The Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government has launched a new interactive forum for local government practitioners, researchers and other stakeholders to exchange ideas, showcase innovation and provide useful links to resources, research opportunities, collaboration and support.

 

The Innovation and Knowledge Exchange Network, known as IKEN, is a critical part of ACELG’s ‘Innovation and Best Practice’ Program, hosted by the University of Canberra.

 

One of the main features of IKEN is its eight ‘Communities of Practice’. Each features a practitioners forum, new case studies of innovation and better practice commissioned by ACELG and its partners, resources and events, and access to full stories of leading edge and award winning projects and programs.

 

Once registered, council staff will have access to these and other features to facilitate knowledge exchange within the local government sector, such as links to resources, research opportunities, collaboration and support. Site users are also able to submit policy, program or project initiatives for review or comment by peers and other experts.

 

Visit www.iken.net.au for more information

 

Also launched with the new IKEN site is another web-based portal for local government called the Local Government Researchers Network. The aim of this resource is to assist councils learn about, identify and collaborate with researchers in addressing needs within their council area, region or state.

 

The Local Government Researchers Network is accessible via the new IKEN site: www.iken.net.au/research-network