Coonamble Shire Council gratefully acknowledges the $25,000 grant awarded by Local Government Procurement (LGP) to uplift procurement capability through a comprehensive training and internal resource development program.
Training Delivery and Participation
The grant enabled the delivery of a focused three-day program comprising:
- Procurement Lifecycle Course: Attended by 19 procurement and contracts personnel, covering foundational principles and practical processes essential to public sector procurement.
- Advanced Contracting Course: Engaged 10 staff members in complex contracting scenarios, addressing advanced negotiation, risk management, and contract administration.
Council directors, managers, and key staff were fully engaged throughout, reinforcing leadership commitment to enhancing procurement performance.
Delivering the training in-house greatly improved accessibility and participation compared to prior online training efforts. The LGTA-appointed trainer, Guriq Sedha, brought deep expertise and presented the material in an interactive, relevant manner that encouraged active learning and discussion.
Outcomes and Tangible Impacts
Since training completion, Council has progressed in drafting a bespoke suite of procurement documents and templates tailored to local governance needs. These tools are in active review and will soon be implemented organisation-wide, standardising practices, enhancing compliance, and reducing errors.
Stronger awareness and engagement with LGP’s Business Development Manager – West, Jerram Fairclough, has resulted in a valuable advisory relationship, with Jerram providing timely, practical guidance on emerging procurement challenges.
Participation in the LGP SPS Customer Reference Group Workshop in Dubbo was particularly beneficial, fostering new connections and collaborative opportunities with procurement professionals from neighbouring councils. This peer network is anticipated to be a long-term source of shared knowledge and mutual support.
Lasting Benefits and Council Independence
This grant has played a pivotal role in enabling Coonamble Shire Council to become more self-reliant in procurement management. By building internal expertise and providing customised tools, the council is reducing its historically heavy reliance on external consultants and third-party providers, which involved considerable expense.
The staff empowerment achieved through in-depth training and engagement has improved confidence and efficiency when managing procurement activities independently. This shift towards internal capability promises significant cost savings and process agility moving forward.
The cultural shift toward internal ownership of procurement practices is expected to generate enduring benefits in compliance, accountability, and service delivery to the community.
Council extends sincere gratitude to Local Government Procurement for the opportunity to participate in this transformative program. The grant has delivered measurable improvements in staff skills, document standardisation, professional networks, and sustainable procurement independence that will continue to benefit Council operations for years to come
