Code for Australia X Office of Environment
and Heritage
Government Innovation
About
As a Code for Australia design fellow, I collaborated with the OEH (Office of Environment & Heritage) on a 12-month project. We employed design thinking and human-centered design to drive digital transformation in the public sector.
This experience allowed me to apply creative problem-solving to enhance governmental efficiency and transparency, focusing on user-centric approaches to improve public service delivery and community engagement.
Co-Designing better Government
This role allowed me to co design web apps, VR products, data visualisation tools, rapid prototypes, community outreach programs and content strategies while providing unique experiences advising around various emerging technologies.
Rethinking Heritage
A major aspect of the fellowship program was the design and development a web app seeking to transform the way that heritage is shared and celebrated on a local level throughout the state.
Extensive and ongoing consultation was carried out to understand the needs of communities, action groups and professionals in order to explore potential opportunities to create a solution that addressed their varying needs.
Insights gained from ongoing user research allowed for the creation of rapid prototypes to demonstrate ways to create more immersive and engaging user experiences with heritage listed items and places.
Code for the Bush
The highlight of the fellowship was the co-design of a strategy to transform Government approaches to community outreach and engagement.
Process
• Employed co-design methodologies to develop a program strategy
• Collaborated with Broken Hill City Council to create a user-centered engagement model.
• Aligned initiative with the existing Broken Hill Heritage City Week (2016) to maximise community participation.
Solution
Designed a multi-faceted, week-long program featuring:
• STEM learning workshops for primary students
• Heritage trade skill sessions
• Interactive tours and exhibitions
• "Politics in the Pub" style discussions
Outcome
• Successfully bridged the gap between government planning and community needs.
• Created an engaging, accessible platform for diverse demographics.
• Established a replicable model for community engagement.
Impact
The OEH has since implemented this user-centric program across multiple Local Government Areas throughout New South Wales, demonstrating its scalability and effectiveness in various community contexts.