Darebin selects TechnologyOne for Digital Darebin overhaul

Darebin City Council has selected TechnologyOne as its technology partner for the multi-year Digital Darebin transformation programme.

The project is intended to modernise the council's systems and change how it delivers services to the community. TechnologyOne was chosen following what Darebin described as a comprehensive evaluation and procurement process.

According to the council, its OneCouncil platform was selected for its functionality, implementation approach, local government experience, risk management and value for money.

Digital Darebin is intended to address ageing systems, technology maturity, service delivery, cyber security and regulatory compliance. The council said the platform would provide an integrated technology foundation across key parts of its operations.

The work is also expected to support staff through a staged transition while maintaining day-to-day services. Darebin said the programme is designed to reduce duplication and manual processes while improving financial management and the information available for decision-making.

Anne Howard, Chief Executive Officer of Darebin City Council, said the project went beyond replacing legacy systems.

"This is about much more than replacing ageing technology. It's about giving our people the systems and tools they need to work more effectively and ultimately deliver better services for our community," Howard said.

She described the wider aims of the programme in operational terms.

"At its heart, Digital Darebin is about making things simpler for staff, safer for our technology and smarter for the Darebin community," Howard said.

Howard also outlined some of the expected internal effects over time.

"Over time, the programme will help us reduce duplication and manual processes, strengthen financial management and cyber security, and give us better information to make decisions," she said.

Selection process

TechnologyOne is an established supplier to the local government sector in Australia, and Darebin cited that experience as one factor in its decision. The council said OneCouncil is designed specifically for local government use.

That sector focus also formed part of TechnologyOne's case for the partnership. Barry Dietrich, Executive Vice President of Local Government at TechnologyOne, said the company viewed the project as a response to the service needs of Darebin residents.

"Darebin serves one of Australia's most diverse communities, and residents deserve services that are simple, secure and reliable," Dietrich said.

He also pointed to the vendor's domestic development and existing customer base among councils.

"OneCouncil is built here in Australia, by people who understand how councils work. Hundreds of councils already use the platform to support the essential services their communities depend on every day," Dietrich said.

Long rollout

The implementation is planned to take place over several years, reflecting the scale of the programme and the need to keep existing services running during the changeover. The council and supplier are due to work together on staff transition as systems are introduced in stages.

Howard said the council was taking a phased approach to reduce disruption.

"A transformation of this scale takes time. Our focus will be to support our staff through the change and maintain the services our community relies on every day," she said.

TechnologyOne framed the arrangement as a long-term working relationship rather than a single software deployment.

"Transformations of this scale are a long-term partnership. We'll work alongside Darebin at every stage to build a stronger digital foundation for Council that delivers lasting benefits for the community," Dietrich said.

The project adds Darebin to the list of Australian councils using TechnologyOne's local government software, as the council pursues a broader overhaul of core systems tied to service delivery, compliance and cyber security.