On 27 August, we visited Burwood Council following a kind invitation to learn about their operations. 
The General Manager and Directors from all departments provided us with an overview of the policies, structural systems, and work styles implemented at Burwood Council. They also gave us an onsite tour of the council and its surrounding facilities.
We learned about their initiatives to provide services to the community in an interactive way and their efforts in placemaking to engage both the local community and visitors from outside the area.
We were impressed by the strong interactive relationship between the council and the community, as well as their strategic planning. In particular, the Burwood After Dark Strategy stood out to us as it aims to make Burwood a more attractive destination for businesses and the wider community by fostering a diverse and safe night-time economy.
The General Manager and Directors from all departments provided us with an overview of the policies, structural systems, and work styles implemented at Burwood Council. They also gave us an onsite tour of the council and its surrounding facilities. We learned about their initiatives to provide services to the community in an interactive way and their efforts in placemaking to engage both the local community and visitors from outside the area.
We were impressed by the strong interactive relationship between the council and the community, as well as their strategic planning. In particular, the Burwood After Dark Strategy stood out to us as it aims to make Burwood a more attractive destination for businesses and the wider community by fostering a diverse and safe night-time economy.
A representative from the CLAIR Sydney office gave a presentation on the three tiers of the Japanese government system, our roles and projects. This provided Burwood Council with a deeper understanding of the Japanese system, which facilitated an active exchange of views on the differences between Australia and Japan.
This visit was an invaluable opportunity, providing us with many insights into Burwood Council’s policies. We would like to extend our gratitude to everyone from Burwood council who participated.
We will continue to research the policies and strategies implemented in Australia and New Zealand, with the support from local organisations.
From the 3rd to the 13th of December, eight selected swimmers from the Fukuoka Swimming Association visited NSW, where they participated in joint training sessions with a local school and competed in the 2024-25 Speedo NSW Senior State Age Championships.
