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Mentoring program earns gold for Launceston

A mentoring program that recruits volunteers from the community to work with under performing students has been named Tasmania’s top Local Government project. Launceston City Council’s Co-Pilots Mentoring Program was awarded the 2004 Tasmanian Local Government Gold Award for Excellence at the recent Tasmanian Local Government conference.

The Gold Award is presented each year for the most outstanding category winner. The program received the Community Development Award earlier in the evening.

Local Government Association of Tasmania President, Councillor Lynn Mason, congratulated Launceston on its success.

“Launceston City Council has demonstrated how Local Government is much more than a body responsible for the Three Rs – road, rates and rubbish,” she said. “Co-Pilot is a true community based program that embodies what Local Government is all about – developing and implementing innovative projects with, and for our communities, in order to meet their changing needs.

“In this case, the Council identified the need to assist potential disengaged students and, rather than bringing in outsiders, it sought involvement from its most valuable resource – its community – to develop a solution.”

Under the program, volunteer community mentors are recruited and trained to work with the students, who are referred by their schools. Rather than taking a ‘one size fits all’ approach, the program addresses the differing learning and personal needs of students, enabling them to acquire the self belief and motivation to achieve their goals.

Program evaluations are completed by students, mentors, parents and teachers. Students are also tracked for several years after completing the program.

“Co-Pilots provides positive life experiences in a supportive environment for young people to develop the skills and confidence to find new pathways to learning, and in life,” Councillor Mason said. “This is the first mentoring program of its kind, and it is producing real changes in young people and the community members who together share a journey of trust, hope and growth.”

Other awards winners

Governance, Administration, Communication and Customer Service Award
Glenorchy City Council – GIS Risk Management System

By adding a risk management layer to Glenorchy Council’s Geographical Information System (GIS), employees now have a new way to easily capture, store and retrieve reported hazards and claims. An innovative and inexpensive adaptation of the council’s GIS is proving to be a cost effective, user friendly and efficient risk management tool.

Asset and Environmental Management
Huon Valley Council – Bridge workbox

An idea developed by Huon Valley Council employees is saving council money and making work safer and easier. The bridge workbox is attached to an excavator, bobcat or front/rear-end loader, and can transport workers and position them in situations that they have previously found difficult to easily and safely access in the past, such as underneath or the sides of bridges. The bridge workbox is a simple, cost effective and practical solution to a problem commonly encountered by councils. It has now been patented and it is being considered to be sold to other organisations.

Information Communications Technology
Clarence City Council – ClarenceCC intranet web site

The new Clarence City Council intranet provides easy access to corporate information for all of its employees, and represents best practice in capturing and retaining knowledge within the organisation. Rigorous behind the scenes planning and scrutiny enables the council to provide a high quality customer service to employees and the public. The intranet is a well thought out and effective strategy using existing IT infrastructure.

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