The Greater Bendigo City Council has adopted a new International Relations Policy 2021 to provide greater clarity and guide international efforts at last night's Council meeting.
Greater Bendigo Mayor Cr Jennifer Alden said the new policy is underpinned by significant background research and mapping of international relationships and by community engagement and public feedback.
"The new policy replaces a policy that was adopted in 2014," Cr Alden said.
"Since the previous policy significant change had taken place within the region relating to increased social, cultural and economic connections between local businesses, organisations and residents and overseas organisations.
"The changes highlighted a growing internationalisation of Greater Bendigo and the need for a new policy to maximise the social, cultural, environmental and economic benefits of international relationships for our community.
"The new policy aims to provide greater clarity and consistency around international relationships to improve the selection of any future international relationships and ensure the City receives clear benefits and value for money.
"The new policy provides a clear outline of who it applies to, rules for new formal relationships and existing relationships and the discontinuation of relationships.
"It also outlines core principles that were identified through the policy review process. These principles include alignment and relevance, leverage, promotion, sustainability, accountability and transparency, community participation, human rights, capacity building, evidence-based, and evaluation and review."
The City of Greater Bendigo's current international relationships include:
- UNESCO Creative Cities Network, with Greater Bendigo and region designated as a Creative City of Gastronomy
- Bendigo Art Gallery's series of highly successful exhibitions in collaboration with major international galleries in the United Kingdom and the United States.
- Municipal Corporation Agreement with Timor-Leste - a commitment to cooperate on initiatives to strengthen professional knowledge and skills of our Timorese counterparts, through activities such as sharing advice, networking, collaboration and exchange
The City is now committed to developing an International Relations Strategy.
The International Relations Policy can be viewed online at https://www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/About/Policies-and-good-governance
