Please see below for scheduled programs and events. We also have Expressions of Interest open for our Short Courses.
Developed in partnership with UniSA and local government experts, the Strategic Management Program (SMP) has been designed to increase the skills and capabilities of leaders and managers in local government.
Participants will build high-level leadership and management skills within a local government context, and learn technical skills to manage business functions and enhance innovation, strategic thinking, business acumen and operational excellence.
Registrations at our events and programs are open to Local Government Professionals Australia, SA members, council employees, employees of regional subsidiaries and Local Government Professionals Australia, SA invited guests unless specified otherwise on the event or program brochure.
The LG Professionals SA Ignite Program is a leadership learning path for supervisors, team leaders and coordinators in local government across South Australia.
The focus of the program is to enable those who have limited experience in managing and leading people to develop the competencies required to be successful in their role.
Download the full prospectus here.
By registering for this event/forum/program you will be subscribed to the LG Professionals SA mailing list. Should you wish to unsubscribe at any time, please email admin@lgprofessionalssa.org.au.
LG Professionals SA, in partnership with UniSA, is pleased to offer a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration, contextualised to the South Australian local government sector.
This postgraduate degree is offered as part of a nested suite in Business Administration where each qualification extends to the next, so you can easily transition to the next level qualification. If you finish this graduate certificate and want to continue your studies, you can use this as a pathway and gain credit for successfully completed courses into the Graduate Diploma in Business Administration or Master of Business Administration.
The Graduate Certificate in Business Administration is a four-course program. Participants who have completed the LG Professionals SA Strategic Management Program (SMP) (or past equivalent) or the Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) will receive one course credit into the program, therefore only need to complete three courses.
The fourth course, for those that have not completed the SMP or ELP, will be coordinated in addition to this program, with assistance available to navigate your options.
Please note, this is an Expression of Interest only. Due to the interactive and peer to peer nature of program delivery, a minimum number of 14 participants applies. Once the minimum number of Expressions of Interest are received, they will be forwarded to UniSA who will send through an application form to determine program eligibility. Once participants are confirmed UniSA will be responsible for invoicing all participants direct.
*Strict Program Eligibility Criteria applies – please ensure you see prospectus for further information prior to completing this form.*
Download the Prospectus
Join us as we welcome Anna Lee, Heather Barclay, Melissa Kretschmer, Charli Austin and Haylee Campbell as guest speakers for the LG Professionals SA Women's Network Forum: Now You See Me.
This Forum will be held in person and via Zoom on Wednesday 31 May 2023 from 9:45AM - 1:00PM at The Rural City of Murray Bridge.
Building Career CourageAnna Lee Hacks for Her
Do you:
Career courage will mean different things at different phases of your career. In this highly interactive session we'll explore:
Anna started her first business 14 years ago, when her firstborn was 6 weeks old. Her mission: to support women to take charge of their lives and careers. Over the next six years she worked with hundreds of women across all levels of organisational hierarchies, from recent graduates to CEOs. In 2014 Anna joined her brother Diarmid at Leed Consulting, where she began to specialise in working with organisations to cultivate inclusive, resilient leaders and teams. Since then, Anna has worked as an executive coach, leadership facilitator and keynote speaker, partnering with small community organisations through to universities, government and big corporates such as NAB, Santos and AGL. Anna returned to the women’s development sphere in 2021 with the launch of Hacks for Her, which focuses on equipping women with the career navigation skills required to succeed in the complex professional terrain of the 21st century workplace.
My Story Heather BarclayInterim CEOThe Rural City of Murray Bridge
Heather is a Member of LG Professionals SA, the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia and Australian Institute of Traffic Planning and Management. She holds an Associate Diploma in Surveying, an Advanced Diploma in Project Management and has considerable background with more than 30 years’ experience in local government, in Municipal Engineering and Infrastructure and Asset Management.
Heather is currently interim CEO at The Rural City of Murray Bridge with her substantive role being General Manager Assets and Infrastructure. In this General Manager role Heather is responsible for the management, renewal and maintenance of the natural and built public environment. She is also responsible for delivery of enhancement programs that support the preservation and creation of environments for people, lifestyle and connectedness, delivering on council’s aspiration for “thriving communities”.
Prior to taking on the role of General Manager at The Rural City of Murray Bridge, Heather held Senior and General Management positions across several local governments, including the South Australian Capital City Council, in both inner and outer metropolitan Councils in SA, and in rural and regional Councils in South Australia and Victoria.
Heather’s experience and skills are both broad and technical. She brings sound leadership and experience to The Rural City of Murray Bridge and its affiliated organisations.
Building Confidence Through Opportunities
Join us as we hear from three inspirational women in local government as they share their perspectives on building confidence within their careers.
Meet the Panellists:
Melissa Kretschmer Director City Services Port Augusta City Council
Melissa has been working in local government for 14 years, following several years in State Government. As the Director City Services, she has responsibilities across several Corporate and Community functions of Council including Governance, Procurement, WHS, IT, Records, HR, Community Development, Substance Misuse Services and the Library. Over her time in local government she has worked for both metro and regional Councils and progressed from Procurement Officer to Governance Team Leader, all the way through to her current role as Director.
Melissa is an advocate making the most of opportunities presented, gaining new skills and diversifying experience. She is grateful for the opportunities that she has been provided and enjoys motivating her team to upskill and take on new challenges that come their way. In her experience she has seen the benefits of local government, in being able to improve systems and processes that in turn have a positive impact on the community.
Charli Austin Administration Officer Community Development The Rural City of Murray Bridge
Charli has worked in local government for the past five years. During this time she has gained experience in various roles across Council including Customer Support Officer, Gallery Officer, Executive Assistant to the General Manager Community Development, Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer and Mayor and is currently serving as the Administration Officer Community Development.
Before joining Council, Charli struggled with self-doubt and lacked confidence in her abilities, however she took on new opportunities, pushing herself outside of her comfort zone, transforming her mindset. She cherishes the fact that local government offers limitless opportunities for personal and professional growth and believes that you can dictate your own success by taking ownership of your own development.
Throughout her career, Charli has been fortunate to work with supportive colleagues who have helped her to grow both professionally and personally. She is always eager to learn from others and contribute her own expertise wherever possible. Ultimately, Charli believes that a positive and collaborative work environment is essential for development and strives to foster that kind of environment wherever she goes.
Haylee Campbell Administration Officer, Infrastructure and Field Services Mid Murray Council
Haylee has worked in local government for seven years. During this time, she has held a variety of positions, including Infrastructure Trainee, Customer Service Officer, Community Connection Officer and Acting Community Connection Coordinator (incorporating Libraries and Activity Centres). Her current role is Infrastructure and Field Services Administration Officer, where she was also Acting Maintenance Coordinator during the recent Floods.
Working in a predominantly male dominated field, Haylee has struggled with breaking down gender stereotypes and expectations, but with the support and guidance of her colleagues has gained the confidence and skills required in her work. Haylee is always looking for ways to continue personal and professional development by taking on new opportunities and learning from those around her and believes that everyone should be given the same chance to develop within their workplace, no matter their position.
Informal Networking Lunch: You are invited to attend an informal 'pay your own way' networking lunch at the Bridgeport Hotel after the forum. Please indicate within your registration if you would like to attend. Should you have any questions, please contact Haylie on haylie@lgprofessionalssa.org.au.
Registrations for this forum are open to Local Government Professionals Australia, SA members, council employees, employees of regional subsidiaries and Local Government Professionals Australia, SA invited guests.
By registering for this forum you will be subscribed to the LG Professionals SA mailing list. Should you wish to unsubscribe at any time, please email admin@lgprofessionalssa.org.au.
The Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) is a program aimed to provide participants with a greater level of comprehension and understanding of local government; increased understanding of leadership concepts and practices and how to integrate these learnings into the workplace, increased confidence; enhanced self-awareness; an appreciation of and an ability to work with different personality types; the opportunity to challenge their assumptions.
Download the prospectus here.
Conflict in the workplace is a common occurrence, but it can cause stress and tension for all concerned. Handled well, however, conflict can provide an opportunity to improve processes and outcomes, dispel negativity and build relationships.
In this course we will use everyday conflict situations with colleagues, managers and customers to improve your ability to handle the emotion and stress of conflict, think through the situation and resolve it with confidence.
To find out more information, visit: https://lgprofessionalssa.org.au/conflict-resolution/
Registrations for this event are open to Local Government Professionals Australia, SA members, council employees, employees of regional subsidiaries and Local Government Professionals Australia, SA invited guests.
Please note, this is an invitation only event.
Project management is something we do every day in local government and it’s an area we should be leaders in. Beyond providing you with essential knowledge and skills to plan, manage and execute projects on time and on budget, this program takes a deeper dive into project management theory and looks at both operational and strategic elements of project management. Best suited to those who have some project management experience behind them, and those that have completed the Introduction to Project Management course.
For more information, visit http://lgprofessionalssa.org.au/advanced-project-management/.
Many leaders find conversations about performance to be difficult and too often avoid them altogether. Providing feedback, particularly when a team member’s performance falls short of expectations is one of the most critical functions a leader performs. Yet for many this is one of the most dreaded and avoided.
This program enables participants to develop skills and confidence in holding these conversations in an easy and comfortable environment. Participants are provided opportunities to engage with a new and contemporary approach. They will prepare for effective performance conversations in their workplace.
Visit https://www.lgprofessionalssa.org.au/performance-coaching for more information.
Join us as we welcome Greg Kavanagh and Kristie Johnson as guest speakers for the LG Professionals SA General Managers and Directors Network Forum: Your Brand, Your Culture.
This Forum will be held in person and via Zoom on Thursday 6 July 2023 from 1:15 PM - 4:00 PM at LG House.
Please read below to find out more about the program.
1:15 PM
Arrivals
1:30 PM
Welcome
1:40 PM
Why Brand is Everyone’s Business (and not just a marketing thing)Greg Kavanagh, Principal and Director, Branded Culture
Many organisations – including those in the local government space – incorrectly think of ‘brand’ as just a ‘marketing thing’ and a cost to the business. How wrong they are.
In this entertaining presentation, Greg Kavanagh, Principal & Director of Branded Culture will help you to better understand exactly what a brand is, why it can be your most valuable commercial asset and why everyone is responsible for it within your organisation. As General Managers and Directors, we need to look at brand as a decision making tool, and have a key role to play in driving this important strategic initiative. A strong brand and clear purpose not only impact organisational culture but council, community and the broader market. Greg has more than 20 years’ experience in marketing, advertising and brand strategy. His company, Branded Culture, specialises in helping organisations to better understand their brands and bring them to life in everything they do. Greg has a keen interest in areas of consumer psychology, buyer behaviour, cognitive bias and the role of emotion in engendering meaningful commercial exchange. As a recovering advertising person, he is particularly focused on helping organisations leverage their brands without the need for excessive investment in marketing communications.
What is your Council known for? What does your Council want to be known and remembered for?
Let’s explore this and how you, as the General Managers and Directors Network play a key role in the brand and culture of your organisation.
2:40 PM
Connecting our organisation to our brand – is it worth the effort?Kristie Johnson, Manager, Media, Marketing and Communications, City of Charles Sturt
Who do you identify with the most in this clip? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfTBdqF5VgwBrand
The City of Charles Sturt had an established, award winning brand in the market for almost 12 years – “Hello, I’m Charles Sturt.” However, unless you’re Nike or Coca-Cola, no brand can exist without change after such a long time. As Council set out to refresh their external brand, they explored how their brand connected to who they were as an organisation - their values, decisions and how they wanted their people to turn up each day.
What began as a “marketing” exercise (and a paranoia that they would become Utopia) became an undertaking of epic proportions where they created new values, ways of working, internal communications, strategies, a new Customer Experience, a refocused People Experience and more.
Join us, as Kristie Johnson, Media, Marketing and Communications Manager, shares a warts and all case study of the City of Charles Sturt’s experience in positioning brand to build strategic thinking within their organisation. Kristie will share why brand development can’t just rely on a ground swell of passionate employees, and why it requires genuine and ongoing leadership from the CEO and Mayor, together with a team of dedicated General Managers and Directors - to drive reputation and identity as a key strategic decision-making lever.
Kristie has more than 15 years’ experience in media, marketing, communications and strategic plan development. She is a member of the City of Charles Sturt Senior Leadership Team and is responsible for customer experience strategy, brand and reputation, all communications within and outgoing, flexible working, crisis communications and implementing the organisation’s values. She has a passion for people experience and linking why our people turn up each day to the promises we make to our communities.
What can you live and breathe in your workplace to reflect a genuine connection to your council’s identity and reputation?
3:10 PM
Afternoon Tea
3:30 PM
4:00 PM
Final remarks and event close
Please join your General Managers and Directors Network peers as we head to a nearby venue for informal Networking Drinks - an opportunity to further expand on discussions of the forum and foster relationships and connections.
Informal Networking Drinks: Should you wish to attend the informal 'pay your own way' networking drinks after to the forum please indicate this within your registration - we would love to see you there.
Mailing Address: 148 Frome Street ADELAIDE SA 5000 Phone: 08 8224 2080 Email: admin@lgprofessionalssa.org.au
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