Simon Gray Email & Phone Number

Melbourne, Vic, Au

Key coordination role in supporting the Inner South-east Metro Partnership (CEOs of Stonnington, Boroondara, Glen Eira and Bayside councils and ten community representatives) to advise government on key services, infrastructure and engagement associated with the Partnership’s key priorities of:- Social Connection- Improved transport connectivity- Environmental sustainability- Jobs, skills and suburban revitalisation - Increasing the supply of social and affordable housingThe Metropolitan Partnerships are advisory groups established by the Victorian Government. The Partnerships are a way for local communities to engage directly with state and local governments and advise the Victorian Government on the top priorities for jobs, services and infrastructure across the region. There is a metropolitan partnership for each region of Melbourne, including Inner Metro, Inner South-East, Western, Northern, Eastern and Southern.Key government strategies and submissions contributed to include:- 10 year Mental Health Strategy- Land Use Planning Framework- Active Victoria Refresh (2022-26)- Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plan- Digital Inclusion Strategy- Victoria’s Youth Strategy

Building partnerships with local and state government stakeholders, health, urban planning, transport, education and sport and active recreation stakeholders to deliver the Active Victoria Strategy - creating and activating places and spaces for physical activity.Working collaboratively with the following teams: Active Recreation team - Implementation of Premier’s Active April (Get Active Victoria) initiative reaching over 130,000 Victorians, 1,600 schools and 800 workplaces.- Active & Outdoor Recreation sector capacity- Building the foundation for an active generation via physical literacy programs (Ride2School, VICSWIM Summer Kidz Program) Workforce & Product Development team- Sport Development Officer Forums - Workforce development initiatives (volunteering)Office for Women in Sport & Recreation- achieving 40% minimum women on board quotas- promotion of Change our Game grant programs - enhancing leadership and participation opportunities for women and girls

Coordination of the Physical Activity team which supports the implementation and management of:- Together More Active projects- Premier’s Active April (activeapril.vic.gov.au)- Sporting Club Grants Program- Athlete Pathway Travel Grants- Emergency Equipment Grants- Bicycle Network’s Ride2School Program- Active Recreation sector relationships

I acted in the Departmental Liaison Officer (DLO) role to assist the incoming new Minister for Community Sport, The Hon. Ros Spence and Office staff with understanding the key portfolio responsibilities and associated community sport and recreation policy, programs and initiatives.In this role, I assisted Minister Spence and the Minister’s Office staff with departmental liaison and administrative functions.Specific DLO responsibilities included:- Assisting with the administration of the Minister’s office and incoming ministerial portfolio brief- Assisting the Minister, the Minister’s office and the Secretary with correspondence - Coordinating briefings- Coordinating cabinet and parliamentary papers within the Minister’s office- Channelling information between the Minister’s office and the Department

Building effective partnerships across government and non-government organisations and formation of policy advice to integrate active living principles within urban planning, transport, education and public health policies and strategies to improve population health outcomes.Key policy and strategy development contributions:- Plan Melbourne (implementing 20min n’hoods)- Protecting Victoria's Environment: Biodiversity 2037- Victorian Memorandum for Health and Nature 2017- Victorian public health and wellbeing plan 2015-19- Active Victoria: a strategic framework for sport and recreation 2017-21- Education State: Physical Activity targets

The Healthy Children Coordinator is part of a new preventive health workforce and resource investment between with Victorian Department of Health, the City of Whittlesea and Plenty Valley Community Health to build a community level prevention system (i.e. PCM) through which interventions to tackle obesity, physical inactivity, nutrition, tobacco and alcohol use will be delivered and effectively supported. Healthy Together Victoria (formerly PCM) focuses on improving people's health where they live, learn, work and play by addressing the underlying causes of chronic disease.- Support the implementation of the Health Promoting Schools framework within schools and early childhood services to create healthy environments for learning and development (Healthy TogetherAchievement Program).- Facilitated a network of practitioners to support health promoting communities, schools and early childhood services.- Aligned preventive health initiatives with strategic legislation i.e. Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Act, Integrated Transport Strategy, Municipal Strategic Statement, Municipal Public Health & Wellbeing Plans, PCP's, DEECD Principles for Student Engagement. & Wellbeing and the National Quality Standard for Early Childhood Education Services.- Led and managed the work allocation, performance management, quality control, performance appraisal and development of Health Promotion Officers.

Managed 12 of Stride's community based role modelling and youth mentoring programs across regional and remote communities of South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia. Responsible for - leading a team of four staff and supporting professional development- liaising with Local, State and Federal Government Departments (FaHCSIA, DEEWR, DOHA, Office for Youth, Dept. Immigration & Citizenship to align programs with Youth, Education, Health and Sport & Recreation Policy frameworks i.e. ‘Closing the gap’ in health, National Youth Policy, - Development of successful funding submissions (all Govt levels, corporate and philanthropic) - recruitment, screening and training of role models, - program reporting and evaluation and acquittal of funding contracts- budget, risk and quality management, - building sustainable partnerships among community service providers (Schools, Indigenous Community Councils, sporting clubs, local councils, community groups and health services)- Implementation of Stride Strategic Plan

- Coordinated a range of sport and recreation programs and events for people with a physical disability throughout Victoria. Including: Wheelchair Basketball, handcycling, wheelchair rugby, tennis, athletics and table tennis.-Raised awareness and understanding of persons with a physical disability in Regional Victoria in partnership with Regional Sports Assemblies through education workshops, events and advocacy-Fostered inclusion of people with a physical disability in social, sporting and recreational activities through advocating the benefits of social inclusion and resource sharing with local sporting clubs.- Established partnerships with Regional Sports Assemblies through the Access for All Abilities Program, Local Councils and State Sporting Associations that are involved in the Australian Sports Commission's Sports Connect initiative- project management of 2 x Le Tour Handcycle Tours (500km ride from Horsham - Melbourne and Orbost to Melbourne) involving schools visits to over 2,500 students with a focus on goal setting, resilience and positive mental well-being, workshops with local sporting clubs on creating inclusive environments and connecting people with a disability to local sport and recreation activities and events.