The Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation (the ISJO) is the umbrella organisation for local government in the Illawarra Shoalhaven Region. 

The ISJO has four Member Councils – Wollongong City Council, Shellharbour City Council, Kiama Municipal Council and Shoalhaven City Council.  Wollondilly Shire Council is an Associate Member. 

The ISJO was proclaimed in 2018 through the Local Government (Regional Joint Organisations) Proclamation 2018 and has been operating under the provisions of the NSW Local Government Act since that time.

Joint Organisations (JOs) are statutory local government bodies under the NSW Local Government Amendment (Regional Joint Organisations) Act 2017 No 65 and the Local Government Act.  They provide a way for local councils and the NSW Government to work together to deliver things that matter the most to regional communities. 

Joint Organisations represent a long-term commitment to the development and implementation of a shared vision for a region.

Joint Organisation Roles:

The core functions of a Joint Organisation are:

• Regional strategic planning, including high level planning across the quadruple bottom line
• Intergovernmental collaboration through working closely with the NSW Government, the Commonwealth Government, other Councils and other Joint Organisations
• Regional leadership and advocacy and acting as the regional voice for councils and their communities

Joint Organisations also enhance strategic capacity by supporting their Member Councils in delivering services to their communities.  This can include delivering services directly to and / or on behalf of their Members.

ISJO Statement of Strategic Regional Priorities 2035

The Local Government (General) Amendment (Regional Joint Organisations) Regulation 2018 requires that Joint Organisations such as the ISJO prepare a Statement of Strategic Regional Priorities that draws from its Member Council Community Strategic Plans (CSPs), regional plans and other strategic documents to clearly identify the key areas of focus for the Joint Organisation in the years ahead.

Individually and collectively the strategic frameworks developed at a local, regional and beyond region level have a profound influence on the future of our region and the well-being of its residents. In the context of these plans, the ISJO’s Statement of Strategic Regional Priorities serves as a communication link between the local and State Government strategic frameworks that impact on and guide the future of our region. It facilitates shared understanding of these frameworks and, importantly, it promotes intergovernmental cooperation and targeted resource allocations that will assist in the achievement of the short, medium and long term goals of the entities with which the ISJO and its Member Councils work.

The ISJO’s Statement of Strategic Priorities 2035 was adopted by the ISJO Board at its December 2025 Meeting.

It contains five key focus areas:

1.    Environment, Resilience and Sustainability

• We will lead efforts to promote and resource climate change adaptation and to embed disaster resilience in planning and resource allocation at all levels
• We will role model sustainability in our own practices and, in partnership with other levels of government and peak bodies, will treasure and protect our region’s environment, its biodiversity and unique character
• We will work to reduce emissions and, through responsible waste management practices, education and an embracing of the circular economy, will put our region at the forefront of initiatives to create a sustainable future.

2.    Growing the contribution of our Region’s Economy

• We will build partnerships to expand access to markets and to help build an interregional case for State and Commonwealth investment in enabling economic, road and rail transport infrastructure including and especially linkages to South West Sydney, Port Kembla and the Western Sydney International Airport
• We will work cooperatively with business and government to accelerate region-wide diversification, innovation and skills development and to expand employment opportunities in all sectors including technology-driven manufacturing, research, education, defence and the digital and visitor economies.

3.    Connection, Well-Being and Sense of Place

• We will collaborate with key agencies to support the delivery of programs that promote connectivity, liveability, safety, health and wellbeing
• We will advocate strongly for better and more integrated public transport and for within-region linkages that open up opportunities, assist a more mobile workforce and promote equitable access to education, health and other social services
• We will promote active lifestyles, community development, cultural awareness, creativity and a valuing of local character
• We will acknowledge and respect the traditional custodians of the land throughout the Illawarra Shoalhaven – the Dharawal, Jerrinja, Wandi Wandian and Wodi Wodi Peoples – and recognise our responsibility to work together with and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, families and communities towards improved economic, social and cultural outcomes.

4.    Housing

• We will contribute to and, where appropriate drive, initiatives to support housing affordability, diversity and availability
• We will support programs that identify and assist in the delivery of infrastructure – including social, educational and service infrastructure – to enable housing development in priority growth areas.

5.   Strategy, Governance and Partnerships

• We will manage our resources wisely and be informative, transparent and trusted decision-makers focused on the values of our community
• We will work together as a region, with other regions and peak bodies in local government to ensure that our sector’s financial sustainability is ensured and that our collective regional interests are prioritised.

Our Vision Statement remains the Statement adopted in 2019:  “A confident, vibrant, safe and productive region that optimises the potential of its people and environment now and into the future”.

To download a copy of our Strategic Regional Priorities Statement please click on the Strategy cover image at the top of this page.