Learning Journeys

Building on the resounding success of the Learning Journeys that were introduced at the 2004 Biennial Conference, CAPAM again offered conference participants a first-hand look at examples of innovative pratices of public administration and management.

The Learning Journeys were offered in partnership with the Government of New South Wales, and included visits to a number of their sites. Transportation was provided to conference delegates. The cost of the Learning Journey was included in the Biennial Conference registration fee.

Delegates chose from the list of Learning Journeys, described in detail below. (Summary descriptions are provided on the selection form, which can be downloaded by clicking Word format.)

Detailed description of 2006 Learning Journeys

Learning Journey #1: Sydney Airport – Security

There have been some been some significant changes recently in aviation security legislation. During the tour of Sydney Airport you will see that under this new legislation, security measures have been expanded to provide a more comprehensive regime to protect the travelling public. This learning journey will provide an insight into the management of airport security and the expanded security measures in place. Also, you will see first hand the latest technology and equipment used to maintain aviation security for the movement of people and goods.

Learning Journey #2: Customs Container Examination Facility

In this learning journey you will see how the Australian Customs Service (Customs) has implemented state-of-the-art technology and processes for inspecting sea cargo to achieve its mandate of protecting Australia’s borders.

Between November 2002 and November 2003 Customs commissioned four Contained Examination Facilities (CEFs) in the ports of Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Fremantle. The CEFs used advanced X-ray screening technology enabling Customs to significantly increase its sea cargo inspection rates. This increased inspection capacity is a core element of Australia’s heightened border protection strategy under the Government’s Tough on Drugs, Protecting our Borders and maritime security initiatives. In March 2005, Customs opened another, smaller, CEF in the Port of Adelaide. Since the commissioning of the first CEF in Melbourne in December 2002 to the end of December 2005, Customs has inspected more than 222,000 containers (310,000 twenty foot equivalent unit (TEU))¹ and physically examined over 17,000 containers $27,000 TEU). The results of the CEFs also indicate the success of this initiative. Illicit drugs with a street value of more than $1.37 billion have been seized and over $61 million in revenue evasion prevented.

Further information on the CEFs is available on the Customs website: http://www.customs.gov.au/ and go to border protection/container examination facilities.

Learning Journey #3: Job Network – Department of Employment and Workplace Relations AND the Liverpool Centrelink Customer Service Centre and Multilingual Call Centre

This combined learning journey will highlight how the work of Job Network and Centrelink offices based in Liverpool is mutually complemented through the services they provide to citizens.

Job Network has, and continues to be seen as a radical shift in the delivery of labour market assistance. The policy framework for Job Network was underpinned by a strong focus on outcomes—getting people into jobs—and a change in the role of government from that of a provider to that of a purchaser of assistance. Through this learning journey, delegates will learn how employment services in Australia are delivered and the challenges and opportunities faced by the organisations.

Centrelink’s purpose is: “Serving Australia by assisting people to become self-sufficient and supporting those in need”. Significant changes have recently been implemented to better enable workforce participation for Centrelink customers. During the tour of Liverpool Centrelink Customer Service Centre and Multilingual Call Centre, delegates will see how Centrelink’s purpose is made real for customers of differing cultural and linguistic backgrounds using the latest technology and equipment to manage the Multilingual Call Centre. This learning journey will provide an overview of operational aspects of customer service. You will be guided through the face-to-face customer experience in one of the largest Centrelink Customer Service Centres in Australia.

Learning Journey #4: Burwood Centrelink Customer Call Centre

This learning journey will provide an overview of operational aspects of customer service. You will be guided through the face-to-face customer experience in a Centrelink Customer Service Centre. Delegates will see first hand how Centrelink’s purpose is delivered to customers.

Learning Journey #5: School of the Air

The School of the Air is a successful teaching program for children in rural areas who cannot attend school due to their remote location. The ‘School of the Air’ is a symbol of the remoteness of rural Australia, which is known worldwide.

The NSW Department of Education and Training are using modern Information Communication Technology to provide a modern version of this important application. The demonstration would see the venue act like a remote homestead (or student’s home) and be able to see the teacher at the central location and communicate as a pupil would do, to both the teacher and the other children involved in that lesson.

Learning Journey #6: Specialist educational programmes focusing on performing and visual arts for secondary school students

The focus of quality teaching at Marrickville High School is embedding quality information and communication technologies (ICT) strategies into classroom practice. The school boasts two computer networks, an intranet, an IT skills centre, use of thin client technology and forty laptops for class and individual loan. Recent recognition includes web design awards for students and acknowledgement of staff expertise and commitment as recipients of the Director General’s awards for excellence in ICT for the second year in a row. Newton High School of the Performing Arts specialises in performing arts, dance, music and drama with a significant contribution to a broad range of regional, state, national and international performances. Dulwich High School of Visual Arts and Design has a specialist focus on visual arts and design education and is affiliated with the tertiary institution National Art School and the Design Centre at Technical and Further Education, Enmore.

Delegates attending this learning journey will see demonstrations of a range of specialist programmes and initiatives.

Learning Journey #7: NSW Fire Brigade—City of Sydney Fire Station

The learning journey to the City of Sydney Fire Station showcases a modern redeveloped fire station with all the innovations, technical and mechanical inherent within the design. The station design is of ‘best practice’ principles displaying staff amenities, quarters and functional areas together with an administrative presence with senior operational management based at the station. The design and functionality of the site showcases the Fire Brigades ability to meet communities’ expectations for service delivery in a modern and dynamic city while providing a conducive environment for firefighters to operate and train so as to meet those expectations.

The station was originally constructed in 1887 with current redevelopment works Stage 1 completed and Stage 2 now nearing completion. The station has very high community interaction through Pre Incident planning, a combination of firefighting, HAZMAT and rescue services, prevention and education programmes.

Learning Journey #8: Turning household waste into a valuable product - Eastern Creek Alternative Waste Technology Facility

Eastern Creek Urban Resource—Reduction, Recovery and Recycling Facility (UR-3R) is the first Alternate Waste Technology Facility for household waste in Sydney. The Facility is a Public Private Partnership between WSN Environmental Solutions and Global Renewable and represents an investment of $71 million in Western Sydney. The Eastern Creek UR-3R is a world first that uses a number of different proven technologies to provide better environmental outcomes for Sydney’s waste. It uses a four-stage process transforming household waste into valuable resources at every stage including metals, glass, paper, green electricity and compost. Designed to divert up to 80% of waste away from landfill, the Facility is also self-sufficient in energy and water.

During the learning journey delegates will walk around the facility and observe:

mechanical and manual sorting of recyclables;
the percolator that uses aerobic bacteria to treat organic waste;
the digester that further breaks down organic material using anaerobic bacteria; and,
the composting hall, where waste is continually turned for four weeks to produce compost.

Learning Journey #9: Successful urban water recycling programme - Water Reclamation and Management System, Sydney Olympic Park

Sydney Olympic Park Authority (SOPA) is nationally and internationally recognised for its leadership in environmentally sustainable development, and setting new benchmarks for future Olympics and brown fields redevelopments. SOPA has designed and build an innovative water recycling system that has proved, along side other developments such as Rouse Hill, that the dependency on Sydney Water and other dams can be drastically reduced through utilising the available technologies, best practice engineering and urban management.

The learning journey to Sydney Olympic Park will introduce delegates to the Water Reclamation and Management System, and some of the people who put the system together.

Learning Journey #10: Tour of new state of the art Mothers and Babies Clinics and Intensive Care Unit

Royal Prince Alfred Hospital is one of the oldest teaching hospitals in Australia. A 700 bed teaching and tertiary referral hospital, it has recently been transformed by a $338 million redevelopment built around the concept of clinical streams—where all the health care professionals involved in a patient’s care are located on the same floor. The intensive care service is the largest multi-speciality intensive care unit (ICU) in the country, collocating general, neurological, cardio and high dependency.

Delegates will have an opportunity to tour the hotfloor—22 operating theatres and the neonatal intensive care unit, delivery suites and birth centres of the women and babies service.

Learning Journey #11: RTA Transport Management Centre – a world leader in Traffic Management Systems

The NSW Road and Traffic Authority’s (RTA) sophisticated Transport Management Centre (TMC) monitors and manages the State’s road network 24 hours a day. It aims to ensure that the 180,000km network operates with maximum efficiency, including during peak commuter travel times, special events and following unplanned incidents such as vehicle accidents. The TMC uses advanced monitoring, communication and traffic flow systems. These systems aim to make journey times more consistent, respond to and clear traffic incidents as fast as possible and with quality, up-to-date information, help road users choose the best routes, travel times, and modes of travel.

On arrival the delegates will be taken to the Joint Operations Centre overlooking the main Transport Operations Room for a presentation, including a short film. They will then be free to ask questions while observing the operations room from the viewing area.

Learning Journey #12: Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) Head Office

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) was established in 1988 to investigate and minimise corruption in the NSW public sector. During the learning journey, the Commissioner of ICAC will provide delegates with an outline of the ICAC’s role in promoting integrity and accountability within NSW public administration. The Commissioner will also provide a background of the ICAC and an overview of its three main functions: investigations, corruption prevention activities and education.