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We are the industry leading provider of Rec People to Local Government. Staff are empowered and supported and have choice and flexibility in how they work. The best staff deliver the best outcomes for local communities.
Our Mobile Recreation and Leisure Workforce
Rec People has, over many years, built a team of talented staff to work in local councils on relief, temporary or project based assignments.
Today, Rec People has built relationships with over 40 local councils in Victoria providing relief staff and project based workers. In addition to this, we offer permanent recruitment solutions and staff development programs through mentoring and coaching services.
We have big plans to extend our services across the country, not just in Victoria.
With our extensive experience in the leisure and recreation space specifically, advocating for our employees, understanding the culture of each local council, and providing fast, flexible options for the best talent, Rec People has changed the way leisure and recreation departments in local government hire, support and retain good people.
If your council needs one of our superstars to fill a temporary position, skills gap or deliver a project, please contact us, we’re a friendly bunch and only too happy to help.
Meet the Team
Howard Scott
Howard brings experience, wisdom and dedication to the Rec People team having worked in the industry for over 30 years. With Howards’ experience, there isn’t much that he hasn’t already encountered. Prior to joining Rec People in 2010, Howard held positions in Australia and Northern Ireland including Co-ordinator Community Leisure Services, Manager Leisure and Tourism and Manager Council owned Arts and Leisure Centres. Howard is an asset to any team with a quiet confidence and a supportive attitude.
- Sports club liaison and development
- Project management and delivery
- Recreation and leisure planning
- Policy review
- Strategy implementation
- Mount Alexander Shire Council
- Baw Baw Shire Council
- Corangamite Shire Council
- City of Kingston
- City of Greater Shepparton
- Yarra Ranges Shire Council
- Frankston City Council
- Nillumbik Shire Council
Kerry Irwin
Kerry has more than 20 years experience working with local communities within Local Government. Kerry has undertaken management roles predominantly in the areas of Recreation, Community Development and Environment. Kerry has been responsible for the management of recreation, community development, community planning, youth, environmental sustainability, social inclusion, emergency recovery, economic development and tourism.
Kerry joined Rec Relief in 2015. Kerry is passionate about communities and the physical, social and mental benefits gained through participation in community life and ensuring the environments we live in positively impact on quality of life and health and wellbeing.
- Leadership
- Skill and interest identification and planning
- Mentoring
- Work system analysis and improvement
- Strategic work planning and resourcing analysis
- Performance evaluation
- Project development
- Program management
- Policy development
- Funding attraction
- Community development, consultation and engagement
- Health promotion
- Yarra Ranges Shire Council
- Monash City Council
- Knox City Council
- City of Greater Dandenong
- City of Stonnington
- City of Ballarat
- City of Yarra
Matthew O'Riley
A mature and quietly confident young professional, Matthew gained valuable life experience as a captain and coach of junior sport whilst teaching swimming and working in municipal aquatic and leisure centres.
Matthews first experience into community recreation within Local Government was with the City of Moreland undertaking sports club liaison duties as part of an internship program. Showing great talent with the right attitude and attributes to make a difference in the lives of the local community, Matthew quickly found his way to Rec People.
- Aquatic and leisure facility administration
- Sports club liaison
- Project management
- Recreation development.
- Manningham City Council
- City of Port Phillip
Daniel Ferguson
With experience in Local Government, State Government and the private consulting sector, Daniel brings with him a level of confidence and knowledge gained from experience. Daniel has extensive experience in developing strategic plans and policies, having undertaken a wide range of projects for government agencies Australia-wide as both an external consultant and in-house policy, planning and project management roles. He also has experience in the design, delivery and management of infrastructure projects, ranging from minor capital works projects through to major venue redevelopments and upgrades (such as the Etihad Stadium redevelopment).
Daniel joined Rec People in 2012 – 2013 and has since returned in 2018 to further his career in project based consultancy work. Dan has a thorough understanding of the social determinants of health, barriers to participation in sport and physical activity and benefits that can be achieved from a well-planned service system, urban environment and supporting infrastructure.
- Strategic planning and policy development
- Project management
- Community engagement
- City of Kingston
- City of Port Phillip
- City of Whittlesea
Jane Kopecek
Jane is a Sports Management Professional with experience in the areas of sport and recreation planning, project management, client liaison and facility management. With experience in a number of Councils in Victoria and Queensland, Jane brings with her extensive knowledge and wisdom across a variety of fields in the recreation and leisure space.
Jane has a mature and well considered outlook on life with a calm and relaxed nature. With a quiet confidence and extensive experience, Jane will add value to your team with minimal effort.
- Recreation and leisure planning
- Project management
- Leisure facility contract management
- Strategy implementation
- Community consultation and stakeholder engagement
- Stonnington City Council
- Hume City Council
- City of Boroondara
- Mornington Peninsula Shire Council
- Cardinia Shire Council
- Banyule City Council
- Mitchell Shire Council
- Manningham City Council
Richard O'Byrne
Richard is an urban and regional planner with many years’ experience in parks, recreation and community engagement. He has a strong background in dealing with Crown land leases and park tenures and an excellent knowledge of relevant legislation. Richard has previously held senior management roles in state government and is a qualified urban and regional planner.
- Urban planning
- Project management
- Open space planning
- Crown land and parks legislation
- Community consultation and stakeholder engagement
- City of Port Phillip
- Bayside City Council
Lisa Cotton
Prior to joining Rec People, Lisa was at the State Sports Centre Trust managing swim programs. A diverse, time sensitive and multi-disciplinary position, with a high client service emphasis, where the primary objective was to manage, coordinate and continue to improve service delivery of the aquatic programs portfolio (Learn to Swim, School Program and Aqua Fitness Program).
Lisa provided leadership and direction to 133 permanent and casual staff (instructors, coaches and customer service staff); general administration and financial management as well as booking programs management.
- Aquatic facilities management
- Project management
- Program co-ordination
- Management of swim teachers and aquatic facility customer support staff
- Community consultation and stakeholder engagement
- Yarra City Council
- Darebin City Council
Nicole Back
Prior to joining Rec People, Nicole was with the Kinetica Group as a consultant working with National, State and local peak sporting organisations on participation strategies. She loves research and data, having spent time as a research assistant at Victoria University as well as a performance analyst at the Western Bulldogs AFL club.
Using her research and analytical skills, Nicole is adding value in the recreation planning field in Local Government.
- Open space, recreation planning
- Participation strategies
- Research and data analysis
- Project management
- Community consultation and stakeholder engagement
- City of Port Phillip
Nigel Smith
Nigels customer focused career has been characterised by enhancing place quality, pursuing urban innovation and developing evidence based design systems and solutions. This is demonstrated through a track record of increased return on place investment, highly valued infrastructure outcomes and stakeholder relationships of integrity.
Nigel brings with him extensive experience in urban and open space design, project management and community engagement. This ‘think outside the box’ operator will bring new enthusiasm and energy to your team and projects.
- Open space andrecreation planning
- Urban design and strategy
- Community consultation and stakeholder engagement
- City of Port Phillip
Hepburn Shire Council
Kirstie Robinson
Kirstie has worked her way through the ranks over a 14 year career across 3 municipalities including Frankston, Casey and Mornington Peninsula. This lady is super organised with a background in sports administration. From doing the doing to leading teams, Kirstie is a well rounded recreation and leisure professional within the Local Government setting.
Kirstie is delivering project based work to Councils needing additional resources for one off projects.
- Recreation planning
- Capital works and facilities planning
- Club liaison
- Funding applications
- Sports and recreation policy development
- Facility management
- Team leadership
- Community consultation and stakeholder engagement
- Stonnington City Council
- Bayside City Council
Camilla Briggs
Camilla has over 28 years working in sport, physical activity and health. Before joining Rec People, Camilla worked as a Senior Sport and Physical Activity Development Manager at Bristol City Council in the UK which involved the strategic implementation of city wide physical activity initiatives to improve health and well-being. As well as the Identification of gaps in provision, areas of need, funding and partnerships with public and community organisations. But that’s not all, the role also included project management, funding applications, project proposals, budget management, coordination, monitoring, evaluation and reporting.
Camilla’s ability to think logically and step by step approach to problem solving makes her an ideal leader and team member.
- Project and Program planning, management and delivery
- Funding applications
- Sports and recreation policy development
- Team leadership
- Community consultation and stakeholder engagement
- City of Boroondara
- Manningham City Council
Ken Barton
Ken comes to Rec People after a distinguished career at Tennis Victoria, his last role being General Manager Government Relations and Places to Play. Ken also has previous local government experience having worked at Wyndham City as Team Leader Recreation Policy and Planning.
- Community planning
- Funding advocacy
- Project planning
- Facility delivery
- Policy considerations
- Community consultation and stakeholder engagement
- City of Boroondara
Paul Reading
Paul brings a wealth of experience to Rec People with his previous work in the Local Government and Education sectors. As a long term industry professional, Paul has managed Recreation and Leisure teams including Whittlesea, Manningham and Melbourne University Sport.
Paul is a resilient and adaptable leader of people with recreation planning and community development skills.
- Strategic planning
- Community development
- Project and contract management
- Financial and budget management
- Collaborative leadership and people management
- Stakeholder engagement and consultation
- Knox City Council
Ian Waugh
Ian rejoins Rec People as a Senior Consultant after his last assignment as Manager Community and Recreation at Moorabool Shire.
Ian has a broad and diverse range of experience, having worked at many local councils from Melton to Warnambool, Whitehorse to Boroondara, in varied roles such as Open Space Planning, Youth Development and Multicultural Event Planning just to name a few.
Ian is an excellent communicator with highly developed written and oral skills, a great relationship builder who takes great pride in the work he has done in councils across the state, from the Surf Coast to Hepburn Shire.
- Project management
- Club development
- Community development and engagement
- Library services
- Leisure facilities management and operation
- Customer Service
- Development of strategies, master plans policies and procedures
- Knowledge of industry trends/networking
- Program development
- City of Boroondara
- Warnambool City Council
- City Whitehorse
- Moorabool Shire
- Hepburn Shire
Ryan Supple
Ryan joins Rec People after recently graduating from a Bachelor of Business (Sports Management) from Deakin Uni. He’s been heavily involved in sports admin through various roles at Deakin Active including in Customer Service and as an AFL9’s co-ordinator.
Ryan is currently on assignment at Nillumbik as a Recreation Liaison Officer
- Project management
- Club development
- Community development and engagement
- Customer Service
- Nillumbik – Recreation Liaison Officer