Catherine Simcox Email & Phone Number

Melbourne, Vic, Au

Doncaster, Victoria, Australia

Provide visionary leadership of the Social Planning & CommunityStrengthening team.Lead the Social Planning & Community Strengthening team in delivering aninnovative spectrum of social planning and cultural development policy andinitiatives.Develop and implement strategies and programs to increase access, inclusion, equality andparticipation that strengthens the Manningham community, responsive tothe Council Plan and Health & Wellbeing Strategy.Facilitate and advocate to extend understanding of key issues forwhich Social Planning & Community Strengthening is responsible for.

South Morang, Victoria, Australia

Lead the organisation in the development and delivery of community infrastructure planning in a municipality of rapid urban growth, established and rural townships.Encourage excellence with management of staff, partnerships and financial resources to meet objectives.

This is a new Department bringing together community infrastructure planning, early years infrastructure planning and addressing national and state reform and its impact on local government. As Manager, I am leading a talented team involved in addressing the impact of the national age care reforms and the state 3 year old reform. To meet the infrastructure demands of a rapidly growing municipality I am leading the needs assessment, business case, planning and design of major community centres/ hubs, kindergartens, maternal and child health, social support and other community services. It is an exciting role addressing the needs of the established, urban growth and rural areas which make up Whittlesea municipality.

Managed City of Whittlesea recovery for the COVID19 pandemic. This included emergency recovery grants, engagement with community, communication on COVID to staff and Council, planning for long term recovery, immunisation and other emergency preparations.

South Morang

Provide support and direction for City of Whittlesea to be an age friendly community and respond to the national age care reforms. This included the establishment of digital technology support for older people, building an intergenerational approach to program and services, identification of service and infrasturcture gaps to support older people to live in their local area, established business case/ financials for the building of the Mernda Social Support Centre - to open mid 2022!

Victoria, Australia

Work in the area of social planning, community engagement and policy/ strategic writing. Successfully developed strategic plan for use of volunteers in a non-profit organisation. Catherine has also developed responses to government enquiries, undertaken community engagement projects, policy reviews and report writing. Catherine has also taken on work outside of the community sector and been involved in the Australian Grand Prix managing event staff, security and customer needs for a variety of grand stands.

Strategic planning the future services for older people living in Banyule. Working with the World Health Organisation to apply the concepts of age-friendly cities. Providing guidance on local governments role and responsibilities in relation to the national age care reforms and the national disability insurance scheme.

Camberwell

Coordinating a fantastic team of planners and research analysts. The team monitors the needs of the Boroondara community and identifies any emerging issues. Oversee a number of Councils strategic plans and policies. Also offers demographic analysis and impact assessments on the community and its resources (infrastructure). Currently on maternity leave and plan to return to role January 2015.

Hawthorn

Key outcome involved getting City of Boroondara as the first metropolitan Victorian Council on the World Health Organisations Age Friendly Cities Network. Also involved in keeping a close eye on the Commonwealth reforms in relation to Health, Ageing and Disability care. Making sure that people living in the East will benefit from any change and that local government continues to be a key player. This is a strong policy and strategic planning role with an element of social support.

Manage an integrated approach to social policy and life stage planning across the municipality. Motivate and lead a team. Prioritise work on an individual and team basis to meet organisational objectives. Responsible for performance management, staff development and full financial management. Develop appropriate partnerships and alliances at local, state organisational level. Completed long stint being the Acting Manager City Strategy - Strategic Planning, Social Planning, Environmental Planning and Waste and Recycling Management.

Provided guidance and support to local governments across the state in developing Municipal Public Health & Wellbeing Plans. Supported the implementation of the Environments for Health guide across the state. This guide helped local governments (Councillors and staff) understand that good health requires consideration of the social, physical, economic and natural environments.

B.App.Sci Health Promotion (Honours), Health Advancement, Psychology, Policy

Graduate Certificate Of Business Administration, Management Integration, Performance Improvement, Change Management, Leadership And Team Building

Master Of Business Administration, Financial Reporting And Analysis, Marketing Management