Roundup Special Edition – the ABCD and Beyond of Local Government
On a new special episode of the Local Government News Roundup, we are joined by Fiona Miller and Lee Griffiths, the authors of ABCD and Beyond: A Practical Guide for Local Government, published by the Jeder Institute.
This book has arrived at a time when councils are being asked to respond to complex, fast-moving challenges while also rebuilding trust, strengthening community relationships, and demonstrating clear public value.
The book brings together practice stories and plain language from councils across Australia to show what it looks like when local government shifts from delivering to convening, from consulting to collaborating, and from managing risk to learning alongside communities.
In this conversation, we will explore what Asset Based Community Development means in day-to-day council work, how strengths-based thinking changes leadership and governance, and what practical first steps teams can take to embed these ideas in engagement, planning, and decision-making.