orana joint organisation communication and engagement …... · joint organisations are new local...

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ORANA JOINT ORGANISATION

Communication and Engagement Plan

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www.oranajointorganisation.nsw.gov.au

Introduction and Purpose In 2017, amendments to the Local Government Act were passed to enable Joint Organisations to be established. Joint Organisations are new local government entities with legal powers established by proclamation designed to bring regional and rural councils together for better regional outcomes. The proclamation of the Orana Joint Organisation as a corporate entity within the NSW Local Government Act was formally announced on 15 May 2018 The Orana JO Membership consists of the following six (6) member councils and covers an area of 60,000 square kilometres and a population of 50,000 people.

Bogan Shire Council Mid-Western Regional Council

Gilgandra Shire Council Warren Shire Council

Narromine Shire Council Warrumbungle Shire Council

The operation and priorities of each Joint Organisation are determined by a Joint Organisation Board, which comprises voting and non-voting representatives. The voting members of a Joint Organisation are representatives of member councils. A NSW government employee nominated by the Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet also sits on each Board as a non-voting representative. Each Board elects one of the member councils as the Chairperson. An Executive Officer supports the Board, performing the same role in a Joint Organisations that a General Manager performs in a council. This includes conducting the day to day management of the Joint Organisation in accordance with the regional priorities and other programs, strategies and policies of the organisation. Joint Organisations will elevate the shared priorities of member councils’ strategic plans, programs, priorities and policies to perform three principle functions in their region: • Strategic planning and priority setting • Intergovernmental collaboration • Shared leadership and advocacy The implementation phase of Joint Organisation’s is to prepare a Communication and Engagement Plan, which can be reviewed at any time. This plan includes the key messages about the role of the Orana JO and its commitment to achieving strategic regional priorities. It is to demonstrate how the Orana JO can communicate with the community, stakeholders and its Member Councils.

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Vision and Principles The draft Vision of the Orana Joint Organisation is: ‘To be a leading Joint Organisation known for a high level of achievement, collaborative excellence and strong commitment to the region’s communities.’ According to the Orana Joint Organisation Charter the JO will act in accordance with the following principle functions:

Establish strategic regional priorities for the Joint Organisation area and develop strategies and plans for delivering these priorities;

Provide regional leadership for the Joint Organisation area and to be an advocate for strategic regional priorities;

Identify and take up opportunities for intergovernmental cooperation on matters relation to the Joint Organisation area.

About the Region The strong contribution of agriculture and mining is a major social and economic characteristic of the region. The region supports major environmental resources of NSW including comprising a large proportion of the upper NSW catchment of the Murray Darling Basin (Macquarie, Bogan and Castlereagh Rivers) and has a diversity of vegetation and other biodiversity. The region has a high indigenous population of 20% compared to the State average of 2%.

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Joint Organisations Joint organisations are to transform the way the NSW Government and local councils collaborate, plan, set priorities and deliver important projects on a regional scale. Joint Organisations will be a key mechanism through which the Government delivers funding and programs to regional NSW. Each Joint organisation comprises member councils, State agencies and other key stakeholders as determined by each joint organisation Board. The NSW Government will continue to work closely with member councils on issues important to regional communities such as creating jobs and improving regional infrastructure, services and facilities.

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Target Audience Whilst the region’s population is the target audience, the Orana Joint Organisation has a broad range of stakeholders these include:

Member Councils, Mayors, Councillors and Council Staff.

Communities, business, residents and ratepayers within the Orana JO region

NSW Government agencies in particular NSW Premier and Cabinet and Office of Local Government.

State Government Regional Directors in particular those that comprise the Oran Regional Leadership Executive and Departmental Secretaries.

Members of Parliament – both State and Federal.

The additional 12 Joint Organisations based across regional NSW, in particular, Far West North JO, Namoi JO, Central NSW JO, Riverina and Murray JO.

Destination NSW and RDA Orana.

LGNSW and ALGA.

Communication Types There are two different types of communication in all types of organisations. External Communication and Internal Communication. External: Between the organisation and its stakeholders Internal: Vertical (Management and staff members) Horizontal (across the organisation and within sectors) Informal – (informal conversation) Noting that information is not communication – simple conversation remains the best and most effective form of communication

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Communication Target Markets There are a range of stakeholders which the Orana JO should target when delivering its message both internally and externally. This can be determined by using the following table or with the Executive Officer. External: Media – newspaper, radio, television, online State and Federal Members of Parliament State Government agencies Federal Government agencies Non-Government Organisations such as community and business groups Tourists Internal: Mayors General Managers Key council staff

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Related J

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Related ORANA JO documents:

1. Orana JO Strategic Plan (to be developed) 2. Media Relations Policy (to be developed) 3. JO Social Media Policy (to be developed)

orana joint organisation communication and engagement …... · joint organisations are new local...

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