Output 1.4 Coordinated Communications and Community Engagement

Overview

The directorate is responsible for whole of government communications, engagement, branding and public affairs advice and coordination.

The directorate provided advice on protocol and managed hospitality and ceremonial events for the Chief Minister. It managed ACT honours and awards such as the Canberra Citizen of the Year, Canberra Gold Awards, Scientist of the Year and ACT Honour Walk while providing advice and support for the Order of Australia, Public Service Medal and ACT Australian of the Year Awards.

Highlights

Against this output in 2015-16 the directorate:

  • implemented the Our Canberra digital and print approach to how the ACT Government communicates directly with Canberrans on government news, initiatives and services, including a monthly regionalised newsletter to more than 180,000 Canberra households, and monthly digital newsletter delivered to more than 30,000 subscribers;
  • implemented a whole of government media monitoring service, incorporating traditional media monitoring with digital and social media monitoring;
  • developed and implemented whole of government design and brand guidelines, including signage guidelines, to reinforce a single ‘one government’ approach to brand and identity to make it easier for the community to recognise government services, products and entities;
  • developed a new whole of government community engagement digital platform, Your Say, to provide interactive and digital engagement opportunities;
  • produced an integrated communications package for the 2016-17 ACT Budget, including traditional forms of media engagement, digital communications and regional brochures delivered to all Canberra households;
  • implemented a whole of government communications professional development program;
  • produced and implemented communications and engagement strategies for key projects including:
    • ridesharing reform regulations and introduction of Uber to Canberra;
    • Stromlo Forest Park master plan consultation and finalisation;
    • introduction of the Smart Parking trial in Manuka;
    • One Day International between India and Australia held at Manuka Oval;
    • concessions program review consultation;
    • the announcement of the first Public Private Partnership (PPP), the new $150 million Court facility; and
    • implementation of the Arts policy and Arts funding review;
  • delivered Pop-up Cabinet events in all regions across Canberra;
  • commenced work on consolidating and streamlining directorate websites, including decommissioning/archiving of legacy websites;
  • delivered public information coordination for issues that impacted or affected the safety of the Canberra community, including the Acton tunnel incident and bushfires experienced in January 2016 in West Belconnen, Mount Taylor and Mt Clear;
  • developed a new whole of ACT Government employment portal;
  • facilitated emergency communications training opportunities for staff from across directorates, including an incident management exercise alongside the ACT Emergency Services Agency, Rural Fire Service and NSW Rural Fire Services;
  • provided campaign advertising support across government and to the Independent Reviewer;
  • delivered the Canberra Gold Awards, celebrating Canberrans who have contributed to the community for 50 years, the 40th annual Canberra Citizen of the Year award and ceremony, and the ACT Australian of the Year Awards;
  • reinstated a Centenary of Canberra project, Windows to the World, with 50 diplomatic missions participating, attracting 39,000 visits;
  • coordinated the induction of six prominent Canberrans and organisations into the ACT Honour Walk, recognising their contribution to the city with commemorative plaques unveiled in Ainslie Avenue, Civic;
  • coordinated tree plantings at the National Arboretum Canberra for national and international dignitaries including the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cambridge, Their Excellencies General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC and Lady Cosgrove, the President of Tanzania and the Foreign Minister of Iran;
  • facilitated a Freedom of Entry parade to the City of Canberra for the crew of HMAS Canberra and a morning tea for local World War II veterans;
  • implemented the inaugural ACT Scientist of the Year award in 2015 and opened nominations for the 2016 award;
  • provided protocol and communications support to the Chief Minister on international delegations; and
  • provided secretariat support for the Canberra Nara Sister City Committee.

The directorate did not meet the 2015-16 targets against this output. The targets not met were:

  • (a) Average number of visits per month to the Time to Talk Canberra website, where the introduction of a new digital platform and the use of social media for notifying consultations resulted in a decrease in visits to the Time to Talk website;  and
  • (b) Annual numbers of ACT Government Digital Mail Service newsletters where the weekly newsletter was replaced with a monthly newsletter in November 2015.

Future Direction

In 2016-17 the directorate will:

  • through the Coordinated Communications Network, drive reforms to build and further improve communications and engagement capability and capacity;
  • enhance and streamline the directorate’s websites and social media accounts; and
  • conduct emergency communications training exercises for all directorate communications staff.

For further information contact:

Anita Perkins
Director
Communications
+61 2 6205 0035
Anita.Perkins@act.gov.au

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