The ripple effect of collaboration: How CivicRisk Mutual members are driving change

Collaboration is a powerful tool for achieving success. When we work together and share our knowledge and experience, we can generate creative solutions to complex problems and achieve outcomes that benefit everyone involved. This is especially true in the world of risk management and protection, where organisations face unique challenges that can only be tackled by sharing knowledge and collaborating with others.

At CivicRisk Mutual, collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. From our administrative team to our members and service partners, we work together to create a collaborative ecosystem that is constantly evolving and adapting to meet the unique needs of local government. Ultimately, we all want to create safer communities.

Benefits of collaboration for community outcomes

One great example of this is the work shared by Kate Allder-Conn, Governance Coordinator at Richmond Valley Council. Kate and fellow members of our Mutual worked together on a project to create a guidebook for other councils to use as a resource to enhance their own practices.

She shares that: “The benefit of learning from the experiences of other councils is that members can avoid potential issues or where they do arise, members can seek guidance from those who may have faced similar circumstances.”

And we couldn’t agree more. Collaboration is the basis of our Mutual and we are always looking for ways to make it easier for councils to connect, share and learn from each other.

Collaborative mindset and culture

Moreover, collaboration enables members to think more broadly, beyond the limitations of their own resources and expertise. Kate explains that when faced with a difficult situation, rather than defaulting to “We can’t do that,” instead, we can think, “How can we do that?” and “How have others done that?” This mindset encourages innovation and allows members to achieve outcomes that they may not have thought possible otherwise.

Of course, building a collaborative culture and mindset isn’t always easy. Members may encounter challenges and barriers when trying to establish collaboration between councils. For example, a potential barrier to engaging staff in a collaborative approach is the perception that they do not have sufficient time available to invest in such a process. Kate shares that Richmond Valley Council has overcome that by highlighting how the advantages far outweigh the time investment.

Strategies for promoting collaboration

To foster a collaborative culture, Kate encourages members to consider the following strategies:

1. Encourage staff to both seek and supply information to members of the Mutual.
2. Include staff in various working groups and training sessions, where they have the opportunity to meet members of the Mutual, along with staff in similar positions who may face similar challenges.
3. Hold regular meetings with staff members, where they can share information about processes, as well as ask for feedback on their methods.

By working together, sharing their knowledge and experience, and fostering a collaborative culture, members are able to achieve outcomes that benefit everyone involved. At CivicRisk Mutual, we believe that collaboration is the key to success, and we encourage all of our members to participate in this process of sharing and learning. Together, we can make a real difference in our communities.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about CivicRisk Mutual, please contact us today. Our team is always available to provide you with the information and support you need.