The Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government (ACELG) has released new research about local councils learning from each other.

Variously called inter-council learning, policy transfer or peer learning, this approach to professional learning is important in a rapidly changing local government sector, and as councils increasingly look to each other for solutions to common issues and challenges.

The research report, Councils learning from each other: An Australian case study, comprises a literature review and unique research data from interviews with local government professionals.

It looks at the motivations for, and facilitators and barriers of, inter-council learning.

ACELG says it hopes that the study shows how information, ideas and inspiration are accessed from peers and embedded within other organisations.

The report gives a number of recommendations to build further capacity about inter-council learning, such as:

  • Incorporating inter-council or peer learning as an explicit element of learning and development for staff within individual councils 
  • Continue with initiatives that develop an organisational culture that promotes openness, collaboration and reciprocity
  • Include other councils in governance networks, including through shared services
  • Initiate inter-council mentoring and other forms of joint training
  • Further acknowledge that most shared learning is based on informal personal networks.

The report is accessible here.