Hi Cathy, this sounds like something AI could really help with? I am sure you will get many responses on here for programs that may help, but I put the question to Chat GPT and this is what came back:
✅ Key features to look for
Before we dive into names, here are features I’d lean on:
A form or portal where staff can submit requests (with attachments, categories, urgency)
A ticketing or workflow engine to route & prioritise automatically (rules, SLAs)
Ability to assign to team members, track status, send notifications
Dashboard / visibility (which jobs are open, backlog, status)
Access controls & permissions (so staff see only what they should)
Integration possibilities (with email, Teams, your CRM, file storage)
Flexibility to evolve — you’ll likely tweak the process over time
💡 Tools you can explore
Here are some tools (local + international) that might do well in your context. I haven’t tested all, so you’ll want to trial:
Tool Why it might work for you Considerations / caveats
Jira Service Management (Atlassian) Strong request / ticketing framework. Custom workflows, automation, SLAs. Might feel “IT” at first; there’s a learning curve.
monday.com Good for visual workflows, form submission, automations. More general-purpose, so you’ll need to build it to your use case.
Wrike Solid for managing workflows across teams. Cost and complexity can scale.
Process Street Good for structured, repeatable workflows. Better for checklists and standard processes.
Pipefy Designed for managing workflows/rules, automation. Make sure it integrates with your other systems.
WORKetc Combines CRM + project / request management. Could be more than you need in some parts; check what’s essential.
Local / Custom – WorkflowPower Because they specialise in AU/NZ work management & know local contexts. Might require more setup, but could give you a more tailored fit.
Also, when I looked around, “workflow automation software Australia” turned up a number of platforms in lists.
SoftwareSuggest
+1
The Capterra Australia directory is a helpful place to see what’s being used locally.
Capterra
If you like, I can narrow the list down to 2–3 that would likely fit your scale and budget (for “community relations / design requests”) and we can compare them side by side. Do you want me to do that for you?
Worth a deeper dig?
Best
Tina