Darebin City Council
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    Darebin City Council
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    Company Reviews

    Working at Darebin City Council

    3.116 ratings in total
    5
    5
    4
    1
    3
    3
    2
    5
    1
    2
    88%
    Rate salary as high or average
    38%
    Employees recommend this employer to friends
    Work/Life balance
    3.5(16 ratings)
    Career development
    2.8(16 ratings)
    Benefits & perks
    2.9(16 ratings)
    Management
    2.6(16 ratings)
    Working environment
    3.2(16 ratings)
    Diversity & equal opportunity
    3.6(16 ratings)
    Ratings for Darebin City Council are shared as-is from employees in line with our community guidelines

    Reviews

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    2.0
    leadership
    Mar 2026
    Preston VIC 3072Less than 1 year in the role, current employee
    Challenging culture and limited support for change or improvement
    The good thingsTypical local government job security. Good pay Some dedicated operational staff who genuinely care about delivering services for the community, but lack support or development. There appears to be a significant opportunity for leadership to reflect on organisational culture and workplace behaviours. Meaningful cultural renewal will likely require stronger leadership accountability, consistent standards across the organisation and a genuine commitment to psychological safety. Without this, the organisation risks continuing the cycle of losing capable staff while struggling to evolve as a workplace.
    The challengesIn my experience the organisational culture felt deeply entrenched and resistant to change. There appears to be a noticeable gap between the organisation’s public messaging around innovation and progressive leadership and the internal day-to-day working environment. Psychological safety for staff and managers can feel limited, particularly when raising issues or attempting to implement improvements. Manager are sometimes the actual issue. GMs are stale. There is a strong perception among staff that expectations and rules are applied inconsistently across the organisation. Internal politics and undermining behaviours are widely discussed among employees but rarely addressed in a meaningful way. Many capable staff appear to leave after relatively short periods once they realise how difficult it can be to drive improvement or new ways of working. Despite branding itself as forward-thinking, the environment can feel quite stagnant, risk-averse and resistant to change.
    4 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Capital Works
    Feb 2024
    Preston VIC 30721 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    I loved the people, but the ambitions put a lot of pressure on people. Senior leaders didn't a[[ear to value the talent.
    The good thingsThere was an amazing amount of talented staff and Council's ambitions were exciting.
    The challengesA very political Council both in the chamber and amongst the senior leaders and unfortunately this often lead to decisions, sometimes not making sense. I did feel disempowered and unable to bring my best self to work.
    2 people found this helpful
    3.0
    Human Resources Administrator
    Aug 2022
    If you just want a job that you show up to and put your head down, then clock off at 5:00 then its a good option. If you want career progression and to work on interesting and innovative things then you wont find that here.
    The good thingsthe pay was decent for the amount of work
    The challengesIt was very slow, nearly impossible to get anything innovative off the ground and so much red tape. Felt like some people enjoyed pushing back on things and causing delays.
    2 people found this helpful
    3.0
    Senior Manager
    Jun 2022
    former employee
    At the time I enjoyed the experience, but the game playing and politicking with the budget had gotten out of hand. Hopefully the new leadership can restore the council workplace
    The good thingsGreat people striving to do their best for the community
    The challengesExecutive level politics, funding decisions, lots of good people have left
    1 person found this helpful
    5.0
    Team Leader
    Nov 2021
    1 to 2 years in the role, current employee
    Great place to work!!
    The good thingsGreat management and people. Amazing work/life balance and excellent opportunities for career progression
    The challengesSome longer tenure staff still hold the old school view that Customer Experience is not important in LGAs. This can be frustrating but can also be worked around.
    1 person found this helpful
    5.0
    Asset Engineer
    Mar 2020
    Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Learning from council leads to another level of your career.
    The good thingsWorking environment is good.people are helping in council.
    The challengesI have challenge to learn new things like software .I have to interact with different people inside and outside the council specially when you are in field.
    1 person found this helpful
    2.0
    Administration Role
    Mar 2020
    former employee
    Glad it's over
    The good thingsColleagues make it a better place.
    The challengesPoorly managed, negative and competitive environment, dated offices and equipment. Poor amenities for staff.
    3 people found this helpful
    4.0
    Communications Officer
    Mar 2020
    I’d stay forever if I could!
    The good thingsTeamwork and sense of purpose
    The challengesLack of processes, disagreement between teams
    2 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Administration Officer
    Dec 2019
    1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Chaotic and toxic environment with managers who actively work against their teams.
    The good thingsSmall team with some really good and fun people. Some great people in the organisation.
    The challengesManagement is chaotic and not people focused, making for a toxic environment. Management staff in Creative Culture are more interested in enacting 'big ideas' than in job satisfaction, fostering a positive work environment, or displaying leadership. Essentially management are very disinterested in their staff and this creates a toxic environment.
    3 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Information Technology Coordinator
    May 2019
    3 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    Sadly forgettable, although some of the people were great to work with.
    The good thingsFew & far between - fairly typical LG environment
    The challengesRed tape & more red tape! Nothing ever gets done - meetings & more meetings!
    3 people found this helpful
    2.0
    CSW aged care n disability
    Feb 2018
    3 to 4 years in the role, current employee
    From good to worse
    The good thingsStill working but far more less
    The challengesMeeting new people everyday
    1 person found this helpful
    3.0
    Casual Staff
    Dec 2017
    1 to 2 years in the role, current employee
    Management should be improved for a fairer workplace.
    The good thingsGood environment. Convenient public transport. Most staff are lovely and kind.
    The challengesNot fair enough for rosters and opportunities.
    2 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Digital and Information Services
    Apr 2017
    1 to 2 years in the role, current employee
    Very busy team working cohesively to deliver great solutions and customer service.
    The good thingsGreat work life balance and wonderful culture now within the Digital and Information Services (IT) Department. Numerous opportunities within the team for career progression with great support from Management all the way.
    The challengesWorkloads are high with all the great changes in progress. Lots of work with lots of different challenges!
    2 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Work Experience Student
    Feb 2017
    Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Good learning experience
    The good thingsStaff and their experiments are the biggest support to keep going in this industry. Also good wages
    The challengesNew experiences and the opportunity to express mi own ideas
    5.0
    Litter Enforcement Officer
    Feb 2016
    9 to 10 years in the role, current employee
    Darebin is the place to work for
    The good thingsGreat management, feeling like home, welcoming environment, amazing staff, great style of management, training opportunities and options to raise my voice and discuss concerns, im just enjoying and loving it, been here ten years and will continue, saves me the time preparing a resume everynow and then, haha
    The challengesDealing with day to day residents expectations and serving in timely manner
    1.0
    Supervisor (Casual)
    Sep 2015
    9 to 10 years in the role, former employee
    Experience and loyalty go unrewarded.
    The good thingsgood access by public transport.
    The challengesAlmost all experienced staff (including management) have moved on or been dismissed/contracts not renewed. Staff instructed to avoid communicating with each other.
    2 people found this helpful
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