Annual Report 2018-19

»» The transformation of our Workplace Health and          »» Over the last 12 months we have implemented
   Safety performance has continued. Our most recent          several projects that contribute to the culture and
   internal audit of our WH&S Systems achieved a              performance of Council. These include:
   score of 80% (up from 19% five years ago). We              • Domestic and Family Violence awareness training
   have transitioned from one of the worst performing           supported by a DFV strategy to support staff
   local governments to one of the best performing local        affected.
   governments for our size.
                                                              • Drug and Alcohol testing in the workplace to
»» We have had another successful financial year.               improve worker safety as well as helping those
                                                                staff who may have an issue with their use of
   Revenues were above budget and expenses were                 drugs or alcohol.
   below budget. The audited financial statements are
   part of this annual report.                                • Noosa Regional school partnerships where
                                                                Council provides in school workshops for job
»» Our Customer Service team continued to provide               interviews and job readiness.
   exemplary service at the front line. This was              • Under 30’s employee engagement program which
   recognised in the Community Satisfaction Survey              aims to reduce turnover of young employees and
   with feedback from our community.                            provide professional development and career
                                                                guidance.

                                                           »» The Audit and Risk Committee has continued to
                                                              add value to our compliance and performance
                                                              for governance and finance. This has included
                                                              an oversight of our strategic risks, review of key
                                                              governance and financial policies, review of
                                                              organisational KPIs and development of Business
                                                              Continuity Planning etc. Our two external members
                                                              of the Audit and Risk Committee in particular have
                                                              added significantly to our overall governance
                                                              practices. Although not high profile, this Committee
                                                              plays an important role in making sure that Council
                                                              “dots the I’s and crosses the T’s” both in governance
                                                              and in the management of risk. Council’s Internal
                                                              Audit Plan included internal audits on:
                                                              • overtime;
                                                              • business continuity plans; and
                                                              • risk management strategies.
Customer Service staff providing frontline service
                                                           »» ICT network switch infrastructure replacement was
»» Council has successfully achieved another
                                                              undertaken providing greater network security which
   unmodified audit from the Queensland Audit Office
                                                              improved our ability to monitor network system faults
   with the 2018/19 financial statements being signed
                                                              more easily.
   off by the QAO.
                                                           »» Significant training and development was undertaken
»» Our enterprise risk management has been further
                                                              for our middle managers with programs focused on
   developed with risk management practices being
                                                              team leaders and supervisors. We also undertook
   further embedded into Council operations. Our
                                                              leadership development for our Leadership Group
   comprehensive Business Continuity Plans are now
                                                              (our top 25 leaders).
   complete and were tested successfully as well as
   being subject to an internal audit review which found
   that the BCP Plans were excellent.




Noosa Council | 2018/2019 Annual Report                                                                    Page 25