T Issues Local Government Projects

Grahame Collier is very  experienced in working with local government in the development, delivery and evaluation of education and training programs. Descriptions of projects undertaken with local government are to be found on various pages of this website. Some indication of the breadth of experience that Grahame Collier brings to work with local government is detailed below.

 

Work as T Issues Consultancy

Liverpool City Council. Facilitation of three focus groups – staff, managers, senior management/Administrator to gain input into and support for Council’s proposed Sustainability Framework. This work was undertaken with Lee Collier. A detailed report on the outputs from the focus groups was submitted to council. This included recommendations for how to carry the Framework forward.

Ashfield Council. Facilitation of two Sustainability Street Planning Workshops. In this project Grahame Collier facilitated two workshops for groups of community volunteers who were planning local sustainability Street initiatives. One was for volunteers in Summer Hill and the other in Ashfield.

Bankstown City Council. Facilitation of two Energy workshops One at Bankstown Sports Club and the other at Revesby Workers’ Club. These workshops were a part of Council’s Green House Program

Facilitation of Regional Sustainability Seminars 2004. These seminars were conducted in three locations [Tamworth, Lismore and Shellharbour] during 2004. they were joint activities between local government and a range of state government agencies. Grahame Collier facilitated each of the seminars.

Broken Hill City Council Stormwater Project. In conjunction with Elton Consulting Grahame Collier developed and focus tested a significant stormwater education program, focusing on litter prevention and residential stormwater run-off.

Sutherland Shire Council Sustainability House and Community Gardens Project. Ongoing Project. Grahame Collier has facilitated a number of workshops with council staff, community volunteers and other key stakeholders to develop a shared vision and plan for the house and gardens.

Municipal Association of Victoria Smart Septics Community Education Program. Ongoing Project. Grahame Collier has developed a state-wide program, for implementation at local government level about wastewater and greywater management. this includes and significant guidance program for council staff and a comprehensive set of community education material that can be used at the local level.

 

Grahame Collier has been on the judging panel of the NSW Local Government and Shires Associations Environmental Education Award. Also since 2004 he has judged the LGSA Sustainability Award. For six years Grahame Collier has also been a judge at the Australian Museum Banksia Awards.

 While with the NSW Environment Protection Authority

Introduction of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1999. Grahame Collier was responsible for the development of training for local government Environmental Health Officers to introduce the new legislation. He also oversaw the preparation of all guidance material to support this training. Two training programs were developed:

• A one-day introductory training program. This was provided free to two officers per council in NSW [300 plus] and then on a user pays basis by a licensed training provider [a further 800 plus officers were trained]

• A sixty hour accredited training course was developed with a licensed provider and delivered on a user pays basis to over 300 Environmental Health Officers

The NSW Branch of the Institute of Environmental Health and the NSW Local Government and Shires Associations were significantly involved in this project.

Development and Delivery of the Litter it’s in your Hands and Don't be a Tosser Campaigns [1999 to 2003]. These significant social marketing campaigns provided specific support for local government by way of:

• Training for environmental health and enforcement staff on the litter legislation and community education approaches. Developed and in part delivered by Grahame Collier in ten locations around NSW

• A Council education kit, containing all campaign material and assistance in how to localise it.

• Ongoing guidance and support for Councils implementing litter programs

Development and delivery of the NSW State-wide Urban Stormwater Education Program [1998 to 2003]. The architect of this program, Grahame Collier worked extensively with local government in the:

• Development of the strategic approach to the issue of stormwater and how education might assist.

• Development and delivery of 4 phases of the mass medial campaign

• Development of a council kit to carry all products further

• Development and some delivery of training [2 days] for council staff in how to plan and evaluate education about stormwater.

• Support for on the ground planning of local government stormwater projects.

Development and delivery of the Our Environment – It’s a Living Thing Program

Grahame Collier managed this extensive social marketing program in 2002 and in early 2003. At that time 43 Council Partners joined the program and conducted local initiatives supporting this movement towards sustainability.

While with the Department of Environment and Conservation [2003 -2004]

• Significant involvement in the planning of training of local government staff to implement the Our Environment – It’s a Living Thing Local Government Initiatives Program. This involved delivery of a one day training program based around the Council Kit for this project. Grahame Collier delivered seven of these workshops.

• Development of the draft document Education About Waste: What is Good Practice, involved significant local government input and the identification of case studies to support this document. 80 local government case studies were sourced in all.

• Involvement in the project Multi Unit Dwelling Illegal Dumping Project. This involves chairing a local government reference group, significant input into the development of a council kit to assist local government to implement the program.

Other Relevant Experience

Grahame Collier also undertook significant work with local government while employed by NSW Health in the AIDS program 1989 to 1994. This largely focused on developing guidelines about needles and syringes to support clean up regimes. Negotiation was undertaken with the relevant professional associations including the Institute of Environmental Health.