But a very proactive Moonee Valley City Council are doing some great things. I've just about to conclude a competition which has involved inclusiveness. Let's chat about it with the Deputy Mayor, Fran Cosgrove. Fran, lovely to meet you and thank you so much for your time.

But a very proactive Moonee Valley City Council are doing some great things. I've just about to conclude a competition which has involved inclusiveness. Let's chat about it with the Deputy Mayor, Fran Cosgrove. Fran, lovely to meet you and thank you so much for your time.

Oh thank you Peter. Lovely to be here.

Oh thank you Peter. Lovely to be here.

Now the competition is getting towards the end, so maybe give us a bit of background on it. How, how and why have you done this?

Now the competition is getting towards the end, so maybe give us a bit of background on it. How, how and why have you done this?

Well, we're trying um, it's part of our accessibility and inclusion program to see how we're going in Rincon Valley and what we can be doing better. Um, so we really wanted to just put the call out to people in Moonee Valley to tell us what an inclusive Moonee Valley looks like to them, what you know, what we're doing well, or what they could see us doing better in the future.

Well, we're trying um, it's part of our accessibility and inclusion program to see how we're going in Rincon Valley and what we can be doing better. Um, so we really wanted to just put the call out to people in Moonee Valley to tell us what an inclusive Moonee Valley looks like to them, what you know, what we're doing well, or what they could see us doing better in the future.

And using a kind of an art sort of focus or through the eyes of an artist, if I can put it that way.

And using a kind of an art sort of focus or through the eyes of an artist, if I can put it that way.

Yeah, we've set it up so that you can kind of make contributions in a few different ways. Um, and some of those say, photographs or drawings, or it can be verbal messages or a written submission. And some of the photos and drawings that have been coming through up until by the team are really wonderful. So that's been, yeah, a really exciting way to get information from people.

Yeah, we've set it up so that you can kind of make contributions in a few different ways. Um, and some of those say, photographs or drawings, or it can be verbal messages or a written submission. And some of the photos and drawings that have been coming through up until by the team are really wonderful. So that's been, yeah, a really exciting way to get information from people.

And I don't know if you know, but across the age range, I assume.

And I don't know if you know, but across the age range, I assume.

Certainly open for people right across, you know, the lifespan. Um, I haven't had any feedback from the team about what that looks like at the moment, but I'm sure if we're missing anyone, they'll be trying to target those audiences, because we definitely want to hear from the whole, you know, from the start of life to the end, how.

Certainly open for people right across, you know, the lifespan. Um, I haven't had any feedback from the team about what that looks like at the moment, but I'm sure if we're missing anyone, they'll be trying to target those audiences, because we definitely want to hear from the whole, you know, from the start of life to the end, how.

We can do better. Start from the start to the end and also in the middle. What about in terms of the response? Uh, did you get good numbers? I guess it's one thing to sort of say, well, here we are. What do you think? It's another thing for the public to kind of respond and react to your invitation.

We can do better. Start from the start to the end and also in the middle. What about in terms of the response? Uh, did you get good numbers? I guess it's one thing to sort of say, well, here we are. What do you think? It's another thing for the public to kind of respond and react to your invitation.

Yeah. Numbers have been really good. So the team, like a well-oiled machine at getting it out on our social media and reaching out to different community groups to to to make sure we've spread the word as wide and far as possible. And really excitingly, we've had lots of people get back to us. It probably helps that, yeah, it's a competition. So we've got some prizes on offer as well. Yeah. So a good and it's not quite over I should say. I think it's closing um, tomorrow, Sunday the 25th of May. So it's still a little bit of time. If anyone's got an idea.

Yeah. Numbers have been really good. So the team, like a well-oiled machine at getting it out on our social media and reaching out to different community groups to to to make sure we've spread the word as wide and far as possible. And really excitingly, we've had lots of people get back to us. It probably helps that, yeah, it's a competition. So we've got some prizes on offer as well. Yeah. So a good and it's not quite over I should say. I think it's closing um, tomorrow, Sunday the 25th of May. So it's still a little bit of time. If anyone's got an idea.

Well, I guess in this day and age, you don't have to rely on Australia Post to get your entry in, do you? You can, uh, enter in all sorts of ways that will get to you very, very quickly and, uh, sort of avoid any, uh, any postal delays. Has there been a theme that's kind of emerged or anything that perhaps you think, oh, actually, we hadn't thought of it that way or something along those lines.

Well, I guess in this day and age, you don't have to rely on Australia Post to get your entry in, do you? You can, uh, enter in all sorts of ways that will get to you very, very quickly and, uh, sort of avoid any, uh, any postal delays. Has there been a theme that's kind of emerged or anything that perhaps you think, oh, actually, we hadn't thought of it that way or something along those lines.

Ooh, great question. I think that's yet to be seen. For me at least the team might have a bit more of an idea they have. I know that there's quite a range, so we've got people talking about kind of health and wellbeing activities. And then there's things about kind of fairness and um, like, you know, leisure, just getting out to the shops or the sporting clubs are like. So it's been a really broad range of submissions, but I'll have to ask if there are any that surprised the team. Certainly we'll, you know, we'll put together a collation of all of them and some fine. So.

Ooh, great question. I think that's yet to be seen. For me at least the team might have a bit more of an idea they have. I know that there's quite a range, so we've got people talking about kind of health and wellbeing activities. And then there's things about kind of fairness and um, like, you know, leisure, just getting out to the shops or the sporting clubs are like. So it's been a really broad range of submissions, but I'll have to ask if there are any that surprised the team. Certainly we'll, you know, we'll put together a collation of all of them and some fine. So.

You know, you've kind of gone out and asked for it. I you know, we as people in the community don't expect you to know everything. I guess more it's have you thought about this and then how you react to it. That's kind of the the critical thing in a sense, isn't it?

You know, you've kind of gone out and asked for it. I you know, we as people in the community don't expect you to know everything. I guess more it's have you thought about this and then how you react to it. That's kind of the the critical thing in a sense, isn't it?

Yeah, absolutely. And that's so valuable. You know we don't know what we don't know.

Yeah, absolutely. And that's so valuable. You know we don't know what we don't know.

Yeah that's right.

Yeah that's right.

Yeah. And people, you know, living with disability or neurodivergence or who care for people, you know, they they have their own lives and they face all sorts of challenges that we might not recognize. And there are all sorts of strengths that they would like to be better able to, you know, contribute to the community. So it'll be exciting to find out what we don't know yet.

Yeah. And people, you know, living with disability or neurodivergence or who care for people, you know, they they have their own lives and they face all sorts of challenges that we might not recognize. And there are all sorts of strengths that they would like to be better able to, you know, contribute to the community. So it'll be exciting to find out what we don't know yet.

But I think that's a really good point about the fact that people are really busy. You know, you're kind of flat out, you know, living your life day to day. So if people feel strongly about something like this and they've gone to the trouble to put in an entry, if I can put it that way. But that says a lot. I mean, they're obviously very passionate about whatever they're putting in to go to the effort to do that both the time and the effort and the sort of creativity of it. If they've chosen that sort of format that says a lot about, you know, how they feel about the particular topic or area that they've covered.

But I think that's a really good point about the fact that people are really busy. You know, you're kind of flat out, you know, living your life day to day. So if people feel strongly about something like this and they've gone to the trouble to put in an entry, if I can put it that way. But that says a lot. I mean, they're obviously very passionate about whatever they're putting in to go to the effort to do that both the time and the effort and the sort of creativity of it. If they've chosen that sort of format that says a lot about, you know, how they feel about the particular topic or area that they've covered.

Yeah, you're so right, Peter. And we're so now I'm so grateful. And I think I can speak on behalf of all the staff as well for people who have taken the time to. Yeah, I suppose put in an entry or give us some feedback or tell us a little bit about, you know, what their life looks like in many Valley in terms of inclusivity. Like, it's such a, um, such rich, valuable information, and we're so grateful to everyone who's taken the time to contribute.

Yeah, you're so right, Peter. And we're so now I'm so grateful. And I think I can speak on behalf of all the staff as well for people who have taken the time to. Yeah, I suppose put in an entry or give us some feedback or tell us a little bit about, you know, what their life looks like in many Valley in terms of inclusivity. Like, it's such a, um, such rich, valuable information, and we're so grateful to everyone who's taken the time to contribute.

And no pressure, Fran. But I guess when you when you're in a city council or sort of a smaller part of government, if you like, than, you know, the, the states and federal et-cetera, you kind of maybe got a little bit more scope to sort of act because, uh, you know, you're sort of close to the people. Would that be kind of a fair assumption on my part?

And no pressure, Fran. But I guess when you when you're in a city council or sort of a smaller part of government, if you like, than, you know, the, the states and federal et-cetera, you kind of maybe got a little bit more scope to sort of act because, uh, you know, you're sort of close to the people. Would that be kind of a fair assumption on my part?

Yeah. I would say that we have, um, a good ability to be targeted, perhaps. You know, we certainly don't have as much as much money as the other levels have, of course, but because we're local, we can be a bit, um, yeah, targeted or more responsive to the specific needs of, you know, our community and what's going on as opposed to really broad brush approach. And that's really special. And people really, you know, I think appreciate that and respond well to it when we do it. Right. And we're listening. And, you know, people are really generous in giving them, giving us their feedback on what we can do better and locally. And then, um, yeah, we're really keen to do our best to try and deliver that.

Yeah. I would say that we have, um, a good ability to be targeted, perhaps. You know, we certainly don't have as much as much money as the other levels have, of course, but because we're local, we can be a bit, um, yeah, targeted or more responsive to the specific needs of, you know, our community and what's going on as opposed to really broad brush approach. And that's really special. And people really, you know, I think appreciate that and respond well to it when we do it. Right. And we're listening. And, you know, people are really generous in giving them, giving us their feedback on what we can do better and locally. And then, um, yeah, we're really keen to do our best to try and deliver that.

Well, people can identify with that a lot more as well, can't they? I mean, if you're thinking, you know, a federal or a state government initiative or something, you'd like to see change at that level, that's probably going to take more time, more effort, you know, jump through a lot more hoops that, uh, the sort of local government level, as I say, you kind of almost well, you literally reach out and touch it.

Well, people can identify with that a lot more as well, can't they? I mean, if you're thinking, you know, a federal or a state government initiative or something, you'd like to see change at that level, that's probably going to take more time, more effort, you know, jump through a lot more hoops that, uh, the sort of local government level, as I say, you kind of almost well, you literally reach out and touch it.

Yes. Yeah. And I mean, that's what I love about local government is, um, you can have such immediate contact with the community. I mean, you're part of the community usually. Yeah. And, um, it'd be nice if we could be slightly more nimble. We still. It feels like still being in government. You get, um, slow down. But being close to the community, we have really good relationships with lots of community groups, and they're certainly very nimble and dynamic and, you know, have the most brilliant ideas. And so I guess the the best thing I think we often do is in supporting them, you know, helping them bring their ideas to life.

Yes. Yeah. And I mean, that's what I love about local government is, um, you can have such immediate contact with the community. I mean, you're part of the community usually. Yeah. And, um, it'd be nice if we could be slightly more nimble. We still. It feels like still being in government. You get, um, slow down. But being close to the community, we have really good relationships with lots of community groups, and they're certainly very nimble and dynamic and, you know, have the most brilliant ideas. And so I guess the the best thing I think we often do is in supporting them, you know, helping them bring their ideas to life.

And there's things that people get involved with very much on a day to day basis on the weekend or sort of after school, after work, those sort of activities, those sort of facilities that they might use that you know, they kind of, you know, I'm repeating myself again in a sense, but they're kind of things that people can very easily identify with.

And there's things that people get involved with very much on a day to day basis on the weekend or sort of after school, after work, those sort of activities, those sort of facilities that they might use that you know, they kind of, you know, I'm repeating myself again in a sense, but they're kind of things that people can very easily identify with.

Yeah, exactly. I hope so, certainly when we're doing it well and and the community feel like they've got places to be involved, then I think you're right. It's people feel very strongly about them and have lots of ideas and feel quite involved.

Yeah, exactly. I hope so, certainly when we're doing it well and and the community feel like they've got places to be involved, then I think you're right. It's people feel very strongly about them and have lots of ideas and feel quite involved.

Now we've got a link to our people can put in their submission in the last maybe 24 or 36 hours, maybe till midnight on Sunday the 25th. We've got a link which we can put up with our show notes, and people can go there to check it out. But congratulations on the initiative. I had a great chat to your mayor over earlier in the year, so it certainly sounds like the Moonee Valley City Council are doing a lot of work and this is inclusiveness area, which is so important, particularly given what's on in other parts of the world. But you don't have to comment on that part of it. Fran.

Now we've got a link to our people can put in their submission in the last maybe 24 or 36 hours, maybe till midnight on Sunday the 25th. We've got a link which we can put up with our show notes, and people can go there to check it out. But congratulations on the initiative. I had a great chat to your mayor over earlier in the year, so it certainly sounds like the Moonee Valley City Council are doing a lot of work and this is inclusiveness area, which is so important, particularly given what's on in other parts of the world. But you don't have to comment on that part of it. Fran.

Thanks, Peter. And I'm certainly very keen on it. And Rudy Vallee, everyone who's a part of our community makes it stronger. And yes, thank you for putting up the link. We're certainly keen to get any last submissions, photos or drawings or in writing. It's just on our website.

Thanks, Peter. And I'm certainly very keen on it. And Rudy Vallee, everyone who's a part of our community makes it stronger. And yes, thank you for putting up the link. We're certainly keen to get any last submissions, photos or drawings or in writing. It's just on our website.

Yeah. Put yourself in for running for a prize as well.

Yeah. Put yourself in for running for a prize as well.

Yes. Yeah. We'll be giving away local gift vouchers for people.

Yes. Yeah. We'll be giving away local gift vouchers for people.

Making a difference. And also, you know, being rewarded for it as well. So win win.

Making a difference. And also, you know, being rewarded for it as well. So win win.

Yeah, absolutely. I'm very keen to see what people are telling us.

Yeah, absolutely. I'm very keen to see what people are telling us.

And the community wins as well. Fran keep up the great work. Lovely to talk to you.

And the community wins as well. Fran keep up the great work. Lovely to talk to you.

Thanks, Peter. You as well. Lovely to talk.

Thanks, Peter. You as well. Lovely to talk.

That's friend who's the deputy mayor for the Moonee Valley City Council. All those details up on our show notes. But you can also go to the website and try to work out where your say is and put in an entry. And you never know, your entry might make a lot of difference. Will make a lot of difference.

That's friend who's the deputy mayor for the Moonee Valley City Council. All those details up on our show notes. But you can also go to the website and try to work out where your say is and put in an entry. And you never know, your entry might make a lot of difference. Will make a lot of difference.