Benefits of local government and university research alliances Available to Purchase

Local government plays an integral role in the Australian economy with a cumulative annual expenditure of over Aus$20 billion representing around 2% of Australian GDP. Local government authorities employ around 1·3% of the Australian workforce and provide a wide range of services and infrastructure. There is a general lack of appreciation among council staff of the value of collaboration with universities and vice versa. However, staff at Kogarah Municipal Council, having been involved in partnership projects with universities, strongly value the benefits of such collaborations. Councils can provide a ‘one-stop-shop’ for applied research and its application for a range of disciplines from science and technology to arts and policy studies.