Felicity Leahy
Position - Social Planning Coordinator
Department - Sustainability
Directorate – Planning and Development
You've heard the tag line "think global act local". Well, Felicity's journey into local government could be described in the same way.
"I used to work for Oxfam International, and although it was a great organisation, I decided I wanted to work locally in Australia. For me, that meant local government."
"Compared to many community organisations, councils are well-resourced - a wide range of professions and expertise are at hand ready and willing to help me - and I would say that local government is the best place to be for a social planner or anyone with an interest in preparing for the future."
The growth and diversity happening in the City of Whittlesea gives Felicity a lot to work with.
"Sustainability issues cut across many areas. You need a multidisciplinary approach, so I work on many portfolios across the organisation, especially with urban planning, community services and major projects. A key concern is to make sure community facilities, such as schools, preschools and other centres are planned for and put in the right place to accommodate future community needs."
"Whittlesea has made an excellent name for itself in strategic planning, and we are now in an implementation phase, which means translating strategic plans into real solutions on the ground. It’s great to be part of that."
"The community is very diverse, and we also have particular challenges here, due to some pockets of disadvantage, such as areas characterised by low income, few employment opportunities and low skill levels. The State Government sees local government as the key agent for dealing with such complexities, so we get the resources and funding to make a real difference."
As an employer, the City of Whittlesea provides the flexibility you need to balance work and personal life.
"I work four days a week rather than the usual five, and I know that if I need to, I can work from home without any problem arranging this. That gives me a lot of confidence that I really can strike that work-life balance which is so important in this day and age."
Qualifications or experience
Felicity's qualification is a Bachelor of Social Science in Environmental Assessment and Policy.
