Technology empowering regional councils during skills shortage

With staff turnover in local government remaining well above pre-pandemic levels, recent audits of Queensland, New South Wales, and Victorian councils have highlighted the urgent need for organisations to address the skills gap in financial teams and find innovative solutions to attract and retain talent.

Australia’s local government sector is one of the country’s largest employers, but housing pressures, locational disadvantages, uncertainty of long-term funding and competitive remuneration in the private sector have made attracting and retaining qualified staff extremely challenging. This, in turn, is hindering councils’ ability to produce quality financial statements, risking significant reputational damage, economic loss, and penalties.

Effective use of technology offers a solution to this challenge. A contemporary and intuitive financial system has been shown to help attract and retain staff. According to Qualtrics, employees satisfied with their IT services and technology experience are 61% more likely to stay in their jobs.

Local ERP Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) provider TechnologyOne agrees digital solutions can help councils gain the upper hand in attracting and retaining talent while empowering them to make data-driven decisions.

City of Devonport transitioned to TechnologyOne’s SaaS enabled OneCouncil solution in 2018 and in 2021 rolled out TechnologyOne’s Enterprise Asset Management solution, equipping its outdoor workforce with mobile devices for field use.

City of Devonport’s Deputy General Manager, Jeffrey Griffith, said: “Investing in transformative technology has not only streamlined our operations but is already demonstrating an incredible return on investment. Our digital transformation has modernised operations and set us apart from other employers, demonstrating the long-term sustainability of our council and ongoing commitment to our community.”

“Being based in Tasmania, our talent pool is much smaller. Modernising our operations was key to our recruitment strategy. For someone starting their career in local government, they’re already digital natives. They don’t want to be shuffling through paperwork, performing low- value, tedious administrative tasks. They want to be empowered with the latest tools to make a bigger and more meaningful impact on their community.”

Smart digital solutions not only facilitate seamless operations, foster collaboration and enhance productivity but also unlock efficiencies and savings.

TechnologyOne local government expert Loretta Libke said: “Staff turnover directly impacts employee engagement, so it is imperative organisations leverage technology that not only enhances productivity but fosters employee satisfaction, engagement, and growth.”

“Embracing smart technology is no longer a luxury but a necessity for financial sustainability. By making strategic investments in innovative solutions, councils can not only overcome financial constraints but enhance service delivery, ensure sustainability, and meet the ever-changing needs and expectations of the communities they serve.”