About Becky Hirst Page 1 of 9

Becky Hirst Resume

Updated September 2012

Tell me I forget, Show me I remember, Involve me I understand - Confucius, 450BC

0449 190125 becky@beckyhirstconsulting.com.au PO Box 214, McLaren Vale SA 5171

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Executive Summary

Often described as a ‘breath of fresh air’, Becky Hirst is an enthusiastic, hardworking and dynamic

professional with a strong background in community engagement, group facilitation and public sector

project management in both Australia and the UK.

Proud to be one of the only independent community engagement practitioners in Australia who

specializes in both face-to-face and online community engagement, Becky brings specialist knowledge

to her clients that can’t be beaten. Her strategic approach to project management and planning enables

her work to be of exceptional standard and her innovation and vision is inspiring to all who work with her.

Becky has vast experience in working with local and state Government, non-Government organisations,

culturally & linguistically diverse communities, low socio-economic status groups and the Aboriginal

community.

Becky enjoys applying her practical community based experience to inform processes that involve the

community in decision-making. She is passionate about those processes being straightforward,

transparent and accessible and is well-known for her inspiring approach to genuinely connecting with

communities.

“Becky's experience and passion in

the area of community engagement

is impossible to beat.

She comes highly recommended.”

Daniel Smith, Business SA

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Clients Becky Hirst has worked with an extensive range of organisations, including - State Government

• Linking Melbourne Authority, Victoria • Community Engagement Board, Department of the Premier & Cabinet, Government of SA • Integrated Design Commission, Department of the Premier & Cabinet, SA • Southern Metropolitan Regional Managers Forum, Victoria • Better Health Channel, Department of Health, Victoria • Border Rivers-Gwydir Catchment Management Authority, NSW • Women’s Health Statewide, SA Health • Children Youth & Women’s Health Service, SA Health • SA Community Foodies, Southern Adelaide Health Service • Country Health SA • Central Northern Adelaide Health Service • NHS Camden, UK • West Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust, UK

Local Government

• City of Marion, SA • The Corporation of the Town of Walkerville, SA • City of Port Phillip, Victoria • Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, Victoria • Adelaide City Council, SA • City of Unley, SA • City of Charles Sturt, SA • City of Playford, SA (OPAL) • City of Salisbury, SA (OPAL) • City of Onkaparinga, SA (OPAL) • Port Augusta City Council, SA (OPAL) • Roxby Downs Community Board, SA (via Roxby Council) • Parramatta City Council, New South Wales • Gloucester City Council, UK

Non-Government Organisations

• Youth Affairs Council of South Australia • SA School Canteen Network • Helping Hand Aged Care • National Seniors Australia • TAFE SA • University of South Australia • Kensington & Chelsea Social Council, UK • Matson Neighbourhood Project, UK • University of Gloucestershire, UK

Private sector

• National Health Call Centre Network (Healthdirect)

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Industry & Sector Experience It’s not about where you’ve worked or how much you got paid. It’s about what you achieved. Career highlights and key achievements have included -

Delivering community and stakeholder engagement activity

• Providing community engagement project management services for the development of a community plan for the City of Marion, including development of a community engagement plan; facilitation of staff workshops; advice and guidance regarding traditional, face-to-face and online engagement; development of a social media strategy, including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and QR Codes; facilitation of community events; and facilitation of staff big breakfast

• Planning and facilitating community engagement activity for the 2010 update of the South Australia Strategic Plan, including facilitation of community think tanks and shopping centre chat stations

• Planning, facilitation and reporting of creative and interactive stakeholder engagement workshops for the City of Marion’s Cultural Centre Plaza ‘Design by Competition’ project

• Providing advice and facilitation for the facilitation of community meetings as part of the Coast Park initiative, SA

• Providing professional facilitation services as part of the 5000plus Moving City Forum for the Integrated Design Commission, SA

• Planning and facilitating stakeholder engagement forums for four South Australia Councils as part of the OPAL (Obesity Prevention and Lifestyle) program

• Planning and facilitating a stakeholder forum for Adelaide City Council that provided opportunity for young people to contribute to a Youth Policy and Action Plan

• Planning and implementing a community engagement process as part of the Wadmore Park Bushfire Management Plan, including facilitation of a Meeting Marketplace, utilizing the online community panel and more tradition methods of engagement

• Planning and facilitating community engagement activity as part of a State Government initiative to develop a 70km linear park along the metropolitan Adelaide coastline

• Facilitation and moderation of a Public Forum questioning the use of nuclear energy in Australia • Planning and facilitating a National Seniors stakeholder forum that involved older South

Australian’s in identifying their priorities for lobbying ahead of the state election • Facilitating community engagement process including public meetings, workshops, focus groups

and survey as part of a new Community Plan at the City of Charles Sturt (SA) • Facilitating a consultation process with key target groups as part of a Neighbourhood Safety

project at Parramatta City Council (NSW) using creative writing, song writing and photography. • As part of a community involvement team, conducted and reported on a 10,000 household survey

in an area of high deprivation and unemployment

Online community engagement

• Providing strategic advice on the use of social media to engage with consumers in relation to the HealthDirect helpline including tools, monitoring, moderation and online facilitation to a national health client

• Provision of training to all staff followed up with strategic advice and guidance for a regional NSW Catchment Management Authority

• Conducting a review and providing recommendations for use of social media and online engagement tools as part of Victorian road infrastructure projects; delivery of training in social media use; and the development of facilitation and moderation protocols

• Consultancy advice and facilitation to produce a report and visual representation of the Health 2.0 Community Engagement project for the Better Health Channel, Victoria

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• Preparation and facilitation of one-day online community engagement forum with members of the Southern Metropolitan Regional Managers Forum, Victoria. The forum was followed up by the production of a resource.

• Strategic advice to Councils in relation to the use of online tools for successful community engagement, as part of the development of community engagement frameworks

• Providing strategic advice in relation to online community engagement tools and social media for the Lower Esplanade Car Park/St Kilda Triangle land use project, including facilitation of a workshop with key media and communications staff

• Becoming the South Australia Associate for Australia’s most experienced online community engagement company, Bang the Table

• In partnership with Bang the Table, delivering successful 2-day training programs to over 90 local and state Government professionals in Perth, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. Training content included tool selection for effective online engagement; development of engagement strategy; risk identification and mitigation; moderation and facilitation; monitoring and evaluation.

• On behalf of SA Health, leading the community engagement activity for the review of the South Australian Personal Health Record (the Blue Book) including the delivery of state-wide focus groups and an online survey with over 600 respondents

• Providing advice and guidance to the South Australia School Canteen Network in the use of online blogging tools for developing web presence

• Being an active user of blogs, e-newsletters, Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare and LinkedIn to promote Becky Hirst Consulting

Providing specialist advice about working with consumers and communities

• Developing and writing a Community Engagement Framework for the City of Charles Sturt, South Australia in consultation with the community that was adopted by Council members as a key policy document

• Contributing to the development of Consumer and Community Participation policy directive • Facilitating and guiding a Community Board to develop a strategic plan in remote South Australia • Providing specialist advice and guidance on community engagement as part of the new

Children’s Blood and Cancer Centre Major Works project at the Women & Children’s Hospital in North Adelaide

• Providing advice and support to the Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson of the Kensington & Chelsea Primary Care Trust with regard to community involvement

Representing and advocating on behalf of consumers and communities

• Working with the Office of Chief Executive Officer at CYWHS to ensure the smooth transition of the Consumer & Community Advisory Committee into a new Governance structure as a result of the dissolution of the CYWHS board following the introduction of the Health Care Act 2008

• Representing non-Government community organisations in decision making, policy writing and Government consultations, particularly in relation to the Government commissioning of services agenda and the National Health Service financial deficit crisis

• Building capacity of non-Government organisations in Kensington and Chelsea, West London through providing specialist support and advice, particularly around partnership working

Management and team leadership

• Being part of the senior management team at GL1 Gloucester Leisure Centre, run by Gloucester City Council (UK), with a primary responsibility for health promotion and education opportunities within the centre

• Leading business planning and consumer participation initiatives as part of the Community Engagement management team at the Children, Youth & Women’s Health Service (SA)

• As part of the Team Manager (Workforce Learning) role, leading a change management process regarding organisational structure at the Centre for Health Promotion within SA Health. The

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position also included line management of eight staff, including senior health promotion officers and administrative support

• Being part of the senior management team at Women’s Health Statewide (SA), with a responsibility for 12 staff and all project and quality initiatives undertaken within the organisation

Working with vulnerable groups

• Planning and co-facilitating an event titled “Reconciliation: Let’s See It Through – Women’s Perspectives” in collaboration with Aboriginal staff at Women’s Health Statewide

• Developing case studies following community development projects with 4 South Australian health services to explore the promotion of health eating to Aboriginal communities and other marginalised communities

• Working in partnership with Aboriginal colleagues to plan and prepare an action plan for Reconciliation, through state wide community involvement

• As a member of the Black & Minority Ethnic Health Forum project steering group (West London), researching, writing and launching ‘Minding the gaps: are BME groups partners or substitutes in health provision?’ report

Community development and health promotion projects

• Managing, developing and launching the innovative Living and Learning Centre project that aimed to promote health, education and leisure to local communities. The Centre was located within GL1 Gloucester Leisure Centre.

• Developing community based stop smoking services in North London including a ‘Quit & Get Fit’ badminton program for Bangladeshi men; ‘Quit & Win’ program at Kilburn Bingo Hall targeting Irish women; a stop smoking group at Sacred Heart Church; and a drop-in service at Conway House Irish Men’s Hostel

• Developing and leading community food projects, such as food co-operatives, breakfast clubs and Get Cooking training, primarily in areas of both urban and rural deprivation in Gloucestershire

Sharing good practice

• Delivering paper titled “Inform, Consult, Click!” at the International Association of Public Participation conference, Sydney October 2011

• Developing and delivering ‘The ABC of Community Engagement’ to over 45 local and state Government employees during 2010

• Developing and delivering ‘Ready, Steady, Engage’ training to health sector staff during 2007/8 • Delivering paper titled “Are Culturally & Linguistically Diverse communities easier to embrace or

ignore? You decide” as a 90-minute breakout session at the International Association of Public Participation conference, Fremantle October 2009

• Paper titled “It is difficult to engage children & young people in decision making - myth or fact?” being accepted to the Children’s Hospital Australasia Annual Conference, Sydney November 2008

• Delivering paper titled “Engaging Consumers on the path to improving the patient journey at the Annual Clinical Governance Conference, Sydney September 2008

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Testimonials

“Becky Hirst is, in my opinion, one of the most pragmatic and effective online engagement specialists in

the country.”

Matthew Crozier, Bang the Table

"In May 2010, National Health Call Centre Network Ltd was needing expert advice on an appropriate way

forward in how it might use social media to undertake community engagement regarding its health

information services. Becky undertook the project, which needed to be completed in a short timeframe.

The comprehensive report with its recommendations suited to NHCCN Ltd’s specific needs was delivered

within a month and well within budget. Bloody brilliant!"

Sean Allan, NHCCN Ltd Communication

“The Community Board wishes to thank you for travelling to Roxby Downs to facilitate our Strategic

Planning workshop. The Community Board has benefited enormously from this opportunity. The

participants left full of renewed enthusiasm. Thank you for steering the Board through this process.”

Michelle Hales, Roxby Downs Community Board

“Becky and I worked together as part of a review of South Australia's Personal Health Record (given to

every baby born in the state) and her face-to-face engagement with consumers across the state,

combined with her use of online tools for consultation ensured great input from over 600 consumers in to

the review process. I've been impressed with her knowledge and enthusiasm from day 1. Looking forward

to seeing Becky's next 10 years. Watch out world.”

Melissa Cadzow, Deputy Chair, Consumer and Community Advisory Committee, SA Health

“It has been fantastic working with you – you obviously have a thorough knowledge of working with

community groups over a period of time, were able to put any explanations into easy to understand

language, concise in how you recorded the conversations and clear about the outcomes"

Director - Nursing, Midwifery & Patient Care Services, Lyell McEwin Hospital

"You were fantastic. The test of a truly good facilitator is not noticing they are there. Loved the last minute

changes and ensuring we got everything done"

Feedback following facilitation of a Youth stakeholder forum for Adelaide City Council

"Becky has a fun and captivating approach to online community engagement, creating an exciting and

engaging environment that makes understanding social media and community engagement easy and

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simple. Becky has a natural ability to explain social media and it usefulness without dumbing down the

content. Becky’s sessions are informative and inspiring no matter what level of knowledge you hold."

Elena Pereira, Communication & Engagement Officer, Adelaide City Council

"In October 2010 I attended a 2 day Online Community Engagement Workshop. What struck me most

was Becky’s style and approach to facilitating the workshop. Becky is a very warm, approachable person

who has an inclusive style. Becky gets what people are trying to say very quickly and is able to translate

for the benefit of the whole group. Becky has an amazing knack of capturing the ideas and comments of

the participants, building on them and weaving them into the content of the workshop. This resulted in the

whole group feeling engaged and motivated whilst learning new skills. I can highly recommend Becky as

a facilitator and group trainer."

Andrea Tunbridge, Team Leader Community Planning, Adelaide City Council

“The organisation and conduct of the meeting was excellent. We achieved what we set out to do, with

very interesting discussions. The proof of the quality of the forum was it ran to time which considering the

subject was an excellent result”

Participant at National Seniors consultation forum

"Becky certainly went above and beyond to deliver the stand out presentation of the day. She clearly

invested a lot of time in developing material to fit with the 'Live Better together - Online' theme, was bright,

confident and engaging in her presentation approach, used a balanced blend of sound, imagery and film

really well to keep peoples attention and facilitated question time with the audience members with

aplomb. I would thoroughly recommend Becky Hirst within both community engagement and conference

presentation capacities."

Valli Jane Morphett, Community Engagement Officer, City of Marion

"You were wonderfully flexible when we were discussing all of the last minute changes - thank you for

such a cool head!” Danielle Proud, Central Northern Adelaide Health Service “Thank you for a fabulous session! We had some great discussions afterwards about why people don't

get involved and some strategies for building trust and overcoming apathy...a most hopeful discussion!”

Carolyn McArthur, Course Co-ordinator, Working with Community, UniSA

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Education & Training College Diploma in Health Education Promotion University of Gloucestershire (formerly Cheltenham & Gloucester College of Higher Education), United Kingdom

Bachelor of the Arts (Hons) Contemporary Dance Bretton Hall College, University of Leeds, United Kingdom Certificate in Public Participation International Association of Public Participation, Australasia

Other information

Winner, Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2010 South Australia Young Entrepreneur Scheme

Winner, Home-based business category McLaren Vale Regional Business Awards 2010

Finalist for Excellence in Consumer & Community Engagement category SA Health Service Excellence Awards 2009 ] Finalist for Excellence in Consumer, Carer & Community Engagement category Children, Youth & Women’s Health Service – Service Excellence Awards, 2008 Participant on the South Australian Young Entrepreneur Scheme 2009/10 Business SA, Place sponsored by City of Onkaparinga

Member Australian Institute of Professional Facilitators

Charity Trustee Richmond Borough Association of Mental Health (Surrey, UK) 2005/6 Open Age (North Kensington, UK) 2005/06

Case Study for media interviews Shelter England, The Housing & Homelessness Charity (London, UK) 2007