2025 MAV Innovation Events Partner Showcase
Our sector partners play a vital role in local government. They help strategise, design, evolve, and maintain solutions and services that support the work of Victorian local government.
Whether it's supporting the adoption of emerging technologies, rethinking systems or tackling complex challenges without a clear starting point - our partners are right there with us. They bring insights, ideas, infrastructure and practical expertise to the table, helping us turn possibility into progress.
Meet our 2025 MAV Innovation Events partners below. You’ll learn how they’re solving challenges and how you can partner with them to build value in your councils. Join us at our upcoming events to meet them and learn more.
Book tickets to the MAVlab Innovation Awards Celebration on 8 October
Book tickets to the MAV Annual Conference on 9 October
Navigating EUC Transformation in Local Government
In 2021, Hornsby Shire Council made the decision to migrate End User Computing from Virtual Desktops, to a fleet of Surface Laptops.
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This change promised greater flexibility for a hybrid workforce, better security and manageability.
What did it take for Hornsby Shire to realise these benefits?
Join ASI Solutions for a discussion with CIO Sharon Bowman to find out how this change ended up as a positive experience for the people who work at Hornsby Shire.
How Wyndham City Council Transformed Its Project Management Capabilities with Swinburne Edge
Wyndham City Council, one of Australia’s fastest-growing municipalities, needed to enhance its project management capability across different staff levels to support rapid organisational growth.
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Swinburne Edge partnered with the council to deliver a tiered, customised learning pathway. Edge also designed and delivered a customised session linking project management processes to financial performance and outcomes.
How SenFORCE is keeping heavy vehicles off restricted roads at The Hills Shire Council (NSW)
Managing heavy-vehicle compliance on local roads has long been a challenge for councils.
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Traditional approaches - manual patrols, dash-cam footage, and on-site officer presence - were time consuming and costly, yet often delivered limited results. Officers might spend hours waiting roadside with low detection rates, while many breaches slipped through unnoticed. Communities remained frustrated, and councils bore the operational costs without clear evidence of impact.
To address this, The Hills Shire Council introduced SenSen’s Heavy-Vehicle Compliance solution at key entry and exit points. The system uses solar-powered smart cameras and advanced AI that distinguishes trucks from other vehicles, and calculate travel times across restricted routes. If a vehicle completes the route too quickly to have made a legitimate stop, the system records a verified, time-stamped breach. These detections are court-defensible and delivered directly to compliance officers, removing the burden of manual checks and ensuring that only relevant cases reach the enforcement stage.
The results were clear. Officers could focus their time where it mattered most, repeat offending declined, and penalty notices were issued at an estimated total of $750K within six months. Just as importantly, the transparency of the process built trust with the community with local residents requesting the system’s return to the locations once removed. This approach shifts compliance from reactive patrols to evidence-led monitoring, giving councils practical tools to improve safety, manage freight impact, and smarter use of resources, and data that informs long-term planning.
Knox Council builds storytelling confidence with Think Like a Newsroom
Knox City Council's communications team had strong technical skills and important stories to share, but wanted help to cut through the noise and connect more effectively with their community.
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Compliance requirements, risk concerns, and internal approvals often diluted their messaging, limiting their ability to inform residents about council initiatives that directly affected them.
To address this challenge, Knox partnered with Fireside Agency to deliver the "Think Like a Newsroom" workshop - a practical 3-hour session teaching journalism techniques specifically adapted for the local government context.
The workshop equipped the team with editorial frameworks to find compelling angles in the council workflows, transform policy updates into human stories, and navigate stakeholder approvals more effectively.
The workshop provided immediately applicable tools:
- the 5W+H story mining technique for uncovering human angles in routine content
- headline transformation methods designed to increase engagement, and
- the "Yes, And" approach for securing stakeholder buy-in.
These frameworks enable teams to maintain compliance requirements while making their communications more accessible and engaging for residents.
"Thanks Louise and Ellie for a fantastic and inspiring workshop!" said Nicole Jones, Digital Content Lead at Knox City Council: "The team left with practical storytelling techniques we could use straight away and renewed creative confidence."
By providing systematic approaches to storytelling that work within a real world local government environment, the workshop equips councils to multiply content efficiently across channels and build stronger connections with their communities - demonstrating that government communications can navigate risks and also be highly compelling.
ServiceFM keeps Council facilities clean and safe
Keeping community spaces clean isn’t just about appearances - it’s about health, safety, and pride.
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We understand the complexity of keeping these diverse and busy spaces clean, safe, and welcoming. For many councils the challenge lies in managing multiple contractors for different facilities in their municipality, making it difficult and inefficient to manage. That’s where ServiceFM makes a difference.
By partnering with a single, experienced provider, council managers benefit from streamlined operations: one point of contact, one agreement, and one consistent standard of service. This simplifies communication, invoicing, and coordination — saving time, reducing stress, and improving overall efficiency. Every community has the right to access well-maintained, clean and safe facilities. And every council employee has the right to work in an inviting, welcoming and clean environment. Regular, professional cleaning helps prevent the spread of germs, supports public health, and shows residents and staff that their council values their wellbeing.
Gerald Mirando, Coordinator Cleansing City Program at the City of Casey, shared his experience: “ServiceFM provides all types of cleaning services across our facilities, including emergency cleaning when needed. Everything is scheduled and delivered on time, to a consistently high standard. Having one contact and one pricing structure has freed up a lot of time, allowing me to focus on other matters for our community.”
At ServiceFM, we offer flexible cleaning services — daily, annually, and everything in between — backed by smart systems that keep things running smoothly. We work closely with councils, and are proud to be part of their community support network. It’s not just about mops and disinfectant — it’s about creating spaces where people feel safe, respected, and proud to belong.
How NEXA Helped Transform Customer Service Delivery for a Growing Victorian Council
A prominent Victorian council, one of the fastest-growing cities in Australia, has been a valued NEXA customer since 2011. With a rapidly expanding population, the council continually seeks innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of its residents.
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The council’s service centres were facing several operational challenges:
- Long queues and increased wait times
- Frustrated customers and staff
- Lack of visibility into customer flow and service metrics
- Limited integration between systems, hindering service efficiency.
These issues were impacting both customer satisfaction and staff morale, prompting the need for a comprehensive review and upgrade of the existing solution. NEXA’s service design team partnered closely with the council to:
- Assess the current customer flow and service delivery model
- Identify pain points and opportunities for improvement
- Design a refreshed solution tailored to the council’s needs.
The upgraded solution included:
- Refreshed Check-In Kiosks: Installed across three locations, enabling customers to self-check-in, select the appropriate queue, and provide visit details before engaging with staff. This eliminated physical queues and reduced congestion.
- System Integration: Seamless integration with the council’s internal systems enabled omnichannel customer communication and real-time access to customer data, streamlining workflows and enhancing service delivery.
The transformation delivered measurable improvements:
- Reduced Wait and Service Times: Leading to a calmer, more efficient service centre environment.
- Enhanced Staff Efficiency: With immediate access to relevant customer information.
- Improved Customer Experience: Through faster service and reduced frustration.
- Real-Time Data and Reporting: Empowering the council with insights for informed decision-making and continuous improvement.
The council now benefits from a robust, scalable customer journey management solution that supports its growth and commitment to service excellence.
Buloke Shire Council modernises with Microsoft 365 and Endpoint Focus
When the global pandemic hit in 2020, the council had yet to start their cloud journey. Many Buloke staff members live in rural areas and on farms, often with limited internet connectivity.
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To make matters worse, the council did not have a dedicated Internet link and shared Internet services with the local town residents, making it challenging for council staff to remain productive while working from home.
Endpoint Focus designed and delivered a Microsoft 365 solution, enabling staff and councillors to work more effectively from any location without relying on VPN or on-premises network connectivity.
This solution provided all staff and councillors with modern, reliable email through Exchange Online migration and Azure AD preparation. Boosted teamwork and automated Councillor Q&A with SharePoint Online and Power Automate. Enabled real-time chat and video calls while reducing email with Microsoft Teams. Delivered a modern workplace using Microsoft 365 Apps and Endpoint Manager. Supported flexible, secure work with managed iOS/iPadOS devices. Ensured staff can access personal files anywhere via OneDrive Known Folder Move. Protected resources with secure sign-in using Multi-Factor Authentication and Conditional Access. Offered seamless sign-on to Microsoft 365 with Hybrid Azure AD Join. Speeded up device setup and app deployment with Windows Autopilot and Endpoint Manager. Met Victorian government data security with VPDSS-compliant policies and automation.
“As a result of the solution implemented by Endpoint Focus, Buloke staff are able to collaborate and communicate far more effectively” Cecilia Connellan Transformation Manager, Buloke Shire Council.
Smart Waste Optimisation with ThinkOS – Port Stephens Council (NSW) Case Study
Port Stephens Council, located on the east coast of Australia, has successfully implemented Matter's ThinkOS smart waste management solution to address challenges in public space waste collection.
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The project began as a trial before the peak holiday period. The solution involved installing ThinkLid sensors on public bins to collect real-time data on fullness levels and usage patterns. This data-driven approach transformed waste management from a fixed-schedule model to a proactive, evidence-based strategy.
The implementation led to significant benefits, most notably the elimination of waste-related complaints during the peak holiday season, a major driver for the trial's approval. Based on the data, the council adjusted collection frequencies, increasing them from three to four times per week in high-demand areas, and strategically placed new bins where needed. The insights also identified bins that were being over serviced, presenting opportunities for cost savings and improved operational efficiency.
Developing a resilience plan for a new growth area precinct
In June 2023 RMIT University and Mitchell Shire Council in cooperation with the Beveridge North West Partnership launched the Resilience Plan Beveridge North West.
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The Plan was developed in partnership between Mitchell Shire Council, the Victorian Planning Authority (VPA), the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) (formerly Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning), Yarra Valley Water, and RMIT University, with the support of the City of Melbourne City Resilience and Sustainable Futures Team.
The Beveridge North West precinct is located in Mitchell Shire and is part of Melbourne’s Northern Growth Corridor; planned to be developed in the next 20-30 years. The Resilience Plan is based on an analysis of relevant current strategies, plans, research documents, consultant reports and discussions between the project partners. The process started in 2019 with a Resilient Melbourne project and the plan was then developed during 2021 and 2022.
The Resilience Plan aims to support the development of a community and suburb that can respond to future disruption as well as existing chronic stresses in the surrounding area. Having a resilience plan connected to a PSP is a first and it will support the planning phase for a liveable and resilient community where residents experience social connectedness with positive health and wellbeing.
A goal of the Plan is that once a community has been established in Beveridge North West they will be included in further discussion and plans for resilience.
CVGT Employment and City of Greater Bendigo – Apprenticeships and Traineeships Creating Community Success
In 2018, the City of Greater Bendigo faced a dual challenge: securing a skilled, reliable workforce and improving employment outcomes for young people aged 18–24.
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The solution? A strategic partnership with CVGT Employment to deliver sustainable, community driven workforce development. Through CVGT’s Group Training model, the council has hosted apprentices and trainees across diverse departments - while CVGT manages recruitment, compliance, mentoring and access to government incentives. This streamlined approach removes barriers for councils and empowers young people to earn while they learn, gaining nationally recognised qualifications.
The results speak volumes: 84 placements across 22 qualifications including business, civil construction, early childhood education, mechanical trades, parks and gardens. And many more. These roles have created a pipeline of skilled talent and strengthened local capacity. This partnership is more than a staffing solution, it’s an investment in the region’s future. It demonstrates how councils can drive economic and social impact through targeted employment programs, without the administrative burden. Other councils looking to boost workforce capability and community outcomes can replicate this proven model.
Reach out to learn how CVGT Employment can help you build a stronger, more resilient future.
Waka Kotahi (NZTA) Near Miss Study
VivaCity and Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) partnered in an innovative near miss study to enhance the understanding of road safety for vulnerable road users.
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This project was funded by the Waka Kotahi’ Hoe Ki Angitū Transport Innovation Fund, aimed at accelerating the development and deployment of novel solutions to the country’s biggest transport challenges.
VivaCity deployed 30 of its award-winning AI-powered traffic sensors across 22 selected New Zealand cities, enabling the collection of anonymised detailed movement and interaction data between pedestrians and vehicles, and cyclists and vehicles, to support the ongoing development of near miss detection technology.
Easyweb - Cost effective 10GBps Connectivity: Horsham Rural City Council
Early in 2018, Easyweb designed and implemented a managed 10Gbps high-capacity radio link between the Horsham RCC main office and its DR site.
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It was then an Australian first for such high-speed network technology. This system allowed the council to conduct full data backups to its DR in record times.
Seven and half years later it is still an example of what world class telco infrastructure should be like:
- Reliable - The system uptime is 99.9999%. We have no record of this link ever going down in 7.5 years!
- Low cost - the costs to the Council over this 7-year period for a managed 10GBps full duplex connection between sites was $7,411 ex GST per annum.
It ticks many boxes: superfast at 10Gbps full duplex, fast to deploy and low cost to deploy and operate.
Swan Hill Council goes further to help employees grow their super
Employees at Swan Hill Rural City Council have benefitted from progressive increases in employer contributions since 2018 as part of a unique initiative designed to boost their retirement savings.
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On 1 July 2024, the super guarantee (SG) – the amount of super employers are required to pay their staff – rose to 11.5% of each employee’s earnings. Swan Hill worked with Vision Super to make the most of this opportunity for employees and update employer contributions.
The increase in contributions was first introduced through Swan Hill Rural City Council’s 2018 Enterprise Agreement, which proposed raising employer contributions over three years. Employees had the choice of a 2% pay increase each year without any change to their employer super contributions, or a 1.5% pay increase and a 0.5% increase in employer super contributions each year.
Only 11 staff opted out of the scheme when it was first introduced six years ago. For the other 234 Swan Hill employees, the obvious benefit has been a bigger lump sum being deposited into their super account. And thanks to the power of compound interest – which is returns on returns, or earnings on earnings – the more money that goes in, the greater the multiplying effect on your employees’ super savings. Dive into the full case study on the Vision Super website at the link below.
