Located in north-east Victoria, Indigo Shire encompasses several small communities and the main towns of Beechworth, Yackandandah, Chiltern, Rutherglen, Barnawartha, Wahgunyah, and Kiewa-Tangambalanga. These areas are a blend of heritage towns and rich agricultural regions, offering a unique mix of historical charm and vibrant rural life. The Shire provides a range of essential services, including planning and building, corporate services, community and tourism, infrastructure operations, parks and gardens, and environmental sustainability.
In the wake of rapid adaptations due to COVID-19, Indigo Shire Council was impacted by legacy software systems and IT processes. To ensure future capability and sustainability, the Council needed to uplift their technology infrastructure. Serving a regional community presented unique challenges; many heritage-listed tourism and office buildings required thoughtful solutions for infrastructure and connectivity, and the council’s remote operations depended on reliable network connectivity.
Indigo Shire Council sought an external perspective to review their ICT use across diverse business operations and teams. The goal was to develop a three-year roadmap for priority ICT investments, addressing end-of-life systems, physical and digital infrastructure, connectivity, cybersecurity resilience, and other operational pain points to enhance efficiency and security.
Escient conducted a comprehensive discovery phase, visiting key sites and reviewing artefacts. Through interviews with 50 diverse stakeholders, we identified challenges, pain points and areas of opportunity to inform strategic decision-making.
We validated the current state of ICT and identified opportunities for enhancement. Using a collaborative and iterative approach, we presented our findings to senior management teams, ensuring feedback and strategic alignment on roadmap priorities.
Escient delivered an ICT Foundations Program Report that included a current state assessment and technology roadmap. This roadmap provided actionable recommendations to optimise processes, enhance governance, and improved digital infrastructure across the organisation over a three-year period.
Escient’s human-centric approach truly sets them apart, consistently shining through in every aspect of their work. This unique focus on people has not only driven successful outcomes but has also fostered a renewed sense of enthusiasm within our team.
— Tim Cover, Manager IT
Indigo Shire Council
The program successfully achieved its objectives, resulting in
Escient provided Indigo Shire Council with a clear path for resource allocation towards the recommended ICT technology uplifts and refreshes. These improvements promise to optimise operations, mitigate risk, and enhance security and governance across the organisation, supporting a more efficient and sustainable future for Indigo Shire Council.