Tell a coherent story
from the ground up
When local leaders focus on WHAT matters not just HOW much money they need everything changes...
Our approach
To rebuilding our federal system of government from the ground up
A Renewed Federalism
In 1971, Gough Whitlam unveiled a new federalism that he said would rest on a national framework for the establishment of investment priorities and a regional framework for participation in all those decisions which most directly determine the quality of our lives. It's time to realise the other half of his vision: without a healthy participatory democracy our big bureaucracy can't get
a grip on WHAT communities need, let alone deliver it
Back on Track to Destination 2036
In August 2011, all mayors and general managers of all NSW councils gathered in Dubbo with NSW Government to establish an action plan for the next 25 years: a path together towards a vision of strong communities through partnerships. It's time to recognise that we took the wrong path: we focused on the funding councils need not the functions their local communities need them to perform. It's time we got back on track...
The Common Thread Framework
We teach local leaders to tell a coherent story by asking and answering: 'WHAT do we VALUE?' + 'HOW much?' Land use planning grounds this story in the real world, establishing the context within which community needs for infrastructure and services can be clearly identified. By then asking 'WHO is responsible?' we move beyond financial sustainability to asking the far bigger and more complex question: 'are we able to sustain this function?'
The Connected Leadership Program
You can throw all the money you like at local government and it won't fix the problems. A new set of simpler plans grounded in the real world (focused on functions not just finances) will help... but it's not enough either. The real resourcing challenge - and opportunity - is not the money but the people. The Common Thread Framework is a tool to establish your common purpose. The Connected Leadership Program is how we then help you to realise it
What makes us different...
Local government's problems are complex. We need to tackle this from different perspectives
Ben Lawson and David Gourlay couldn't be more different...
A systemic scientist and a people person. A local government engineer from regional NSW and an organisational psychologist from Scotland. No wonder it took them a decade to work out WHAT the #@*% the other one was talking about! The fact that they stuck at it reflects their shared conviction that neither of them had (or has) all the answers. That's not what we're offering you, either: we're offering to help you to ask better questions...
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Reach out to find out more about how to do local government differently...