Animal Registration Process Upgrade
🐾 A Smarter Way to Register Pets: Council’s Digital Upgrade Delivers Big Wins
In a shining example of cross-departmental collaboration, the Community Amenity and Digital Technology teams at Greater Dandenong have successfully redeveloped the Animal Registration Process—ushering in a new era of efficiency, customer satisfaction, and digital transformation.
Previously, pet owners were required to wait for manual approval before making payment for their animal registration. This not only delayed the process but also posed a financial risk to Council, with many registrations left unpaid. Recognising the need for change, Community Amenity partnered with Digital Technology to streamline the experience and reduce administrative overhead.
🚀 Fast-Tracked Innovation
Earlier this month, our CGD Teams partnered with an external company to re-engineer the registration workflow. Through close collaboration, a streamlined solution was delivered that saves Council time and money. Customers can now pay at the time of application, reducing delays and the risk of non-payment.
This strategic enhancement supports Council’s broader digital transformation goals with a long-term, integrated solution
💡 What’s Changing for Customers and Council
The upgraded process brings a host of benefits:
- Instant Payment and Confirmation: Customers can now pay immediately and receive a receipt and reference number.
- Faster Turnaround: Registrations are processed more quickly, with improved communication for additional information requests.
- Reduced Infringements: Automated checks help ensure pets are registered on time, reducing penalties.
- Smarter Workflows: The system detects excess animal registrations and auto-generates permit applications, saving officer time.
- Improved Officer Efficiency: Freed from manual follow-ups, Council officers can focus on higher-value tasks.
📅 What’s Next?
The next phase will deliver a user-friendly online form that guides customers to the correct registration type and fee. Digital Technology will continue to support Community Amenity in refining this experience. The final stage will ensure the website is updated with clear, accessible information.
The new process is set to go live by 1 September 2025, just in time for the half-price registration period in October, when Council sees the highest volume of new registrations
🙌 A Team Effort Worth Celebrating
Special thanks go to Ralph Neuenfeld for his project leadership, ensuring delivery within tight timeframes and empowering the Community Amenity team to confidently support customers with the new system
This upgrade is more than just a technical fix—it’s a testament to what can be achieved when teams work together with purpose, agility, and a shared commitment to better outcomes for the community.
An Open Conversation About AI
AI is reshaping the way we work, communicate, and deliver services. As we navigate this exciting new landscape, it's important for us to create a space for discussion, learning and discovery.
Since launching Copilot in February, we have seen a 10% growth in daily uptake and have seen some great use cases already. We expect this to increase fast with further awareness, training and support for our staff which will provided in the near future.
We are currently drafting an AI Policy for Council to help ensure we use AI in a safe, ethical and responsible way aligned with community expectations. We expect this draft to be ready by the end of August.
🚀 Let’s get the conversation started
We’re launching a brand-new discussion board this week where you can share your thoughts, ideas, and questions about AI at CGD.
Whether you're curious, cautious, or completely captivated by AI—this will be your space to speak up and connect.
Keep an eye out for the launch and be ready to jump in.
I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts and continuing the conversation.
Yuri Guzman, Chief Information Officer