My Dynamic Career - Paul Gravett

G’day,

I’m Paul Gravett, and I’ve been the Manager of Community at the Town of Victoria Park since October 2020.

My job is all about working with amazing people who care deeply about the Vic Park community. I manage teams that drive community development initiatives in areas like reconciliation, disability access and inclusion, diversity, youth, multiculturalism, LGBTQIA+, community safety, homelessness, and wellbeing. We also deliver events, arts programs, provide funding for community projects, and support sports and community groups. Plus, we run a fantastic library that’s a hub for learning and development, and a safe place to hang out.

I was inspired to join the Town because of its excellent reputation for being an innovative local government with a strong focus on community engagement and empowerment. I was excited about the opportunity to work in an inner-city local government and learn more about its diverse community. The amazing cafes close to the office was a bonus!

I realised I enjoyed working here when I saw the happy faces at our Summer Street Party and other civic events. Seeing the excitement and satisfaction of my team when they achieve something remarkable is incredibly rewarding. The openness and collaboration among teams to create good outcomes for the community, and the respect from team members, community, and elected members, make it a great place to work. Hey, it’s Vic Park – enough said!

One of the biggest challenges is meeting the high expectations of our passionate and engaged community and elected members with limited resources. To overcome this, we actively engage and build trust with different parts of the community and internally to develop agreed plans and approaches. Regular communication, being open to feedback, and having an organisational culture that allows us to respectfully challenge decisions are key. We also have clear workplans aligned with resourcing and priorities to manage workload and work-life balance, and we stay flexible in our approach and thinking.

The Town, its executive, and all the staff are very caring and supportive, aspiring to be the best we can be. I have great flexibility to balance my role with family and other commitments. My boss rocks, and I get to tap into my intrinsic motivators in my role.

I’ve developed as a leader, learning to empower my team members while letting go. I’ve had opportunities to undertake higher duties and be involved in cross-functional teams working on impactful projects. I’ve learned to better engage with elected members and our community, and to trust and support my fellow team members. I’ve been involved in developing social plans and improving our processes to support team members and provide better outcomes for our community. I’ve also been supported to undertake more leadership training, mentoring, and professional development opportunities.

Looking forward, I’m excited about the development around Belmont Park and the presence of a library/community hub in this area. I’m passionate about making a difference in the Reconciliation space and seeing my team continue to evolve and be the best they can be.