Practical approaches to leading communities through rapid growth
Councillors from metropolitan and regional areas around Australia are consolidating their knowledge about how to best help their communities navigate rapid growth.
The 15 councillors are participating in Studio THI’s six-week pilot online learning and innovation program designed to build an understanding of sustainable growth and explore practical approaches to leading communities through urban change.
“One of the reasons we are conducting this pilot program is that councillors have told us that while they received great training and support on the functioning of local government, there was very little about how to help lead and navigate major urban change,’’ Studio THI’s urban and community transition lead Peter Browning said.
“Councillors are the closest elected representatives to their communities and Studio THI research shows they are the community’s most trusted advisors about change and development,’’ he said.
The program aims to empower councillors in their work to help rapidly growing communities navigate the complexities of urban change.
Mid-way through the program councillors have explored:
challenges and opportunities of working in rapidly changing communities
defining the tensions & opportunities of change in their communities
deepening understanding of the urban change system and the levers of councillors and other system actors
understanding the principles of great urban outcomes and exploring what that could mean in their areas
unpacking the political and organisational challenges of working in communities undergoing change
practising leading a community conversation on the changing urban identity of their areas
Councillors have been busy understanding the principles of great urban outcomes and exploring what that could mean in their areas.
“Councillors have been very generous, sharing experience and insights. It's great to see such a diverse group exploring the different challenges and opportunities growth presents to different communities,’’ Peter said.
Councillors have also benefited from the input of Planning Institute of Australia State Manager (Queensland and Northern Territory) Matt Collins, who is partnering with Studio THI to run the program, along with the Local Government Association of Queensland.
Over the final weeks of the program, Councillors will develop their own roadmap for leading their communities through transformational urban change.
They will learn how to set an aligned transformation vision, develop priority actions and learn some strategies for managing the likely ‘bumps’ in execution along the way.
Councillors will also reflect on the program's tools and resources to define what worked best for them and shape an advocacy agenda on the needs of councillors working in rapidly changing communities.
