The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) has announced the finalists for the inaugural MAVlab Innovation Awards, recognising the outstanding creativity, vision, and commitment to community demonstrated by councils across Victoria.
The Association says the awards look to shine a light on the spectrum of work, from bold transformations to everyday improvements that make a real difference in communities, with awards to be handed out across 16 categories.
Fifteen organisations, including Swinburne University of Technology as Principal Partner, have joined with the MAV to champion innovation and amplify the work being done in councils across the state through this awards program.
MAV Chief Innovator in Residence, Bonnie Shaw said the calibre of entries reflects the sector’s leadership and collaborative spirit.
“Local government is where innovation meets community impact. These Awards shine a spotlight on the courage, creativity, and commitment of councils across Victoria who are shaping the future of our state,” Ms Shaw said.
The winners will be announced at the MAVlab Innovation Awards Celebration on Wednesday, 8 October.
“These finalist, and all of the amazing entries, have shown what’s possible when vision and collaboration come together. We look forward to celebrating their achievements at the Awards night,” Ms Shaw said.
Tickets to the MAVlab Innovation Awards Celebration are limited and available via https://www.mav.asn.au/mavlab/futures/mavlab-innovation-awards.
The award finalists are:
2025 Innovatio Pro Bono Publico Award: Leader, supported by Swinburne University of Technology
Finalists:
- Christian Stefani, South Gippsland Shire
- Simon McMillan, Whitehorse City Council
- Amanda Kern, Yarra Ranges Shire Council
2025 Innovatio Pro Bono Publico Award: Emerging Leader,supported by Leadership Victoria
Finalists:
- Tavis Vallance, Boroondara City Council
- Scot Walker, Greater Dandenong City Council
- Margie McKay, Greater Geelong City Council
- Jay Smith, Mildura Rural City Council
The Thrive Award forLeadership in Change Management, supported by Swinburne University of Technology
Finalists:
- Continuous Improvement Team, Banyule City Council
- Tavis Vallance, Boroondara City Council
- Lisa Ippolito, Whitehorse City Council
The Insights Award for Leadership in Data-driven Decision-making, supported by SenSen AI
Finalists:
- Jean Ooi, Minh Tong, Frankie Bailey, Vivienne Green and Thomas Rodger, Manningham City Council
- Knowledge Bank Working Group, City of Melbourne
- Learning and Organisational Team, City of Melbourne
The Connector Award for Community Inclusion and Cohesion, supported by NBN Co
Finalists:
- Shaping the Future of Noojee, Baw Baw Shire Council (pictured)
- #Proud2Be, Greater Dandenong City Council
- Merri-bek Democracy Lab, Merri-bek City Council
- The Mount Alexander Shire Community Infrastructure for Flood Recovery and Resilience, Mount Alexander Shire Council
- Our Country, Our Way – Embedding Indigenous Perspectives in Land and Emergency Management, Yarra Ranges Shire Council
The Wellbeing Award for Community Health Impacts, supported by VicHealth
Finalists:
- #Filtered Body Image Project, Greater Dandenong City Council
- Gendering in a New Era in Sport Project, Mildura Regional City Council
- Mallee Women: Sharing Stories, Shaping Equality, Mildura Regional City Council
The Energiser Award for Climate Resilience and Adaptation, supported by Clean Energy Council
Finalists:
- Climate Action Living Lab (CALL), City of Casey
- Solar Saver, City of Darebin
- Private Electric Vehicle Kerbside Charging Project, Port Phillip City Council
The Systems and Cycles Award for Regenerative Design, supported by RMIT University
Finalists:
- Soft Plastics Circular Contract, Brimbank City Council
- Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre, City of Darebin
- Queen Victoria Market Circular Economy Precinct, City of Melbourne
The Now and Forever Award for Impact and Legacy, supported by Australian Red Cross
Finalists:
- Growing Our Own Early Years Workforce, Corangamite Shire Council
- Social Housing on Council Owned Land – Townhall Avenue Pilot Project, City of Darebin
- Solar Saver, City of Darebin
The Stronger Together Award for Council Collaboration, supported by JLT Public Sector
Finalists:
- Bass Coast Homelessness Think Tank, Bass Coast
- Welcome Baby to Wurundjeri Country Ceremony, Brimbank City Council and Maribyrnong City Council
- Timber Transition: Upper Yara Local Development Strategy, Yarra Ranges Shirt Council
The Engage Award for Impactful and Inclusive Storytelling, supported by Fireside
Finalists:
- Beach Safety: Innovation and Collaboration in Bass Coast, Bass Coast Shire Council
- Baybot, Bayside City Council
- The City of Casey Open Data Exchange Insights Pages, City of Casey
- Mallee Women: Sharing Stories, Shaping Equality, Mildura Rural City Council
- Peninsula Tales, Mornington Peninsula Shire
The Future is Maintenance Award for Asset Management, supported by Matter
Finalists:
- Public Art Conservation Program, City of Ballarat
- Melbourne’s Stormwater Sensing Pilot, City of Melbourne
- Renewals for Nature, City of Melbourne
The Smooth Sailing Award for Service Optimisation and CX, supported by LANDATA® operated by SERV
Finalists:
- Baybot, Bayside City Council
- Smart Start: Automating Payroll Onboarding for Faster Service and Compliance, City of Casey
- ‘My Mitchell’ mobile app, Mitchell Shire Council
- Mitchell Shire Council Gender Impact Assessment App, Mitchell Shire Council
- MyLot, Yarra Ranges Shire Council
The Refuge Award for Innovation in Safe Spaces for Community, supported by Neighbourhood Houses Victoria
Finalists:
- Social Housing on Council Owned Land – Townhall Avenue Pilot, City of Darebin
- Make Room, City of Melbourne
- Safe Haven: A Community Driven Housing Solution for Women and Children at Risk
The Sandbox Award for Experimentation Practice, supported by Breakthrough Victoria
Finalists:
- Banyule’s 1000 Jobs Project: A Tested Model for Inclusive Employment and Economic Growth, Banyule City Council
- Living Labs, City of Casey
- Mornington Peninsula Shire AI Experimentation Journey, Mornington Peninsula Shire
The Fin-novation Award for Financial Ingenuity, supported by Finpro
Finalists:
- Shaping the Future of Noojee, Baw Baw Shire Council
- Smart Asset Monitoring at Casey Fields, City of Casey
- Caring Across Communities, Glen Eira City Council and Bayside City Council.
