Interactive Virtual Collaboration Hub for Council Staff
Budget: $1,500 – $3,000 AUD
Good day to everyone,
I am considering the following project, and would appreciate your thoughts, timeframe and costing to build it out. Please see the below for what I hope is a good amount of information so you can do this.
Concept overview
The portal in question will be an added resource provided by a current business for its clients to help build community and collaboration amongst relevant council team members. The focus will be on engaging with Community and Economic Development officers, along with Grants Officers and those involved with Strategy and Placemaking.
The portal is to be an online platform that will provide a central repository of information, and place for relevant department staff at councils to communicate with each other to increase the sharing of knowledge, best practice, whitepapers etc within the cohort. The learnings made can then be taken back to council to improve outcomes for all staff and community members.
Here’s a comprehensive approach to facilitate collaboration among council staff in Australia:
Virtual Hub: Concept and Features
**1. Centralised Platform
-1.1. Platform Selection
Action: Choose a robust digital platform that supports diverse functionalities. Options could include platforms like Microsoft Teams, Slack, or a dedicated solution such as Discourse or Mighty Networks.
Features to Look For: Integration capabilities, user-friendly interface, community forums, file sharing, and real-time communication.
-1.2. Hub Setup
Action: Set up the platform with different channels / spaces for various sectors (e.g., Economic Development, Community Development, Infrastructure, Planning, Heritage, General) and the states of Australia.
Timeline: ?
- 1.3. Levels of access to the Hub should include Admin, Editor, Contributor and Viewer.
**2. Knowledge Sharing and Resource Libraries
-2.1. Resource Repository.
Action: Create a centralised digital library where users can upload and access case studies, research papers, best practices, policy documents, and toolkits. Resources can be from us, government and any user.
Features: Searchable database, categorised content, and document versioning.
Timeline: ?
-2.2. Best Practice Collections
Action: Regularly update a section with curated best practices and innovative approaches from various councils.
Features: Highlight success stories, lessons learned, and practical guides.
Timeline: Ongoing updates.
**3. Interactive and Collaborative Tools
-3.1. Discussion Forums and Groups to build community, discussion and collaboration.
Action: Set up discussion forums or groups for each sector and topic where members can start conversations, ask questions, and share insights.
Features: Threaded discussions, notifications, and moderation tools.
Timeline: ?
-3.2. Webinars and Virtual Workshops - Can be held off until V 2.0 unless simple to implement with rest
Action: Host regular webinars and virtual workshops featuring experts, case studies, and interactive sessions.
Features: Video conferencing, screen sharing, Q&A sessions, and recordings of events held on the platform. Recordings can populate the above as well as be used externally for GG.
Timeline: Monthly or quarterly scheduling of events. Ideally champions would host as well as GG staff.
-3.3. Mentorship and Peer Review Systems
Action: Implement a system for pairing experienced staff with less experienced colleagues for mentorship and establish a peer review process for project feedback.
Features: Request for Help section, Request for Mentor section, and communication channels.
Timeline: ?
**4. Communication and Engagement - Needed, or we just use AC to keep doing this?
-4.1. Announcements and Newsletters
Action: Use the platform to send out regular newsletters and announcements about upcoming events, new resources, and notable achievements.
Features: Email integration, subscription management, and content management.
Timeline: Monthly or as needed.
-4.2. Social Media Integration
Action: Link the hub with social media channels to increase visibility and engagement. Use platforms like LinkedIn to share key updates and resources.
Timeline: ?
-4.3. Feedback and Continuous Improvement
Action: Implement feedback mechanisms such as surveys and suggestion boxes to gather input from users and continuously improve the hub and GG service.
Features: Online surveys, feedback forms, and analytics.
Timeline: Ongoing.
-----
**5. Implementation Plan
Platform Selection and Setup
-5.1. Action: Choose and configure the digital platform, setting up channels, spaces, and initial content.
Timeline: 2-3 months. Less if tested current platform is used for backbone of platform. Majority of time would be content, with getting an external for the build.
Develop Resource Libraries and Best Practices Sections
**6. Admin Area
We would need the usual Admin area that you would expect with a SaaS platform.
If you have any questions on this section, please ask before bidding.
----------
By implementing this Virtual Collaboration Hub, council staff can effectively share knowledge, support each other, and enhance their placemaking and development strategies, all through a centralised, accessible, and interactive online platform.
In New Zealand councils do a trimmed down version of the the project outcome using List Serv's. While these don't appear to be as feature rich as my concept, I think it is a great initiative and provides an active example of what is being considered in this document.
Article on List Serv's - https://taituara.org.nz/Article?Action=View&Article_id=214
This website appears to have a large amount of the functionality required, along with a good design - https://taituara.org.nz/discussiongroups
If you need any more information, please send a message through with specific questions, I generally don't respond to "hi, lets discuss your project more" type messages. Be specific
Please only bid...
If you have matching experience in completing such designs
- If you have an average of 4.8* or higher
- Understand this brief
- Can complete the brief (you'd be surprised at those who bid but cannot)
When making your bid, please include, or have a link to, work you have done in this arena before, along with cost and time needed.
Thank you for your time, and I look forward to reading your quality bids.
P.S. If I don't find a dev I feel great about working with, I reserve the right to not award this project to anyone. I appreciate your understanding with this. I also won't be contacting all bidders. As I am sure you can appreciate, this could be a large number of people. If you don't hear from me, it will mean I am considering another developer. I appreciate your understanding on the above.
I have selected a price range, but please enter in whatever you think is a fair price to complete the project.
I am considering the following project, and would appreciate your thoughts, timeframe and costing to build it out. Please see the below for what I hope is a good amount of information so you can do this.
Concept overview
The portal in question will be an added resource provided by a current business for its clients to help build community and collaboration amongst relevant council team members. The focus will be on engaging with Community and Economic Development officers, along with Grants Officers and those involved with Strategy and Placemaking.
The portal is to be an online platform that will provide a central repository of information, and place for relevant department staff at councils to communicate with each other to increase the sharing of knowledge, best practice, whitepapers etc within the cohort. The learnings made can then be taken back to council to improve outcomes for all staff and community members.
Here’s a comprehensive approach to facilitate collaboration among council staff in Australia:
Virtual Hub: Concept and Features
**1. Centralised Platform
-1.1. Platform Selection
Action: Choose a robust digital platform that supports diverse functionalities. Options could include platforms like Microsoft Teams, Slack, or a dedicated solution such as Discourse or Mighty Networks.
Features to Look For: Integration capabilities, user-friendly interface, community forums, file sharing, and real-time communication.
-1.2. Hub Setup
Action: Set up the platform with different channels / spaces for various sectors (e.g., Economic Development, Community Development, Infrastructure, Planning, Heritage, General) and the states of Australia.
Timeline: ?
- 1.3. Levels of access to the Hub should include Admin, Editor, Contributor and Viewer.
**2. Knowledge Sharing and Resource Libraries
-2.1. Resource Repository.
Action: Create a centralised digital library where users can upload and access case studies, research papers, best practices, policy documents, and toolkits. Resources can be from us, government and any user.
Features: Searchable database, categorised content, and document versioning.
Timeline: ?
-2.2. Best Practice Collections
Action: Regularly update a section with curated best practices and innovative approaches from various councils.
Features: Highlight success stories, lessons learned, and practical guides.
Timeline: Ongoing updates.
**3. Interactive and Collaborative Tools
-3.1. Discussion Forums and Groups to build community, discussion and collaboration.
Action: Set up discussion forums or groups for each sector and topic where members can start conversations, ask questions, and share insights.
Features: Threaded discussions, notifications, and moderation tools.
Timeline: ?
-3.2. Webinars and Virtual Workshops - Can be held off until V 2.0 unless simple to implement with rest
Action: Host regular webinars and virtual workshops featuring experts, case studies, and interactive sessions.
Features: Video conferencing, screen sharing, Q&A sessions, and recordings of events held on the platform. Recordings can populate the above as well as be used externally for GG.
Timeline: Monthly or quarterly scheduling of events. Ideally champions would host as well as GG staff.
-3.3. Mentorship and Peer Review Systems
Action: Implement a system for pairing experienced staff with less experienced colleagues for mentorship and establish a peer review process for project feedback.
Features: Request for Help section, Request for Mentor section, and communication channels.
Timeline: ?
**4. Communication and Engagement - Needed, or we just use AC to keep doing this?
-4.1. Announcements and Newsletters
Action: Use the platform to send out regular newsletters and announcements about upcoming events, new resources, and notable achievements.
Features: Email integration, subscription management, and content management.
Timeline: Monthly or as needed.
-4.2. Social Media Integration
Action: Link the hub with social media channels to increase visibility and engagement. Use platforms like LinkedIn to share key updates and resources.
Timeline: ?
-4.3. Feedback and Continuous Improvement
Action: Implement feedback mechanisms such as surveys and suggestion boxes to gather input from users and continuously improve the hub and GG service.
Features: Online surveys, feedback forms, and analytics.
Timeline: Ongoing.
-----
**5. Implementation Plan
Platform Selection and Setup
-5.1. Action: Choose and configure the digital platform, setting up channels, spaces, and initial content.
Timeline: 2-3 months. Less if tested current platform is used for backbone of platform. Majority of time would be content, with getting an external for the build.
Develop Resource Libraries and Best Practices Sections
**6. Admin Area
We would need the usual Admin area that you would expect with a SaaS platform.
If you have any questions on this section, please ask before bidding.
----------
By implementing this Virtual Collaboration Hub, council staff can effectively share knowledge, support each other, and enhance their placemaking and development strategies, all through a centralised, accessible, and interactive online platform.
In New Zealand councils do a trimmed down version of the the project outcome using List Serv's. While these don't appear to be as feature rich as my concept, I think it is a great initiative and provides an active example of what is being considered in this document.
Article on List Serv's - https://taituara.org.nz/Article?Action=View&Article_id=214
This website appears to have a large amount of the functionality required, along with a good design - https://taituara.org.nz/discussiongroups
If you need any more information, please send a message through with specific questions, I generally don't respond to "hi, lets discuss your project more" type messages. Be specific
Please only bid...
If you have matching experience in completing such designs
- If you have an average of 4.8* or higher
- Understand this brief
- Can complete the brief (you'd be surprised at those who bid but cannot)
When making your bid, please include, or have a link to, work you have done in this arena before, along with cost and time needed.
Thank you for your time, and I look forward to reading your quality bids.
P.S. If I don't find a dev I feel great about working with, I reserve the right to not award this project to anyone. I appreciate your understanding with this. I also won't be contacting all bidders. As I am sure you can appreciate, this could be a large number of people. If you don't hear from me, it will mean I am considering another developer. I appreciate your understanding on the above.
I have selected a price range, but please enter in whatever you think is a fair price to complete the project.