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 Relief Superstars
Rec People has, over many years, built a team of talented staff to work in local council on relief, temporary or project based assignments.
Today, Rec People has built relationships with over 40 local councils in Victoria and although our core business is providing relief staff, we also provide many other services that you can see on our services page. And we have big plans too, we aim to make that 79 councils in Victoria as well as providing service offerings across the country.
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 truly has changed the way leisure and recreation departments in local government hire, support and retain talent.
If your council needs one of our superstars to fill a temporary position or skills gap, please contact us, we’re a friendly bunch and only too happy to help.
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
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.
Richard has delivered other projects including:
– Crown land status reviews for public and private sector clients
– Preparation of reports and expert witness appearances at VCAT and Planning Panels
– Delivering courses on Crown land management for The Public Land Consultancy
– Developing Melbourne’s Open Space Strategy Linking People and Spaces.
- Urban planning
- Project management
- Open space strategy
- Crown land and parks legislation
- Community consultation and stakeholder engagement
- City of Port Phillip (Open Space Planner)
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 on a $3.3M aquatic programs portfolio (Learn to Swim, School Program and Aqua Fitness Program); across ten schools and the community within the Albert Park region (7000 individuals in total). Additional responsibilities necessitated provision of 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 for 4000 students.
- Aquatic facilities management
- Project management
- Program co-ordination
- Management of swim teachers and aquatic facility customer support staff
- Community consultation and stakeholder engagement
- Current – Yarra City Council (Aquatic Coordinator)
- Previous – Darebin City Council (Administration Officer, Reservoir Leisure Centre)
Nicole Back
Nicole is currently kicking goals at City of Port Phillip as their Recreation and Open Space Policy Officer. Prior to her stint at Port Phillip, 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. Nicole also loves sport, doing everything from playing and coaching Netball to being part of the Australian Women’s Beach Handball Team. Yep, she’s a gun.
- Open space, recreation planning
- Participation strategies
- Research and data analysis
- Project management
- Community consultation and stakeholder engagement
- City of Port Phillip (Recreation and Open Space Policy Officer)
Sanjay Patel
Before joining us at Rec People, Sanjay was doing his stuff across the ditch working for Sport Manawatu (an arm of local government and SPORT NZ) as Community Sport and Recreation Team Leader, managing a team as well as key relationships with Regional Sports Organisations, Clubs and local government, administering funds and facility planning. Prior to his team leadership role he worked on special projects at Sports Manawatu where he managed the organisations communications, online and digital presence. And he loves cricket!
Sanjay is currently on assignment at Cardinia Shire.
- Open space, recreation planning
- Participation strategies
- Facility planning
- Club liaison
- Project management
- Team leadership
- Community consultation and stakeholder engagement
- Current: Cardinia Shire Council (Active Recreation Liaison Officer)
Previous: Glen Eira City Council (Sports Club Liaison Officer)
Nigel Smith
On his way to coming on board at Rec People, Nigel has racked up some serious experience. His CV says it all :
A customer focused career that 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.
Career Summary
2017 Placemaker Yarra Ranges Council, Lilydale
2012 Precinct Designer Yarra Ranges Council, Lilydale
2012 Lecturer (ongoing) RMIT University, Melbourne
2011 Urban Design Director Places Victoria, Docklands
2009 Senior Urban Designer VicUrban, Docklands
2007 Design Director Lend Lease Communities, Docklands
Nigel is currently on assignment at City of Port Phillip as an Open Space Planner.
- Open space, recreation planning
- Urban design and strategy
- Community consultation and stakeholder engagement
- City of Port Phillip (Open Space Planner)
Hepburn Shire Council (Local Transport Benchmarking Study)
Kirstie Robinson
Well, Kirstie’s done just about everything in sport and rec so we’re thrilled to have her as part of the Rec People team. 14 years experience, across 3 shires – Frankston, Casey, Mornington Peninsula. She has managed staff, been on the board of key sporting organisations like Parks and Leisure Aust Vic/Tas Region, successfully submitted funding applications and oversaw the usage of 70 recreation reserves and worked with over 200 clubs. And that’s kust the tip of the iceberg, what a star!
Currently Kirstie is at Stonnington City Council as a Recreation Planner
- 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
- Current: Stonnington City Council (Recreation Planner)
- Previous: Bayside City Council (Recreation Planner)
Camilla Briggs
Camilla has over 28 years working in sport, physical activity and health. Before joining us at 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.
Currently Camilla is at the City of Boroondara as the Team Leader -Sport Operations
- Club liaison
- Project/Program management
- Funding applications
- Sports and recreation policy development
- Facility management
- Team leadership
- Community consultation and stakeholder engagement
- City of Boroondara – Team Leader Sport Operations
Alan Webb
Before joining us at Rec People, Alan worked at Tennis Australia for 7 years with his last role being that as Programs Team Leader. In that role Alan was responsible for the growth and success of Tennis World Social Leagues, Cardio Tennis streams, Tournaments and Gym programs. His remit also included: Community engagement and customer experience. Management and development of Programs, Front of House (FOH) and coaching staff. Implementing improved structures and innovation.
Currently Alan at the City of Moreland as the Sports Club Liaison and Development Officer
- Club liaison
- Club development
- Project/Program management
- Community consultation and stakeholder engagement
- City of Boroondara – Team Leader Sport Operations