Mitchell Shire Council is proud to have been awarded the Smooth Sailing Award for Service Optimisation and Customer Experience at the 2025 MAVLab Innovation Awards for its Gender Impact Assessment (GIA) app.
The award recognises innovative council-led programs that use technology and data to improve services and enhance community experience. Council's My Mitchell App was also named as finalist.
The GIA app represents a significant advancement in how local government can embed gender equality and inclusion into everyday operations.
The tool moves beyond compliance with the Gender Equality Act by integrating gender, diversity, and intersectionality across Council's policies, programs, and services. This enables more equitable outcomes and measurable improvements for the community.
Developed through strong collaboration between Council's leadership, IT, and gender equality teams, the app demonstrates how technology can drive lasting organisational and cultural change.
The innovation's impact now extends well beyond Mitchell Shire, with more than 65 per cent of Victorian councils and 13 health organisations, including the Royal Women's Hospital, alongside the TAFE sector, Victorian Building Authority, TAC, and local water authorities adopting or trialling the tool.
The recognition highlights Mitchell Shire Council's commitment to using technology and data to enhance service delivery, strengthen community outcomes, and support sector-wide progress toward equality and inclusion.
