Local Government Web Network

2009 Conference Wrap up

We did it! Our second year and our second conference went off without a hitch!

For those of you who made it, we do hope you enjoyed it, and found it useful. For those of you who couldn’t make it, never fear, content is here! Check out the conference site for presentations and selected Audio. Sessions available include the opening keynote from Senator Kate Lundy,  as well as the lightening talks from staff at councils. You can also check out some pictures on Flickr!

We’re really looking forward to next year, and are very keen for you to be more involved, so don’t be shy, get in touch, let us know what you’re interested in and want to see at the conference next year, or if you want to help out.

Conference registrations close on 7 August – here’s why you should come

You have just a few days to get your tickets for the WE Believe in Community conference. Registrations close Friday, 7 August 2009.

Conference highlights include:

• Keynotes from Senator Kate Lundy and Mark Pesce
• Plenary session from Jason Ryan
• Panel session on online community engagement with panel members from local and state government, and industry.
• Government 2.0 Taskforce workshop with Lisa Harvey

We also have a choice of 6 workshops from the basics of writing for the web, the essentials of Information Architecture, WCAG 2.0, user-centred design you techniques you can do yourself, and you can get into some coding techniques with Real world CSS, and an Introduction to JavaScript.

To help convince you, here’s me being interviewed by James Dellow giving the low-down on this year’s conference.

Diana Mounter on the upcoming Local Government Web Network Conference from James Dellow on Vimeo.

Public Sphere: Government 2.0

Sat in the car heading down to Canberra for the second Public Sphere, Reem, Bern (from Mosman Council), and I have been talking about the possibilities of local government on the web, and the challenges that face the web staff in councils. In New South Wales we’re on varying levels when it comes to our websites, or web services. Many are still tackling the basics of getting a functioning, usable, accessible website up, whilst others are experimenting in the realms of social media. Open data, open government, and open web, is something most are still learning about, let alone being at a stage where these methodologies will be incorporated into the building of new web services. For example, with a quick count it looks like less than 50% of councils in NSW have even one RSS feed, on the other hand we’ve seen more and more councils utilising social media such as YouTube, and gradually we’re seeing councils popping up on Twitter. Continue reading Public Sphere: Government 2.0…

Welcome to the Public Sphere

Recently, Kate Lundy, Senator for the ACT, launched a new initiative called “Public Sphere” to engage with the community on topics of national interest.

The concept aims to bring people together online to share their views on various topics, in addition to hosting a physical meet up that is live streamed over the Internet. The meet up allows people to give their two cents in short ten minute presentations on whatever aspect of the topic they choose, either in person, via skype, YouTube or other means. Continue reading Welcome to the Public Sphere…

Like to Jam or just like the Web, then come to Webjam!

Okay so excuse the blog title, but right now I’m all full of excitement due to the fantastic news that Webjam is back!

If you’ve been to one before then you’ll understand my excitement. If not then here’s why you should go: Continue reading Like to Jam or just like the Web, then come to Webjam!…