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Almost half of visitors to the region are here to spend time with family and friends, which means we all play a huge role in how visitors experience our region.

To help Ballarat residents be the best host they can be, the City of Ballarat’s Marketing team has launched a new website, Ballarat In The Know – the ultimate guide to what’s on and what’s new in Ballarat.

City of Ballarat Executive Manager Visitor Economy Sarah Pilgrim says it's important that we all invite those we love to Ballarat as often as we can.

“Let’s not keep Ballarat to ourselves, let's be the best host we can and share everything we love about the place we call home with everyone we know,” Sarah says.

“Take visitors for brunch at your local cafe, spend the day shopping in Ballarat boutiques, continue the conversation long into the night over a glass of local wine at your favourite bar – every dollar spent locally is a boost to Ballarat's economy.”

For local hospitality hero, MasterChef alumni and owner of the delicious Tim’s Toasties Tim Bone, sharing his passion for Ballarat with those he loves is easy.

“The Ballarat community has given me so much support, so being able to give back to them by shouting my praises of Ballarat’s food scene is very important to me,” Tim says.

“I live in Canadian, and a local place I enjoy visiting is Azzuri at Mercure. It is a great place to sit on the deck with a drink and enjoy the view of the beautiful lake in the hotel’s grounds.”

There are plenty of great food options in Ballarat.

Tim says he and his wife, Abbey, love spending time at bar and eatery Moon and Mountain when friends visit.

But for a hidden gem, Tim and Abbey recently stumbled across the Bluestone Café where they discovered a delicious plate of Nasi Goreng.

The projects, initiatives, and ideas in this article align with the following goals of the City of Ballarat Council Plan 2021-2025:

Goal 2
A healthy, connected and inclusive community

Goal 5
A strong and innovative economy and city

Through the Ballarat bus network survey (below), we’ve heard from residents that getting across the city on a bus takes longer than it should.  

Because the Ballarat bus network is designed to connect to the Ballarat Train Station, getting to and from places other than the station can be hard.  

Sometimes it means going into the city on one bus and back out again on another.  

The bus journeys shown are from examples provided by residents through the survey – along with a journey taken by the Mayor earlier this year.  

They show the routes recommended by Public Transport Victoria’s Journey Planner App to complete the journey.  

For comparison, they also show how long the same trip takes by car on the most direct route.  

These examples demonstrate one of the main reasons why we want a review of the Ballarat bus network.

Albert Street, Miners Rest to Ballarat Clarendon College/Sturt Street, Newington

Little Bridge Street, Ballarat Central to Lilburne Street, Lucas

Magpie Street/Bradshaw Street, Golden Point to Norman Street/Learmonth Road, Wendouree

Hanover Street, Delacombe to Stockland Wendouree

Midvale Shopping Centre, Mount Clear to Delacombe Town Centre

While the City of Ballarat does not run the buses - they’re run by Public Transport Victoria - City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson wanted to see for himself what it’s like to catch a bus from A – B in Ballarat. 
See the full video:

We’ve had more than 420 submissions to the Ballarat bus network survey.

So far, 429 submissions have been received from people across Ballarat. Of all responses, 78.7 per cent want more direct cross-city bus routes, 74 per cent want more frequent services and 50 per cent want faster running services.  

Almost all submitters – 97 per cent - support a review of the Ballarat bus network.  

These submissions have included many personal stories which powerfully illustrate the inadequacy of the current network and the direct impact this has on residents’ access to work, education, appointments, and social connections.

Here are some examples of what we’ve heard so far:

Alfredton resident:

I have a disability so buses are my only option for transport. To get to appointments takes so long, often I need to leave home 2 hrs before I need to be somewhere. 
Changing buses in the city wastes so much time, it can also be scary with the antisocial behaviour that goes on. 
I shouldn't have to go into the city and wait up to an hr to change buses to get somewhere that if I could drive would take 15mins. 
I live in new Alfredton, the closest bus stop is 500m from my house. If it's really hot or pouring rain, just getting to the bus is a challenge. The western part of Ballarat has not been catered for.

Wendouree resident:

Being on a disability support pension, and not having a car I rely on buses. I find I try and use services that are central so I get there by bus. If I do need to go elsewhere I need to rely on a friend or family member or taxi.

Waiting and catching a second bus to a location is often taxing for me with my pain.

I find the bridge mall bus stop a bit uncomfortable, and try not to use it, especially after school hours. I would like to see more inspectors on the bus’s.

Small interchangers could be handy to swap from one bus to another without going into the city.

Winter Valley resident:

There are no bus stops currently along Ballarat- Carngham Rd servicing the new estates such as Alluvium, Masters, Conroys Green or Ballymanus. No bus network for kids in these new estates to catch the bus to or from school. School bus network finishes on Dyson drive / Cuthberts Road

Miners Rest resident:

I would like to use the service to travel to work in (the Ballarat) CBD, but when it can take between 1-2 hours to get to work by bus, travelling on at least 2 buses (a lot of downtime waiting between buses), it’s very off putting and time consuming. Travel by car can take around 15-20 minutes.

Lucas resident:

Given the major increase (in the) size of Lucas’ population over the last couple of years, not only more frequent services are needed but also a bus route which traverses the estate (so) that residents don't have to walk far to a bus stop.

It would also allow more kids to catch the bus to the high schools in Sturt St. and hopefully reduce the growing problem of cars banked up around Eleonor Dr / Shortridge Dr/ Sturt St intersections in the morning. The same with the issues of traffic around the Arch / Ballarat High and Gillies St.

Mount Pleasant resident:

Buses run on time, which is great. But getting across town by bus is almost impossible. To get to Stockland Wendouree by bus from my house in Mt Pleasant requires two buses and about 1.5 hours travel + waiting time. 

Responses received to date have been collated, deidentified and shared with the Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll, Shadow Minister for Public Transport Richard Riordan, as well as the three Ballarat state MPs and five Western Victoria MPs.  

The City of Ballarat continues to advocate to the State Government, which runs the Ballarat bus network through Public Transport Victoria, for a review of the network.

A new project in Ballarat’s CBD is set to alleviate some of these stresses for Heidi and Ballarat residents with guide dogs and other service dogs.

Heidi had a frustrating moment in Ballarat CBD one night. At 11pm with her son in hospital with an asthma attack, the only green space Heidi could find to take her guide dog Freya to relieve herself was in the middle of Sturt Street.

“As a young woman, let alone a disabled woman, it’s very vulnerable not having a safe, dedicated green space to take Freya to relieve herself,” she says.

“I more or less have blinkers on telling people I can’t ID them if they attack me.”

This experience — and others like it — is why Heidi is pioneering the development of a dedicated assistance dog relieving station in the Ballarat CBD through her work with the Disability Advisory Committee.

The space, which is proposed for installation in Doveton Street South, will comprise a shelter with seating, some fencing (though it will not be fully enclosed) and a path as well as other nearby amenities such as a drinking fountain and rubbish bin.

The project is being funded by Regional Development Victoria, through the ‘Living Local Fund’, and the City of Ballarat.  
 

Slated for completion by the end of the year, the assistance dog relieving station will be a gamechanger for Heidi and others like her. Currently, any visit to a public space requires a significant amount of planning and forethought for Heidi.

If Heidi visits a public space, she must either bring a square metre piece of turf for Freya to relieve herself on, and then dispose of it, or meticulously plan her outing to ensure she can access green space within two hours.

“Prior to getting Freya, it didn’t even cross my mind that this would be the biggest stress about having a guide dog,” Heidi says.

“It’s the timing of things – this, by far, is the number one obstacle to having a guide dog.”

For Heidi, the other components of the dedicated assistance dog relieving station — access to a rubbish bin, a place to sit for herself and her children, a place to put Freya’s harness and her bags down — will make a big difference.

“Having this space next to Target, in the CBD, will save a lot of stress,” she says.

“It’s about putting yourself in someone else’s shoes. Have a think about it: if you were in the middle of town and had to take an assistance dog to the toilet, what would you do?” 

Sometimes accessing green space is not the only problem.  

For Heidi, the added issue of harassment — people asking her what she is doing or telling her that she cannot let Freya relieve herself in a particular space — contributes to her frustration.

“I’ve had people ask me: ‘if there’s grass there already, isn’t it safe?’,” she says.

“But unless it is an identified space, people will still ask questions or say ‘you can’t do that’, so it’s about awareness, too.”

While dedicated assistance dog relieving stations are not common practice in Victoria, City of Ballarat Community Inclusion Officer Bernadette Duffy hopes that the installation of the toileting space in Doveton Street South will increase the community’s awareness of the needs of people like Heidi.

“There are a lot of people who would have no idea that safe toileting spaces are a requirement for assistance dogs,” she says.

“But being an inclusive community is thinking about what everyone’s needs are.”

Making the needs of people with assistance dogs obvious – through things like signage and dedicated spaces – is key in raising awareness, Bernadette says.

This is why the City of Ballarat will also install temporary public art around this assistance dog relieving station, which will be developed collaboratively through guided community workshops with an artist.

“We are very aware that we are creating a space that will be used by people with low vision and who are blind, so part of thinking laterally about the art is asking: ‘how do we put a tactile element in that space or engage other senses, so we are bringing everyone on that journey?’,” Bernadette says.

“We are trying to be inclusive in the process as well as the outcome.” 
 

• The number of guide and assistance dogs registered in the City of Ballarat for 2022/23 was 67.  
• Guide dogs can toilet on command and cannot share a water bowl with other dogs due to the risk of contracting disease.  
• Legally a guide or assistance dog can go anywhere to support a person with a disability.

The projects, initiatives, and ideas in this article align with the following goals of the City of Ballarat Council Plan 2021-2025:

Goal 2 
A healthy, connected and inclusive community

What can I do about a nuisance dog in my neighbourhood?
If a dog barking is causing a nuisance, we can investigate to and help achieve a resolution.

Nuisance barking complaints are investigated by our Animal Management Officers (AMO) with your help.

While it is not an offence for dogs to bark, it is an offence for dogs to cause a nuisance.

Talk to your neighbour as early as possible, they may not know there is a problem and may be more than happy to make changes. You may be more comfortable addressing this via a letter.

Download our letter template and drop it off at your neighbour's house or in their letterbox. If this is unsuccessful, download a copy of the noise complaint diary and start keeping the seven-day noise diary.

Download a copy of the noise complaint diary and start keeping the seven-day noise diary. Our AMOs will use this as part of their investigation. Our AMOs use information from the dog owner, the resident/s being impacted by the noise, along with surrounding residents to make sure our investigations are balanced and fair.

You may need to keep more than one diary during our investigations. If you wish to make a complaint, you must be willing to give evidence in court to support your complaint if the complaint needs to go before a magistrate.

Our aim is to resolve the nuisance so that everyone can enjoy the peace and quiet of their residence as soon as possible. There may be times when a matter can’t be resolved quickly and needs to go before a magistrate. The person/s being upset by the dog will need to give evidence and the dog owner could be ordered to remove the dog, receive a punitive penalty, or both.

Basic health and welfare
Make sure there is adequate food, water, shelter, yard space, exercise, and companionship for the dog.

Keep things interesting
Have plenty of chew toys for your dog to play with. Raw bones, toys, chew ropes provide good mental stimulation.

Daily exercise
Dogs need daily exercise. A walk each day is essential for good health and good behaviour. A ten-minute walk twice a day will help as a walk past two or three houses gives a great variety of new smells to look forward to.

Larger dogs such as cattle dogs, border collies, and kelpies need more exercise than other dogs. Vigorous runs at an off-leash area help reduce problem barking.

Daily training
Training can be done easily at home. Teaching the dog to come, sit, and stay will help give good boundaries for your pet. You can also contact dog obedience clubs for more formal and intense training. 

Our AMOs can work with you and give suggestions about any behavioural issues your dog/s may be expressing or give you tools that you can use as a responsible pet owner.

There are many reasons your dog may bark, including: boredom, being lonely or wanting attention, warning that others are in the area or passing the house, your dog may not be feeling well or you may be hearing a dog being mistreated, separation anxiety, or howling in response to other dogs, sirens or other noises in the area.

You can find out more about what dog barks might sound like in our barking dog fact sheet.

Identify triggers
Once you’ve found the barking triggers, they can be reduced or removed. Try using a video or sound recording to see if roaming cats or strange noises are annoying your dog.

Sight barriers
Providing a barrier to a busy street can sometimes remove the dog's need to try to control the situation. Sometimes a doggy door for the dog to retreat inside solves the problem.

Pet minding service
Ask a neighbour to check on your dog through the day or employ someone to walk or play with them.

Aboistop (anti-barking citronella collars)
These work by distracting or discouraging the dog from barking. They are not a permanent solution and can induce fearful behaviour in some dogs.

Pet behaviour counsellor
Someone outside the situation can offer workable solutions. Your local vet can recommend a counsellor.

Avoid getting a companion dog
Until you have controlled the first dog's problem, a second dog will often add to the problem e.g. two barking dogs.

Understanding the reason why your dog barks will assist you in putting together a realistic and efficient training and/or management program to help reduce the nuisance. Additionally, your dog’s health, age, breed and physical and mental enrichment allowance per day are all likely to be contributing factors to any nuisance barking.

NOT ALL EXERCISE IS EQUAL  

Exercise breaks up your dog’s day with both mental and physical stimulation. It provides your dog with a chance to release energy, but also investigate and explore their surroundings. Dogs can go for walks and outings as often as you can take them, regardless of how big or little they are, or how big your property is; dogs are not self-exercising. Dogs who are walked frequently are less likely to exhibit problem behaviours like constant running around, excessive barking, pacing and escaping.

You could consider incorporating longer, sniffy walks as part of your routine. These can be along trails, the beach or footpaths that really encourage them to use their noses. Dog’s perceive their world predominantly through their noses, so allowing your dog to stop and sniff any time they want to on their walks (as long as it’s safe) will provide them with additional enrichment. While you may feel initially that you’ll never get anywhere, you’ll find over the weeks that the time spent sniffing particular spots diminishes. For barking dogs, a relaxing outing in the morning before you leave will be more useful in reducing barking than a full-on crazy play session with other dogs at the dog park. They will calm back feeling calmer and content, rather than on a high.
 

Our Animal Management team will:

• Give you a noise diary to log dates, times and duration of barking. These investigations cannot proceed without your help.
• Contact the dog owner and advise them of the complaint without identifying complainant.
• May do a door knock of the neighbourhood to confirm the effects on others in the neighbourhood after receiving the noise dairy.
• Officers will discuss solutions with dog owners and let them know about their responsibilities.
• If enough evidence is gathered which confirms a nuisance and no solution is being put in place by the dog owner, then the matter may be brought before the courts.

The Department of Justice funds a free dispute settlement service. This service uses mediation as a way of settling neighbourhood disputes without expensive legal action. It is a private and free service.

You can contact the Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria on 4301 7000 or dscv@justice.vic.gov.au.

Section 32 of the Domestic Animals Act 1994 states a dog or cat be a nuisance if: 

• it injures or endangers the health or any person or if it creates a noise, by barking or otherwise, which persistently occurs, or
• continues to such a degree or extent that it unreasonably interferes with the peace, comfort or convenience of any person in any other premises.

If you are in an urban residential area, your neighbour is not allowed to have a rooster. If it is causing you a nuisance, you can call us on 5320 5500 and our AMOs can speak to the owner about rehoming the rooster or surrendering it and we can find it a new home.

If you know where the cat is coming from, as a first step, you can speak to the cat owner about your concerns.

Here are some tips for your neighbour about keeping their cat inside their property:

• cat proof fencing (net barrier, pvc piping on top of fence)
• cat enclosure
• keep cats indoors 

Or check out The Department of Environment Land Water and Planning for more detailed information.

You can also hire a cat trap from the Ballarat Animal Shelter (you will need to place a refundable deposit) and return it when the cat has been trapped securely.

The City of Ballarat has a cat curfew which means that cats must be confined to their property between sunset and sunrise. You can find out more about cats and our cat curfew on our responsible pet ownership page.

Welcome to our page, Be Kind— Be Connected, designed specifically for our casual and volunteer workforce.

This platform will provide you with access to up-to-date information, helpful resources and tools to keep you connected with us. 

We will continue to communicate with you on this platform and encourage you to view the site regularly.

Please call the People and Culture team on 5320 5699 or email peopleandculture@ballarat.vic.gov.au if you have questions.

Be Kind Be Connected 7-11 February

Message from the CEO

Team,

On Thursday night, I was fortunate to attend the 2021 Victorian Tourism Awards and was thrilled to see the Events team win the top honour – Gold – for the 2021 Ballarat Heritage Festival in the Festivals and Events category. In 2021, the Ballarat Heritage Festival was expanded to a 24-day festival for the first time to give people the chance to celebrate being able to come together and experience Ballarat’s unique heritage in a COVID-safe way.

In further recognition for our organisation, the Marketing team was a finalist in the Tourism, Marketing and Campaigns category for BALLARAT, Made of: Ballarat and We Are Ballarat campaigns. These campaigns have worked to grow the important visiting friends and visiting relatives’ market, which represents 44.5 per cent of visitors to our regions.

A massive congratulations to our Events, Visitor Economy and Marketing teams, and everyone who has worked to support these teams to achieve this fantastic result for our organsiation. This recognition shows how our organisation has fought to support our city’s tourism sector through the pandemic and our post-pandemic recovery.

I have no doubt that 2022 will be another great year of events for Ballarat that will bring much needed visitors and economic support to our city. Well done all!

Have a great weekend.

Regards,

Evan

What’s news this week?

Community Satisfaction Survey begins

The City of Ballarat last week began a three-week Community Satisfaction Survey.

As a result, some residents may receive a telephone call between Monday 31 January and Monday 21 February from independent market research agency National Field Services.

Similar surveys will be undertaken across all other Victorian councils in the coming months as part of the mandatory Local Government Performance Reporting Framework.
 

Read our latest media releases on our website here. This week’s highlights:

• Imaginative exhibitions add to Ballarat’s artistic calendar

• Applications open to assist the Ballarat community
• Fresh new surface for Learmonth Bowling Club

COVID-19 organisational update

As of Friday 4 February, we have about 40 staff either with COVID-19 or isolating, if they are a close contact or awaiting a test result. 89 impacted staff have now returned to work.

For the latest COVID-19 updates to our services, including the Ballarat Animal Shelter, Ageing Well, Libraries, Pools and Visitor Information Centre, visit our website.

City of Ballarat staff invited to book in for their booster

The National COVID Vaccine Taskforce has engaged Corporate Health Management (CHM) to run an extra Vaccine Hub in Ballarat.

The City of Ballarat is providing assistance with the location and promoting information about the hub to a range of sectors.

The vaccine hub will support the COVID-19 Booster program for disability support and aged care workers, people with a disability, childcare workers, and distribution centre workers.

We encourage all eligible City of Ballarat staff to book in for their booster.

What: COVID-19 Booster Program

Who: All eligible City of Ballarat staff

Where: Ballarat Mining Exchange, 12 Lydiard Street North, Ballarat

When: Monday 7 to Friday 11 February, 10am to 6pm daily

Book here.

City of Ballarat childcare continues to support families through COVID

City of Ballarat childcare staff have shown up, day in and day out, throughout the pandemic to care for Ballarat babies, toddlers and kindergarten children.

Our childcare staff have worked on the frontline throughout the past two years to care for young children, who are ineligible to receive a vaccine, enabling families to work throughout the pandemic.

Today, childcare at the Wendouree and Girrabanya Children’s Centres looks a lot different than what it did two years ago, with increased COVID safe measures and procedures in place.

Parents now hand over their children to a staff member at the front of the centres, where possible, as part of a concierge service designed to minimise the risk of spreading the virus.

Staff have returned to wearing masks, this week receiving a supply of KN95 masks, and are now also testing for COVID twice a week with Rapid Antigen Tests.

The centres operate with an increased focus on hygiene and cleaning, children play and learn outdoors as much as possible, the centres use improved ventilation with doors and windows open, and work to maintain bubbles with staff and children to avoid cross infection.

For many of the children, the pandemic has been a huge part of their lives.

Integrated Children’s Services Manager Rebecca Karslake says children explore concepts through play – and COVID-19 is no different.

“The children have created a mask-station where they learn about wearing masks and also play supermarket shopping where they pretend to use a QR code for checking in,” she says.

When it comes to operating the centres during COVID, navigating multiple restriction changes, robust contract tracing and reporting requirements, and the impact of COVID-19 and isolation requirements within the centres during times of planned and unplanned staff leave have provided multiple curveballs.

Despite the uncertainty with increased COVID cases in the community, Rebecca says staff continue to put on a smile each day at work, where they jump in to fill any staffing gaps and lend a hand wherever needed.

This dedication has ensured the two centres have not closed their doors once due to the impact of COVID-19.

“We operate for 11 hours a day. We have been able to keep operating but it hasn’t been easy,” Rebecca says.

“I am incredibly proud of our childcare staff – their teamwork, resilience and the way they look after each other is amazing. They just focus on the growth, development and learning of the children.”

The centres spent the past two years preparing for a positive case of COVID-19. The first positive case was reported in early January. There have since been multiple examples of children and staff who are currently isolating due to contracting COVID-19 or who are close contacts.

The organisation has also rallied behind the centres to ensure they continue to keep their doors open.

The mySafety team has provided ongoing assistance and support, including providing access to online group debriefing sessions via our Employee Assistance Program, while the People and Culture team has worked to fast-track the recruitment process to ensure a pool of casual staff are available to work.

“It ensures we can stay open and provide care for children, including vulnerable children, and the critical workers in our community,” Family and Children’s Services Executive Manager Sharelle Knight says.

"We are also supporting our families to continue to work as well. If we were to fully or partially close centres, there would be many Ballarat families unable to work.

Sharelle says all of the staff are impacted in different ways by the pandemic.

“They may have caring responsibilities for young children or elderly parents or someone with a health condition at home so there are anxieties about taking COVID home to their loved ones or, just as equally, anxieties about bringing COVID into their workplace,” she says.

“I have the utmost respect for our childcare and support staff – we are grateful to have such a wonderful team supporting children’s education and wellbeing at this time.”

Free cat desexing program

Do you have a pregnant cat or an accidental litter of kittens?

The Ballarat Animal Shelter has launched the National Desexing Program for the Ballarat municipality.

This initiative will provide free cat desexing up until 30 June 2022 for City of Ballarat residents with an eligible concession card.

The City of Ballarat is partnering with the National Desexing Network and participating vets to make veterinary care more accessible.

New exhibition in Ballarat Art Space

Did you know the City of Ballarat has two community spaces to provide emerging artists with the opportunity to exhibit their creations and reach a wider audience?

The latest exhibition in Art Space Ballarat, located at the front of the Mining Exchange, is currently exhibiting Entangled, a collection of works by CharisArt Group.

Each of the six artists work with different materials creating contemporary art works while using traditional techniques.

We encourage you to drop in, meet the artists and check out their creations.

Open Wednesday to Sunday, 11am to 5pm until 6 March.

And finally...

A giant boom box delivers live music to the CBD

Photos: Meda Design.

The City of Ballarat’s Boom Box is bringing music back to the city centre and giving local musicians a platform.

The Ballarat Boom Box will present a series of free live performances in various locations every Thursday, Friday and Saturday until April.

Discover more here.

Here are some essential resources that can assist.

Mental Health

Employee Assistance Programhe City of Ballarat offers the Converge International Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for all staff and their families.

This free short-term service provides confidential counselling, coaching and support strategies for workplace and personal issues.

It is entirely confidential. Names will not be stated on any documentation. This is a non-judgemental service that is respectful of religious and cultural differences.

If needed, crisis counselling is available 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Counselling is available over the phone, including critical response, on 1300 687 327 or email eap@convergeintl.com.au

Other support:

• Beyond Blue
• Black Dog Institute
• Lifeline
• 1800 RESPECT

Physical health

Ballarat Health Services Base Hospital
Call 5320 4000

Ballarat COVID-19 Clinic
Lucas Community Hub
(Visits by appointment only)
Call 4311 1571

Victorian COVID-19 Hotline
Call 1800 675 398

National COVID-19 Hotline
Call 1800 020 080

St John of God Ballarat Hospital
Call 5320 2111

NDIS
Call 1800 800 110

After Hours GP Hotline
Call 1800 022 222

Nurse on Call
1300 60 60 24
 

Financial assistance

Support packages - Working for Victoria

Department of Social Services support - Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support

Loan Help - Coronavirus (COVID-19) mortgage repayment support

Services Australia Centrelink - Individuals by affected Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Information, advice and legal representation to promote and protect the rights of Victorians who rent their homes Tenants Victoria 

Free financial counselling - National Debt Hotline

Meet your Contact Officers

As part of CEO Janet Dore’s commitment to improving culture at City of Ballarat, the P&C team is pleased to announce a new Contact Officer program.

This program will help to create a safe and harmonious workplace which is free of discrimination, harassment or bullying.

P&C has appointed the people listed below as the organisation’s new Contact Officers.

In addition to our existing complaints mechanism processes, volunteers can go to a Contact Officer for guidance on our Bullying, Harassment and Equal Opportunity policies.

Your Contact Officers

You can contact any of the Contact Officers, whoever you feel most comfortable with, during their usual working hours to arrange a mutually convenient time to meet.

For those not familiar with the role of a Contact Officer, some answers to some frequently asked questions are below.

What are Contact Officers?

Bullying, Harassment and Discrimination Contact Officers are staff who have volunteered to be trained to assist other staff and volunteers with any enquiries about our organisation’s policies relating to discrimination, sexual harassment or bullying. 

Why are Contact Officers important?

Contact Officers are important because they help ensure that all staff understand their rights and obligations in relation to maintaining a workplace that is free of bullying, harassment and discrimination.

Contact Officers can help you understand more about our policies. They can also act as  a source of additional information and support for any member of staff who believes they are experiencing bullying, harassment or discrimination or whom has been accused of bullying, harassing or discriminatory behaviour.

How are Contact Officers selected?

Prior to being appointed as a Contact Officer, volunteers must be able to demonstrate:

• A commitment and understanding of EEO and diversity principles
• The ability to liaise effectively with people at all levels of the organisation while acting discreetly, objectively, impartially and maintaining confidentiality
• The capacity to be accessible to staff when required.

In order to ensure the right number and location of Contact Officers where possible we endeavor to select Contact Officers from different parts of the organisation. This ensures that there is a contact officer whom you are likely to know but also ensures that there is someone from outside of your department you can talk to if you would prefer.

What will a Contact Officer do?

A Contact Officer will:

• listen to you if you feel that you have been discriminated against, sexually harassed or bullied
• help you to clarify issues
• offer you options for dealing with a situation
• maintain confidentiality (provided there is no imminent risk to your or other's health and safety), and
• provide information to staff on your organisation's policies.

What won't a Contact Officer do?

A Contact Officer will not:

• discuss your case with anyone without your permission
• advocate on your behalf
• resolve or investigate complaints or
• take over your case or try to push you to take any particular action.

What if a Contact Officer can't help me?

If you are unsure whether your enquiry relates to discrimination, sexual harassment or bullying, Contact Officers may be able to provide advice on who to contact if they are unable to help.

Where do I go if I have more questions?

If you require further information you can review our Equal Opportunity, Harassment and Bullying policies or speak to one of our Contact Officers.

POSITIONS VACANT

Externally advertised positions

Check the City of Ballarat website for all externally advertised roles by clicking here.

Internally advertised positions

To apply please send in your cover letter, resume and key selection criteria to the applications inbox at applications@ballarat.vic.gov.au

For a copy of all position descriptions please contact People and Culture at peopleandculture@ballarat.vic.gov.au or call 5320 5699.