CoS_TeamBrief_August_2023

Team Brief

August 2023 Djilba | First Spring

New CEO appointed to the helm Learn about Stev Rodic's insights on sustained success and how they link to rowing.

Trackless tram set to arrive Plans to showcase an Australian first in transport to our community.

Employee spotlight Get to know Dijana Miloseski, our Customer Experience Team Leader.

...And access for all How teamwork has made inroads into pedestrian safety for the vision impaired.

Message from the CEO

Dear Team Stirling, I am delighted to congratulate our very own Director Planning and Development, Stev on his appointment as the City’s incoming Chief Executive Officer. Stev started his career at Stirling more than 25 years ago and has been an integral part of the City’s Executive Team since 2019, significantly contributing to our outstanding success in recent years.

I am sure that those of you who have been privileged to work alongside Stev will attest to him being a passionate and inspiring leader. He understands that Team Stirling is the heart of our successful organisation and is committed to working together, trusting one another and striving for excellence.

of 96 per cent, I am excited to see the City continue to thrive under Stev’s competent, passionate leadership as he builds on our sector-leading performance. I look forward to seeing you at our November Employee Briefings where we will celebrate our achievements of the past year and look ahead to a new era at Stirling. Regards, Stuart.

As we celebrate the City’s highest ever community satisfaction rating

Safer at Stirling: ‘Man up’ is not the answer Whether it’s due to a desire to appear strong,

Paul said a collective effort is needed to create a stigma-free society but there is something we can all do to help. "One small but impactful action is to actively listen and validate men’s emotions without judgment," he said. "When a man opens up about his feelings or struggles, offering empathy and understanding can make a significant difference." To learn more about Men’s Talk, visit www.mtalk.com.au The City has a range of services for employees to access, including contacts for immediate help and the Employee Assistance Program. For more information, email safer@stirling.wa.gov.au

the pressure to ‘man up’, or simply not being able to find the right words to express how they feel, many men are still choosing to remain silent and not seek help about their mental health. Men’s Talk President Paul Litwin said traditional gender norms often discourage men from expressing emotions and seeking help. "The notion that men must be stoic, tough, and self-reliant fosters a toxic environment that undermines emotional vulnerability and self care," he said. "This stigma also affects men's interactions with healthcare

providers. They may encounter dismissive attitudes or inadequate understanding of their unique challenges, further dissuading them from seeking support. "As a result, untreated mental health issues can escalate, impacting personal relationships, work performance, and overall quality of life."

2

City news

Meet the new CEO Director Planning and Development Stev Rodic was announced as CEO earlier this month. In his current office hangs a picture of a surf boat and some rowers guided by a sweep, the same one that is on the cover of this month’s Team Brief. Stev shared how he believes this image can represent what we are trying to do as a local government organisation. "Each rower is looking at their oar with their back to the waves – they can't see what is coming – they have to trust that their sweep has them in the best possible spot to catch a wave and stay safe," he said. "You can think of the sweep as the CEO and the rowers as the employees. "Everyone has an important role to play to achieve the best possible result.

"We are a high-performing local government and we need to continue kicking goals." Stev said his personal mantra is 'Do better'. "If you look at leading organisations across the world, they continually chase improvement. They don't do the stock standard," he said. "It is not about being the best of the best; it is about challenging yourself to look for new ideas, new solutions and finding out how to make things happen." Stev will start as CEO from January 2024. Until then, it is business as usual to ensure the remainder of 2023 is successful for the City, our Council and our ratepayers and community. More updates on the handover period will be shared in the coming months. Anticipation is building as we await the tram's arrival, which is scheduled for its debut in October. Plans are already underway to organise a series of events that will give the community a chance to try a small tram journey and experience its benefits. Teams across the City are working hard to ensure the trial is a massive success, so look out for updates in the coming weeks. This is an amazing opportunity for Stirling to showcase our City and confirm our commitment to innovation and sustainability.

"Like in the surf boat, the City requires effective coordination, clear direction, teamwork and synchronisation among different positions or roles are essential for success." Stev said people are the key to a successful organisation; first, foremost, and always, it's about our people. "I am committed to building an exceptional organisation where people want to work and don't want to leave," he said.

All aboard the trackless tram: coming soon to Stirling! Last month, Mayor Mark Irwin, Deputy Mayor Stephanie Proud JP and Manager Strategy and Performance Michelle Wolsoncroft visited China to see first-hand the latest in mid-tier transport innovation – the trackless tram.

The trip was a huge success and left everyone convinced about the community benefits of a trackless tram and the opportunity to better connect Glendalough Train Station and the Stirling City Centre to our Scarborough Beach. We’re very excited to announce we're set to bring the trackless tram to Stirling for a trial to showcase the benefits of this kind of transport to our community, businesses and State and Federal Government stakeholders. As the first tram of its kind to arrive in Australia, it will

undoubtedly put the City of Stirling on the map and is likely to attract significant national attention. With its efficient and eco friendly features, the trackless tram represents a mode of transportation that aligns with our vision for a sustainable City with a local focus. The tram will connect people to busy, vibrant areas, creating better accessibility and generating urban redevelopment within the Scarborough Beach Road Activity Corridor.

For more information, please contact Michelle Wolsoncroft, Manager Strategy and Performance.

3

City news

The budget at a glance The eagerly awaited 2023/24 City of Stirling budget has been unveiled, representing months of hard work and collaboration. The budget process, which began well before its release in July, involved the dedication of numerous individuals and teams. Throughout this meticulous journey,

Business Park area and will provide workers with a direct connection to the freeway. The area has seen significant investment recently with Mineral Resources and Tesla calling Osborne Park home. "The delivery of Local Planning Scheme 4 will be a major step for the City in establishing how we will grow into the future. It's about delivering a local planning scheme that is contemporary, fit for purpose and meeting the State Planning Reform agenda, which takes a lot of work." Director Infrastructure Andrew Murphy said a major highlight for the community would be redeveloping Hamersley Public Golf Course, including an automated driving range. "It will include an upgrade to the pavilion, as well as a state-of-the-art automated driving range," he said. "For this level of facility and service to be available to the public is massive – it will be the best driving range locally." In Corporate Services, a number of projects are sitting with Ingrid Hawkins within her Human Resources team.

simplify the process. But equally, we need to take the time to understand the priorities of the Elected Members and community, because they represent our community and provide local context. It is a huge team effort indeed." With the Corporate Business Plan and budget that flows from that being so extensive, and with much action to come as the year unfolds, we asked each of the directors to touch on an area of relevance in their directorate and share what they would want employees to take specific note of. Director Planning and Development Stevan Rodic said thinking ahead is an important focus. most cases, that is in the future improvement and future-proofing," he said. "The Hutton Street extension will be a game changer for the Herdsman "What is important is where the funds go towards, and in

elected members voiced their priorities to shape the budget's direction. At the same time, discussions with business units and the Corporate Information Services CIS team fleshed out the details and implementation. Ward Councillors played a vital role in providing insights into specific ward priorities. Draft budgets were carefully compiled, and the executive team used the strategic and corporate business plans to create a prioritisation matrix for Council consideration. Director Corporate Services Ingrid Hawkins said collaboration and collective involvement are key to creating a successful budget. "I want to start with a huge thank you to everybody involved," she said. "It's a significant piece of work, and we're always looking at ways to

A major highlight for the community will be the Hamersley Public Golf Course redevelopment which includes an automated driving range.

4

City news

Making magic happen The City has been working together with Main RoadsWA to improve pedestrian safety at the signalised crossing at the corner of Hale Road andWeaponess Road. The works installed audible pushed right out they will see it lets go, go, go!

"One of the big ones is our workforce plan," she said. "Our employees are the key to making this organisation successful. "We want to have the right people in place to deliver our future strategic objectives. "It's about looking at the full employee life cycle, from how we attract people, onboard them into the organisation, support and develop them and make sure they enjoy working here so we retain them." Director Community Development Michael Quirk said both Council and the community has identified community safety as a key priority. "We have already made improvements in the way our Community Safety team works through a recent Service Review," he said. "New initiatives such as the roll-out of additional Community Patrol vehicles, establishing an Operational CCTV Monitoring Room and undertaking a Crowded Place Assessment for the Scarborough Beach Precinct will all contribute towards a safer City. "Improving our collaboration with WA Police through a formal Memorandum of Understanding will provide them with direct access to our CCTV footage. This means the Police have access to live data, and if there is an issue, they can get a team out straight away." The extensive budget process is guided by a visionary plan for the City of Stirling. As the plan unfolds, the dedicated efforts of the entire team will shape a promising future, delivering essential projects and initiatives for the benefit of the community. For more information, visit www.stirling.wa.gov.au/ budget-news-2023

push buttons and realigned the pedestrian crossings to deliver a positive access and inclusion outcome. This intersection is particularly important for local resident Tom Quinn who is a person with vision impairment. Tom has shared his story: "Imagine for a moment that it is near on dark, the sun is setting in the west, and a strong breeze is in from the southwest. Its peak hour, and everybody is in a hurry to get home (including me); I step off public transport and wait for the noisy bus to move away; I move to the verge feeling the crisp grass beneath my shoes; flick out my white cane to feel the edge of the road kerb, shore-line west toward the breeze and the sun for 50 paces until I locate the concrete lid of the stormwater soak. Great, I found my crossing spot; now let the nightmare begin. I close my eyes and concentrate with my ears – swoosh, swish, swoosh – the traffic flies by. Come on mate, you can do it 'crack hardy mate!' Swoosh, swish, swoosh – wait, wait, wait, be careful, be careful, wait, wait. Five minutes pass, surely a break in the traffic is coming soon.Yes, silence at last, heart beating now white cane extended let’s do it go, go! Oh no, there's another one coming; get back on your concrete launch pad. Now they all come again like a herd of buffalo. Swoosh, swish, swoosh – another five minutes pass, silence again, great, let's go! Heart thumping again louder (Oh no, what if there is a cyclist or an electric car), cane

Fantastic, great relief I have made it halfway! Another two lanes to go! Now I'm standing on the refuge section in the middle of Hale Road. I now swap my white cane to my left hand so motorists can know that I can't see. I repeat the above nightmare, and I am finally across. "Wow, wow!" I exclaim; now that's what I call "...taking a walk on the wild side..." There is no safety here, just 100 per cent pure risk. If only I could push a magic button and make the cars stop; no more nightmare!... Well, my magic button is here! Yes, it's happened. Pedestrian audible lights have been installed on the corner of Weaponess and Hale roads, Wembley Downs. A very big thanks to Michael and John at Main Roads, Russel at the City of Stirling, Clare at Visibility, and Erica and Zel at Blind Citizens WA for helping me make this happen. What a difference this will make in my life, knowing full well after 20 years of living the above nightmare that I am so lucky to still have my life. I wish to thank them, and all concerned for '...helping the blind man to cross the road...' Thank you all very much. (And you, the drivers, for not running me down; game over!)." Do you have a story about working together to create local impact? We would love to share it! Send it via email to internal.communications@ stirling.wa.gov.au

5

City news

Mia’s story Trigger Warning: This article contains references to domestic violence, including physical and sexual abuse and suicide which may be distressing for some readers.

relationship to cope with the level of violence she experienced, were also acknowledged and addressed with empathy and understanding. Stirling Women's Centre assisted Mia with housing applications and advocated for her placement on the priority list. They also helped her with practical matters, such as accessing family court papers and responding to legal emails. The centre even arranged an extension for her pet's foster care through the RSPCA Pets in Crisis program. As Mia approached her due date, the support continued. The centre ensured she had transportation and assistance for her medical appointments, making sure she and her baby received the care they needed. Mia gave birth to her son via C-Section with the assistance of her Stirling Women's Centre refuge caseworker, who she had chosen as her support person. Not long after giving birth, Mia successfully secured a transitional property that allowed her to have her own space to continue raising her newborn and her daughter in an environment free barriers, Mia expressed feeling stronger and empowered after her experience in the refuge and the support provided by the staff. Her journey is a testament to the impact we can have when we come together. If this article has caused distress or you require support, help is available through the City’s Employee Assistance Program, please call 1300 307 912. For more information about who to contact if you come across a person who could be experiencing homelessness in the City, email community@stirling.wa.gov.au from violence and distress. Despite the compounding

Every year Homelessness Australia hosts Homelessness Week to raise awareness and find solutions, and as a local government, the City has a role in this space as identified in the State Government's "All Paths Lead to a Home: Western Australia's 10 Year Strategy on Homelessness 2020-2030". The City's ultimate goal is to ensure every community member has access to a safe and secure place to call home. The number of people sleeping rough around the City of Stirling has increased. With funding from the Department of Communities, the City has partnered with Uniting WA to provide assertive outreach, which aims to build positive relationships and connect people to services, support, and housing. This partnership commenced in September 2022 and has seen positive outcomes for people that the team have engaged with. Homelessness comes in many forms, and the below is not a sleeping rough story. homelessness due to family and domestic violence. 39 per cent of people seeking support from Specialist Homelessness Services in WA in 2019-20 were as a result of domestic and family violence. (AIHW 2020) Mia, a single mum, was working part-time and taking care of her eight-year-old daughter when she found herself in an unimaginable situation. Just seven weeks into a new relationship, she experienced severe sexual and physical family This is a story about Mia and her family, who experienced

violence, leaving her hospitalised and her rental apartment flooded. With her tenancy terminated and discovering she was pregnant, Mia sought crisis accommodation. After four months of uncertainty, Mia finally secured a temporary place to stay, but it wasn't long before the father of Mia's eight year-old daughter discovered where she was staying. His extensive criminal history, high-ranking gang affiliations and criminal connections caused concerns for Mia's safety. So, at about 32 weeks pregnant, Mia was referred by the transitional caseworkers to the City’s Stirling Women's Centre, which provides crisis accommodation and support services for women and children. The dedicated team at the centre ensured her immediate needs were met and worked tirelessly to address her concerns regarding her growing baby's welfare. Mia's eight-year old daughter had ongoing medical needs requiring several surgeries and specialist equipment, and the centre ensured she received the necessary resources and support. Mia's struggles with substance use and mental health distress, which were exacerbated during her

6

Our people

Employee Spotlight: Dijana Miloseski The City's employee spotlight series is a way for employees to learn a little more about their colleagues and the services they deliver internally and to the community. This month we feature Dijana Miloseski, Customer Experience Team Leader.

the inspiring colleagues I have met during my working career who have become lifelong friends and mentors. Getting the opportunity to complete my Diploma of Leadership Coaching, which assisted me in unlocking my team members' full potential for them to achieve greatness. If City employees have a question about corporate uniforms , they should contact me. Outside of work, what would we find you doing? Spending time with my two children and husband. Exploring Perth's bars and restaurants. Exercising and listening to motivational podcasts. What are your top four bar and restaurant recommendations? Wildflower, Lotus, QT, 18 Knots rooftop bar and The Reveley and Hadiqa. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why? I would want the superpower to heal anything for anyone. Any injury or illness, be it physical, mental or emotional. If you had to delete all but three apps from your smartphone, which ones would you keep? • Viber: I keep in contact with my family overseas via Viber. • Spotify: I listen to my motivating podcast and music daily. • HelloFresh App: I plan and order my meals for the week ahead. If you have a colleague whose brilliance deserves to be celebrated, email internal. communications@stirling. wa.gov.au

How long have you been at the City, and what has your career pathway looked like? I joined the City in 2013 as a Customer Experience Officer with the Front Counter team, then progressed to the position of Coach before successfully being appointed to a secondment as Customer Experience Team Leader, where I found my passion for leading and developing colleagues. What does your role at the City involve? My role involves: • Managing the day-to-day front counter operations by leading

• Guiding, coaching and mentoring my front-line team to provide excellent customer experience to the City's diverse customer base by delivering an efficient, quality face-to-face customer experience to create moments that matter for our community. I also provide opportunities through engaging and supportive development experiences, encouraging my team to grow, develop and learn. During your time here, what have been some of your highlights or favourite projects you've worked on? My highlights would have to be

7

Our people

New option for email signatures The City of Stirling is proud to launch pronouns for our email signatures.

would like pronouns on your email signature or not and we respect everyone’s choice. At the moment it is difficult for the City to measure our progress on achieving a more diverse workforce as we don’t have a process for gathering and maintaining statistics about an employee's pronouns, ethnic or cultural backgrounds, types of disability or caring responsibilities. This form therefore also collates key diversity data to provide a baseline of our workforce diversity to support the City to address any diversity gaps identified as outlined in our Strategic Workforce Plan and Equal Employment Opportunity Plan. This data will be stored securely in our

payroll system and if you are not comfortable to answer some or all of the questions, you can respond with the option “prefer not to answer”. Upon collation of the diversity data, we look forward to developing key initiatives to address any diversity gaps which will be communicated pronouns, including how to provide your pronouns for display on your email signature, will be coming very soon. If you are interested to hear more, or if you have any queries, please reach out to your HR Business Partner. through the usual channels. More information on gender

Gender pronouns – such as she/he/ they – are a sign of respect, as well as inclusivity. Including pronouns in email signatures can make someone feel equal. This may seem small, but for many people in the gender-diverse community, this acknowledgement is very important. As mistakes can happen when the wrong pronoun is used, showing understanding and the willingness to learn are the best positive approaches. Please note – having pronouns on email signatures is optional. It is up to individual employees if you

Council news: Around the City Keep updated with all of the City's news and media releases. Explore the ground-breaking AI platform trial shaping the future, check out the City's progress and investments in community projects, and learn about the 2023 Art Awards and Exhibition. For more information, please visit www.stirling.wa.gov.au/your-city/news

Caption competition

Winner: Caught by the

"

 Caption this for your chance to win a $50 Wish gift card! Caption this photo of the Environmental Health Team, who recently received a public acknowledgement from the WA Department of Health in relation to some food sampling work the team have been doing, which resulted in early identification of a national Listeria outbreak! To submit your entry, email internal.communications@stirling.wa.gov.au

Pupparazzi." Congratulations to Madeline Kelly who submitted the winning caption for this month!

8