Local Government

Since 1840, Local Government has played a crucial role in communities across Australia. Our 537 councils employ over 190,000 people, making up almost 10 per cent of Australia’s public sector workforce. With over 55% of Local Governments located across regional and remote Australia, and acting as the heartbeat for community, they provide our population their primary interface of Government.

With annual expenditure of approximately $45 billion and revenue generation surpassing $20 billion through rates collection, Councils form as a critical bedrock to our nation's economic contribution. Managing over $500 billion of community focused assets, Councils drive community connectivity through diverse infrastructure holdings including parks, sports fields, stadiums, golf courses, swimming pools, sport centres, libraries, art galleries and museums. With over 75 percent of the national road network managed by councils, they form a critical partner in helping our nation move.

As the closest level of Government to the community, councils play an integral role in the daily lives of citizens far beyond the essential services for which councils are often known. Councils connect communities, care for children, support learning, protect our environment, keep our food safe, regulate development and truly create the sense of pride in place that makes up a substantial part of the fabric of Australian culture.

We appreciate the substantial challenges facing councils around rapid population changes post COVID-19, changing infrastructure and service delivery obligations, financial sustainability and funding arrangements that are stretched to meet the burgeoning requirements of communities they champion.

At Orchard, our mission is to elevate the profile of local government to assist Councils create a workforce that reflects and embraces these challenges. We see Councils as beacons for our community, trusted hubs providing essential contribution to the national economy and cultural identity.

As Australia’s largest employer, Government at all levels require a new frontier of service – a service that understands community. Since our inception, Orchard Talent has assisted sectors to reimagine their workforces after periods of substantial change, reform and growth requiring an influx of capability and capacity. We stand ready to support Local Government in tackling skills shortages and meeting the attraction and retention challenges they face.

With single search, interim appointment or holistic workforce volume campaigns, our processes align with Government requirements, enabling a competitive, comprehensive, and defensible recruitment process that ensures community confidence. , and progressiveness.

In an environment of ever-increasing public scrutiny and visibility, Orchard Talent understands the complexity of mandatory management transitions and progressive targets Government is committed to. We are here to support departments and agencies to do what they do best – creative architecting and execution of solutions that support our communities.

As Australia’s largest employer, Government departments and agencies require a new frontier of service.

With single search, interim appointment or holistic workforce volume campaigns, our processes align with Government and private provider requirements, enabling a competitive, comprehensive, and defensible recruitment process.