MAVlab Innovation Case Study Library
Celebrating impact, scaling innovation and building our Victorian local government's capability.
Across Victoria, councils are leading to innovate and create value testing and scaling new approaches. Dive into the finalists of the 2025 MAVlab Innovation Awards in our Innovation Library below. These case studies provide tested approaches to shared council and community challenges for sector wide learning and inspiration.
Scaled one of these ideas? Tell us! Reach out to us at MAVlab@mav.asn.au so we can understand how these council approaches are creating value in your municipality.
Learn more about the 2026 MAVlab Innovation Awards
Explore the Library
Search by theme, council or award, or scroll down to see all projects.
Explore by Theme
► Themes
Active Local Democracy
► Projects
- BayBot (Bayside City Council)
- Climate Action Living Lab (CALL) (Casey City Council)
- Knowledge Bank Working Group (City of Melbourne)
- Living Labs (Casey City Council)
- Mallee Women: Sharing Stories, Shaping Equality (Mildura Rural City Council)
- Make Room (City of Melbourne)
- Merri-bek Democracy Lab
- 'My Mitchell' Mobile App (Mitchell Shire Council)
- Peninsula Tales (Mornington Peninsula Shire Council)
Climate and Regenerative Design
► Projects
- Climate Action Living Lab (CALL) (Casey City Council)
- Community Infrastructure for Flood Recovery and Resilience (Mount Alexander Shire Council)
- Melbourne's Stormwater Sensing Pilot (City of Melbourne)
- Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre (Darebin City Council)
- Our Country, Our Way - Embedding Indigenous Perspectives in Land and Emergency Management (Yarra Ranges Shire Council)
- Private Electric Vehicle Kerbside Charging Project (Port Phillip City Council)
- Queen Victoria Market Circular Economy Precinct (City of Melbourne)
- Renewals for Nature (City of Melbourne)
- Soft Plastics Circular Contract (Brimbank City Council)
- Solar Saver (Darebin City Council)
Connected Places
► Projects
- Bass Coast Homelessness Think Tank
- The Harbour: Social Housing Pilot (Darebin City Council)
- Mallee Women: Sharing Stories, Shaping Equality (Mildura Rural City Council)
- Make Room (City of Melbourne)
- Margie McKay, Greater Geelong City Council
- Merri-bek Democracy Lab
- MyLot (Yarra Ranges Shire Council)
- Our Country, Our Way - Embedding Indigenous Perspectives in Land and Emergency Management (Yarra Ranges Shire Council)
- Public Art Conservation Program (Ballarat City Council)
- Queen Victoria Market Circular Economy Precinct (City of Melbourne)
- Shaping the Future of Noojee (Baw Baw Shire Council)
- Welcome Baby to Wurundjeri Country Ceremony (Brimbank City Council, Maribyrnong City Council)
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
► Projects
- #Filtered Body Image Project (Greater Dandenong City Council)
- #Proud2Be (Greater Dandenong City Council)
- Beach Safety: Innovation and Collaboration in Bass Coast
- Gendering in a New Era in Sport Project (Mildura Rural City Council)
- The Harbour: Social Housing Pilot (Darebin City Council)
- Mallee Women: Sharing Stories, Shaping Equality (Mildura Rural City Council)
- Make Room (City of Melbourne)
- Merri-bek Democracy Lab
- Mitchell Shire Council Gender Impact Assessment App
- Safe Haven (Mornington Peninsula Shire Council)
First Peoples Engagement
► Projects
Future Gen
► Projects
- #Filtered Body Image Project (Greater Dandenong City Council)
- #Proud2Be (Greater Dandenong City Council)
- Banyule's 1000 Jobs Project
- Beach Safety: Innovation and Collaboration in Bass Coast
- Gendering in a New Era in Sport Project (Mildura Rural City Council)
- Growing Our Own Early Years Workforce (Corangamite Shire Council)
- Safe Haven (Mornington Peninsula Shire Council)
- Welcome Baby to Wurundjeri Country Ceremony (Brimbank City Council, Maribyrnong City Council)
Futures of Local Government
► Projects
- Amanda Kern (Nillumbik Shire Council, Yarra Ranges Shire Council)
- Banyule's 1000 Jobs Project
- Banyule's Continuous Improvement Team
- Bass Coast Homelessness Think Tank
- Caring Across Communities (Glen Eira City Council, Bayside City Council)
- Christian Stefani, South Gippsland Shire Council
- Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Project Team, Manningham City Council
- Jay Smith, Mildura Rural City Council
- Knowledge Bank Working Group (City of Melbourne)
- Learning & Development Team, City of Melbourne
- Lisa Ippolito, Whitehorse City Council
- Living Labs (Casey City Council)
- Margie McKay, Greater Geelong City Council
- Mornington Peninsula Shire AI Experimentation Journey
- Open Data Exchange Insights Pages (Casey City Council)
- Scot Walker, Greater Dandenong City Council
- Simon McMillan, Whitehorse City Council
- Smart Asset Monitoring at Casey Fields (Casey City Council)
- Smart Start (Casey City Council)
- Tavis Vallance, Boroondara City Council
- Welcome Baby to Wurundjeri Country Ceremony (Brimbank City Council, Maribyrnong City Council)
Health and Wellbeing
► Projects
- #Filtered Body Image Project (Greater Dandenong City Council)
- #Proud2Be (Greater Dandenong City Council)
- Banyule's 1000 Jobs Project
- Bass Coast Homelessness Think Tank
- Beach Safety: Innovation and Collaboration in Bass Coast
- Caring Across Communities (Glen Eira City Council, Bayside City Council)
- Community Infrastructure for Flood Recovery and Resilience (Mount Alexander Shire Council)
- Gendering in a New Era in Sport Project (Mildura Rural City Council)
- Growing Our Own Early Years Workforce (Corangamite Shire Council)
- The Harbour: Social Housing Pilot (Darebin City Council)
- Safe Haven (Mornington Peninsula Shire Council)
Intergenerational Infrastructure
► Projects
- Caring Across Communities (Glen Eira City Council, Bayside City Council)
- Community Infrastructure for Flood Recovery and Resilience (Mount Alexander Shire Council)
- Growing Our Own Early Years Workforce (Corangamite Shire Council)
- Melbourne's Stormwater Sensing Pilot (City of Melbourne)
- MyLot (Yarra Ranges Shire Council)
- Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre (Darebin City Council)
- Private Electric Vehicle Kerbside Charging Project (Port Phillip City Council)
- Public Art Conservation Program (Ballarat City Council)
- Renewals for Nature (City of Melbourne)
- Safe Haven (Mornington Peninsula Shire Council)
- Shaping the Future of Noojee (Baw Baw Shire Council)
- Smart Asset Monitoring at Casey Fields (Casey City Council)
- Soft Plastics Circular Contract (Brimbank City Council)
- Solar Saver (Darebin City Council)
- Timber Transition: Upper Yarra Local Development Strategy (Yarra Ranges Shire Council)
Resilience, Recovery and Risk
► Projects
- Community Infrastructure for Flood Recovery and Resilience (Mount Alexander Shire Council)
- Jay Smith, Mildura Rural City Council
- Melbourne's Stormwater Sensing Pilot (City of Melbourne)
- Our Country, Our Way - Embedding Indigenous Perspectives in Land and Emergency Management (Yarra Ranges Shire Council)
- Private Electric Vehicle Kerbside Charging Project (Port Phillip City Council)
- Public Art Conservation Program (Ballarat City Council)
- Queen Victoria Market Circular Economy Precinct (City of Melbourne)
- Renewals for Nature (City of Melbourne)
- Scot Walker, Greater Dandenong City Council
- Shaping the Future of Noojee (Baw Baw Shire Council)
- Solar Saver (Darebin City Council)
- Timber Transition: Upper Yarra Local Development Strategy (Yarra Ranges Shire Council)
Service Innovation and Technology
► Projects
- Amanda Kern (Nillumbik Shire Council, Yarra Ranges Shire Council)
- BayBot (Bayside City Council)
- Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Project Team, Manningham City Council
- Knowledge Bank Working Group (City of Melbourne)
- Lisa Ippolito, Whitehorse City Council
- Mornington Peninsula Shire AI Experimentation Journey
- 'My Mitchell' Mobile App (Mitchell Shire Council)
- MyLot (Yarra Ranges Shire Council)
- Open Data Exchange Insights Pages (Casey City Council)
- Peninsula Tales (Mornington Peninsula Shire Council)
- Smart Start (Casey City Council)
Sustainable Economies
► Projects
- Banyule's 1000 Jobs Project
- Caring Across Communities (Glen Eira City Council, Bayside City Council)
- Climate Action Living Lab (CALL) (Casey City Council)
- Growing Our Own Early Years Workforce (Corangamite Shire Council)
- Living Labs (Casey City Council)
- Shaping the Future of Noojee (Baw Baw Shire Council)
- Soft Plastics Circular Contract (Brimbank City Council)
- Solar Saver (Darebin City Council)
- Timber Transition: Upper Yarra Local Development Strategy (Yarra Ranges Shire Council)
Explore by Council
► Councils
Ballarat City Council
Banyule City Council
Bass Coast Shire Council
► Projects
Baw Baw Shire Council
► Projects
Bayside City Council
Boroondara City Council
► Projects
Brimbank City Council
► Projects
Casey City Council
► Projects
Corangamite Shire Council
► Projects
Darebin City Council
Glen Eira City Council
Greater Dandenong City Council
Greater Geelong City Council
Manningham City Council
Maribyrnong City Council
► Projects
Melbourne City Council (City of Melbourne)
► Projects
Merri-bek City Council
► Projects
Mildura Rural City Council
► Projects
Mitchell Shire Council
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council
Mount Alexander Shire Council
Nillumbik Shire Council
Port Phillip City Council
South Gippsland Shire Council
Whitehorse City Council
Yarra Ranges Shire Council
Explore by Award
► Awards
2025 Innovatio Pro Bono Publico Award: Leader
► Projects
2025 Innovatio Pro Bono Publico Award: Emerging Leader
► Projects
The Connector Award for Community Inclusion and Cohesion
► Projects
- Merri-bek Democracy Lab (Merri-bek City Council) WINNER
- #Proud2Be (Greater Dandenong City Council) FINALIST
- Community Infrastructure for Flood Recovery and Resilience (Mount Alexander Shire Council) FINALIST
- Our Country, Our Way - Embedding Indigenous Perspectives in Land and Emergency Management (Yarra Ranges Shire Council) FINALIST
- Shaping the Future of Noojee (Baw Baw Shire Council) FINALIST
The Energiser Award for Climate Resilience and Adaptation
► Projects
The Engage Award for Impactful and Inclusive Storytelling
► Projects
- Peninsula Tales (Mornington Peninsula Shire Council) WINNER
- Bass Coast Homelessness Think Tank FINALIST
- BayBot (Bayside City Council) FINALIST
- Beach Safety: Innovation and Collaboration in Bass Coast FINALIST
- Mallee Women: Sharing Stories, Shaping Equality (Mildura Rural City Council) FINALIST
- Open Data Exchange Insights Pages (Casey City Council) FINALIST
The Fin-novation Award for Financial Ingenuity
► Projects
The Future is Maintenance Award for Asset Management
► Projects
The Insights Award for Leadership in Data-driven Decision-making
► Projects
The Now and Forever Award for Impact and Legacy
► Projects
The Refuge Award for Innovation in Safe Spaces for Community
► Projects
The Sandbox Award for Experimentation Practice
► Projects
The Smooth Sailing Award for Service Optimisation and CX
► Projects
The Stronger Together Award for Council Collaboration
► Projects
The Systems and Cycles Award for Regenerative Design
► Projects
The Thrive Award for Leadership in Change Management
► Projects
The Wellbeing Award for Community Health Impacts
► Projects
Case Studies Showcase
 #Filtered Body Image Project Greater Dandenong City Council |  #Proud2Be Project Greater Dandenong City Council |  Amanda Kern Nillumbik and Yarra Ranges Shire Councils |  Banyule's 1000 Jobs Project Banyule City Council |
 Banyule's Continuous Improvement Team Banyule City Council |  Bass Coast Homelessness Think Tank Bass Coast Shire Council |  BayBot Bayside City Council |  Beach Safety: Innovation and Collaboration in Bass Coast Bass Coast Shire Council |
 Caring Across Communities Glen Eira and Bayside City Councils |  Christian Stefani South Gippsland Shire Council |  Climate Action Living Lab (CALL) Casey City Council |  Community Infrastructure for Flood Recovery and Resilience Mount Alexander Shire Council |
 Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Project Team Manningham City Council |  Gendering in a New Era in Sport Project Mildura Rural City Council |  Growing Our Own Early Years Workforce Corangamite Shire Council |  The Harbour: Social Housing Pilot Darebin City Council |
 Jay Smith Mildura Rural City Council |  Knowledge Bank Working Group City of Melbourne |  Learning and Development Team City of Melbourne |  Lisa Ippolito Whitehorse City Council |
 Living Labs Casey City Council |  Make Room City of Melbourne |  Mallee Women: Sharing Stories, Shaping Equality Mildura Rural Shire Council |  Margie McKay Greater Geelong City Council |
 Melbourne's Stormwater Sensing Pilot City of Melbourne |  Merri-bek Democracy Lab Merri-bek City Council |  Mitchell Shire Council Gender Impact Assessment App Mitchell Shire Council |  Mornington Peninsula Shire AI Experimentation Journey Mornington Peninsula Shire Council |
 'My Mitchell' Mobile App Mitchell Shire Council |  MyLot Yarra Ranges Shire Council |  Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre Darebin City Council |  Open Data Exchange Insights Pages Casey City Council |
 Our Country, Our Way (Land and Emergency Management) Yarra Ranges Shire Council |  Peninsula Tales Mornington Peninsula Shire Council |  Private Electric Vehicle Kerbside Charging Project Port Philip City Council |  Public Art Conservation Program Ballarat City Council |
 Queen Victoria Market Circular Economy Precinct City of Melbourne |  Renewals for Nature City of Melbourne |  Safe Haven Mornington Peninsula Shire Council |  Scott Walker Greater Dandenong City Council |
 Shaping the Future of Noojee Baw Baw Shire Council |  Simon McMillan Whitehorse City Council |  Smart Asset Monitoring at Casey Fields Casey City Council |  Smart Start (Employee Onboarding System) Casey City Council |
 Soft Plastics Circular Contract Brimbank City Council |  Solar Saver Darebin City Council |  Tavis Vallance Boroondara City Council |  Timber Transition: Upper Yarra Local Development Strategy Yarra Ranges Shire Council |
 Welcome Baby to Wurundjeri Country Ceremony Brimbank City Council and Maribyrnong City Council |
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