arts in Community Development.
Her training draws on this mix of practical experience, research and community development practice to give participants an insider's understanding of local government, while keeping a strong focus on relationships, collaboration and community outcomes.