Council staff embrace redeployment opportunities during COVID-19

Wollondilly Council staff whose roles have been significantly impacted by COVID-19 social distancing measures have been given the opportunity to support other critical service areas and to try something new through redeployment. Council has been adjusting its operations in line with public health guidelines for the past seven weeks, moving every possible service online and enabling staff to work from home wherever possible to limit the risk to the community. Over 200 staff are now working remotely, while essential services such as waste management, area maintenance and roadworks have continued with increased physical distancing and safety measures in place. Council’s Community Outreach worker Candice Muzevic usually drives the Dilly Wanderer, providing activities for families with small children in a number of locations and connecting with people in towns and villages across the Shire. Unable to carry out her usual routine due to the restrictions, Ms Muzevic was keen to help out some of the other teams managing heavy workloads due to COVID-19. After putting up her hand for redeployment, she found herself carrying out gardening and maintenance duties at Picton Botanic Gardens and at the Community Nursery. “I’ve been doing some physical work and getting my hands dirty in the gardens, which I’ve really enjoyed,” she said. “It’s been great to learn more about the work done by other sections of Council that I’m not usually involved in and gain an appreciation for the hard work they do.” Mayor Matthew Deeth said, “Supporting our community through the pandemic while continuing to provide essential services is the highest priority of our Council.” “It is encouraging to hear about the great work being done by some of the staff from the library and other areas who are assisting with the heavy workloads in teams such as finance, works and environment,” he said. “This has been a fantastic opportunity to learn some new skills, and do something a bit different. It demonstrates how our staff have really come together during this difficult time to support the organisation and the community.”