Working As One

Hi, my name is Hayley Weller.

I offer change for the better and a new representation that brings care, compassion and collaboration to Lake Ward.

My purpose is to serve people - a realisation I came to after some soul searching!

Service is at the heart of everything I do. Being of service, and providing excellent service, are my key values that drive my professional and personal actions.

As a service-oriented person, it makes sense to me that local government is the ultimate expression of community service.

My approach is to work as one with you in an open and collaborative way to solve issues together. I believe that people should be included in decisions that affect them, and that issues are not just matters for a councillor to decide.

Here are the issues
I care about:

  • No more services are cut, and more is invested to meet residents’ needs at all life stages

  • Council assets and buildings are used to their full potential, that is, they are fit for purpose, in good condition, and not underused or empty

  • Infrastructure is maintained and safe - including footpaths, drains and lighting in streets for walking, bike paths for riding, and local and collector roads for driving and pedestrians

  • Sport and leisure facilities are suitable for healthy, active communities

  • Soft plastics recycling is available in Whitehorse

  • Council adequately funds community groups to undertake their important activities

  • Sensible planning decisions are made

  • Finances are responsibly managed

  • Extensive tree canopy, uniform street planting, urban design, playgrounds and open spaces are highly valued

  • Initiatives are promoted that meet the needs of people and their pets

Let me share a personal story...

My grandmother has been impacted by a council cut.

She is 91 and enjoys living in her own home.

Since my grandfather passed away over a decade ago, she has needed extra support at home and the council was her Commonwealth Home Support Programme service provider until they recently decided to exit that program.

My grandmother had a fortnightly cleaning service and built a friendship with her cleaner. She knew all about her cleaner’s family and would buy her a Christmas present in appreciation of her help.

For my grandmother, it was more than just having a clean home. It gave her connection and social interaction.

Council too would often check in with my grandmother to see if she needed more care and would call her if there was any change to her regular service.

Our family has had to find another suitable provider, which has been challenging with many phone calls, assessments needed, wait times and not being able to find just one provider who can meet all of her needs.

Whilst my grandmother now has other providers, she does not know the organisation names, she has had difficulty contacting them, she has either had a different person turn up each fortnight or nobody turns up at all, and she is paying more money for the services.

She has also already had these providers cut her gardening services.

Residents are used to dealing with council on a range of matters, including support, and council has the capability to offer services to residents.

I will work to ensure that no more services are cut, and more is invested to meet residents’ needs at all life stages - for children, young people, families, people with a disability and older people.

I would like to see council offer more support and be a knowledge hub for residents about what services are offered in the community and how they can access them.