Local Government Management Challenge Final

 Last week the Central Dust Devils represented Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) and the Northern Territory in the Australasian final of the Local Government Australasian Management Challenge.

 Up against some tough competition from one Council in each state of Australia and one from New Zealand, the Devils did CDRC proud. Our opponents were Randwick City Council (NSW), Otago Regional Council (NZ), Brisbane City Council (QLD), City of Playford (SA), City of Launceston (TAS), Maroondah City Council (VIC) and City of Mandurah (WA).

 The challenge went from Monday to Thursday with a very full on day on Tuesday where nine tasks had to be delivered. These included developing surveys, IT systems mapping, presenting a brief on an incident to the mayor, planning a park, running a public information briefing at the park, recording a radio commercial, making recommendations on tiny housing developments and more!

 Thursday saw the team make a live presentation to all other teams and judges. The challenge was supposed to be in Canberra (hence the nice Dust Devils jackets) but moved to an online challenge due to current COVID-19 restrictions in other states. The Devils had to perfect their zoom game very quickly.

 The end of the challenge saw all the team both exhausted and elated. Congratulations to Jacob Khumalo, Warren Kenney, Carmen Hunter, Aaron Tannahill, Coco Petit and Andrew Cook. You really did us all proud.

 We should know in the next few weeks who the official winners were, but all the team members are already winners and did the whole of the NT proud.

Photo above: The Central Dust Devils, with mentor Irenee McCreevy on left, then Warren Kenney, Aaron Tannahill, Jacob Khumalo, Carmen Hunter, Coco Petit and Andrew Cook.

The Dust Devils’ HQ, where tasks were completed and delivered by email to the organisers in Canberra.