Cumberland City Council Leadership Program
Industry Partner
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Cumberland City Council
UTS PARTNERS
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UTS Institute for Public Policy and Governance
Project dates
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2022–2024
un sdgs
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4. Quality Education
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11. Sustainable Cities and Communities
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8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Posted on 15 Jan 2025
- 4-minute read
The challenge: building leadership capacity in local government.
To support its diverse community and adapt to rapid changes, Cumberland City Council aimed to build leadership capacity by empowering managers with the knowledge and skills needed to lead strategically and collaboratively.
Key takeaways
- Cumberland City Council aimed to empower managers with leadership skills tailored for local government challenges.
- The program included interactive workshops, coaching sessions, and self-paced online materials.
- Participants reported significant improvement in their confidence and leadership abilities.
- The initiative aligns with SDGs on decent work and sustainable communities.
Cumberland City Council serves over 216,000 residents in Sydney’s western suburbs. With a diverse workforce representing a range of skills and cultural backgrounds, the council identified that its managers would benefit from structured leadership training to meet the demands of an increasingly complex operating environment.
In recent years, the role of local government leaders has become more demanding, with crises such as bushfires, floods, and a growing climate emergency placing unprecedented pressure on councils.
Local governments now play a critical role in supporting communities, providing essential services, and leading recovery efforts. Rapid changes in technology and workforce dynamics have also created new challenges, requiring leaders to adapt quickly.
To ensure its managers were equipped to lead effectively, Cumberland sought a leadership development program that would:
- explore the role and purpose of local government in a broader political and social context.
- examine the evolution of local government practices and how they add value to the community.
- develop emotional intelligence to improve leadership effectiveness and workplace relationships.
- teach management theory and introduce contemporary organisational structures.
The workshops were engaging, and the content was directly applicable to our daily roles.
Program design: a comprehensive leadership journey
The UTS Institute for Public Policy and Governance developed a facilitated, interactive leadership program tailored to meet the council’s specific needs. Launched in 2022, the program initially targeted 12 senior executives before expanding in 2024 to include 19 senior leaders and managers.
The program consisted of:
- four one-day workshops, combining theoretical concepts with practical application and group problem-solving exercises.
- self-paced online learning modules, allowing participants to explore leadership concepts at their convenience.
- two individual coaching sessions, each lasting 30 minutes, providing personalised feedback and support.
- a final half-day reflection session, where participants shared their key takeaways with executives and colleagues.
Each workshop featured a blend of presentations, discussions, live case studies, and small group activities. To ensure participants could immediately apply their learnings, sessions were designed to be highly practical and focused on real-world challenges faced by council managers.
This course redefined our leadership approach and strengthened team cohesion.
Outcomes: strengthened leadership and cultural change
The program successfully equipped managers with the skills and confidence needed to lead effectively. Among the 2022 cohort, 100% of participants reported an increase in their leadership understanding, with many progressing from a limited or reasonable level of understanding to a good or high level.
In 2024, feedback from the second cohort indicated similarly positive outcomes, with 89% of participants achieving a good or high level of knowledge by the end of the program.
This was a great opportunity to reflect and grow as leaders.
Participant feedback: Positive transformations and real impact
The program received overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants, who appreciated its interactive nature and real-world relevance. Many noted the importance of personalised coaching and the opportunity to learn from peers.
Participants also praised the practical tools and strategies provided, which they could immediately apply in their roles. This hands-on approach helped managers feel more confident in their ability to lead, manage teams, and contribute to the council’s strategic direction.
I am grateful to have done this course with my colleagues. It has set us in the right direction.
Cumberland City Council
Cumberland City Council partnered with UTS to develop a tailored leadership program aimed at building strategic leadership capacity. This initiative was designed to upskill managers through interactive workshops, coaching, and practical learning, ensuring they are equipped to lead effectively in a rapidly changing environment.
