Leaders Connect

A word from the CEO

Happy last day of February!

It’s been another busy month here at
LG Professionals SA – our Ignite, Strategic Management Executive Leaders, Women’s Career Navigator and Women’s Career Catalyst Programs have all commenced, and we have launched the final speakers for our Annual State Conference – with the program carefully curated for professionals of all levels. Please see full details below on the Conference, including an exciting scholarship opportunity for field staff. It would be fantastic to see all councils and subsidiaries represented at the event – it is such a valuable opportunity for connection.

We have finalised the shortlisting process for our Leadership Excellence Awards and wow, it warms my heart to read about the amazing achievements of our sector. Thank you to each and every one of you who took the time to nominate and showcase the innovation and excellence demonstrated within your organisations. Taking the time to recognise our achievements is so important, as not only does it offer an important opportunity for reflection, but also assists other councils and subsidiaries through the sharing of learnings.

Do you know someone who has made an outstanding contribution to the local government sector in South Australia? Please find details below on the call for nominations for the Outstanding Contribution to the Sector award and don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions around nominating a peer.

Over the past month we have made some exciting progress towards our key strategic priorities and I look forward to continuing to update you on these in future editions of Leaders Connect. As your association, we appreciate your input. If you are interested in contributing or would like to discuss these in further detail please don’t hesitate to reach out.

A key Strategic Priority of LG Professionals SA is to increase Field Offerings to ensure specific and tailored opportunities for Field Employees. Last week we reached out to seek expressions of interest to join a Working Group to support us in progressing this initiative – I am so excited by the interest received so far, and for the opportunities that the future holds in relation to this priority. Should you be interested in supporting this, please see further information below.

We have had a fruitful month of research and forming connections relating to our Workforce and Gender Equity in SA Local Government Project and look forward to continuing to share progress with you.

Finally, thank you to those of you who have taken the time to complete our Annual Survey – we so appreciate your feedback. If you haven’t yet had a chance there is still time – the survey will close at 12 noon on Monday.

Want to be part of this exciting action? Please read on below for information on an exciting new role within our team, Manager – Professional Networks Engagement.

Keep happy and well, and I look forward to seeing you at an event or program soon!

Best wishes
Rhiannon

February 2024
Edition 149

SAVE THE DATE

Please save the date for the following LG Professionals SA events for 2024. If you are planning a local government event, we invite you to contact us to avoid date clashes.

Friday 4 July 2024 - LG Professionals SA People and Culture Network Conference

Friday 1 November 2024 - LG Professionals SA Women's Network Conference

Thursday 7 November 2024 - LG Professionals SA Annual General Meeting

Friday 8 November 2024 - LG Professionals SA Economic Development Conference

NOMINATE A PEER FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION
TO THE SECTOR
Nominations close Thursday 28 March 2024

The Call for Nominations is now open for the Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Sector.

This prestigious award recognises and acknowledges a local government professional who, over a minimum of ten years, has made an outstanding contribution to the local government sector in South Australia. The recipient is nominated by their peers and determined by a subcommittee of the Board of LG Professionals SA.

Nominations must be received by 5pm, Thursday 28 March 2024 and be submitted to Rhiannon Clarke, Chief Executive Officer at executive@lgprofessionalssa.org.au

Find out more

FIELD EMPLOYEE OFFERINGS WORKING GROUP EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

Our mission as LG Professionals SA is to engage directly with those at the heart of this initiative, and we would love to see field staff involved in what we have set out to achieve. The skills and expertise of those passionate about, leading teams or working in this space will help us to drive these outcomes.

To progress this initiative and ensure we are meeting the needs of our current and future members, LG Professionals SA seek Expressions of Interest from Members to be part of a Working Group.

The Working Group will come together to provide guidance, advice and support to
LG Professionals SA in communicating with and curating relevant opportunities for field employees.

If you are passionate about providing opportunities for local government field employees, we would be thrilled to have you involved. Please click here to express your interest, and we will be in touch soon.

What would it involve?

Informal meetings – frequency to be determined but approx. an hour a month
Acting on outcomes from meetings to ensure key deliverables are met and the initiative progresses
Support in distributing information to stakeholders
Generation of ideas and sharing of perspectives

WORKFORCE AND GENDER EQUITY IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROJECT

The key focus of this project is to assess and address systemic drivers of gender inequality in the SA local government sector. There is considerable momentum at this time, with Federal and State governments progressing their Gender Equality strategic plans. This project provides an opportunity to show leadership in local government in South Australia .

The work of the project is to:

Actively promote the importance of a sector wide approach to ongoing collection and sharing of workforce data, specifically in relation to gender
Collect, consolidate and analyse workforce data across South Australian local government to identify key gender equality issues for the sector
Produce a final report and recommend strategies that align with Commonwealth and State Government strategic actions for SA local government

This is a 12-month project, with the final report due in January 2025. Progress to date has included the research phase and making connections with representatives within the local government sector and state government. The next phase of the project is data analysis.

There has been considerable interest shown in the Gender Equity Project and there will be future opportunities for engagement as the project progresses.

This project has been supported by the Local Government Research & Development Scheme administered by the Local Government Association of South Australia.

LG PROFESSIONALS SA - ANNUAL SURVEY

Recently, you would have received an email from Survey Monkey asking you to complete the LG Professionals SA Annual Survey – we would be so appreciative of you taking the time to provide your feedback which will be used to inform future LG Professionals SA activity and offerings, ensuring we offer opportunities relevant to you.

The survey will close at 12 noon on Monday 4 March 2024. If you require assistance, please don't hesitate to call 08 8224 2080.

Thank you so much in advance. We appreciate you taking the time to provide feedback on your association.

JOIN OUR TEAM!

Special interest Networks of connected professionals are a key membership benefit of
LG Professionals SA and we are on the hunt for a Manager - Professional Networks Engagement to strategically lead the high-level support and coordination of our current and future Networks of Members.

This is a busy but exciting role, which will provide the opportunity to engage with internal and external stakeholders across local government, playing an important role in shaping relevant opportunities for local government professionals across the state.

To find out more, please click here.

Applications close 5pm Friday 8 March 2024

RURAL MANAGEMENT CHALLENGE

Did you know that LG Professionals SA are one of only three states that offer a Rural Management Challenge which is specialised to the context of regional councils?

After a huge 2023 Rural Management Challenge, we were thrilled when our partners at
LG Professionals NSW reached out to invite the winners from Adelaide Plains Council to compete in the NSW Rural Management Challenge Final. Which was held in Sydney last week, APC All Stars competed against the best regional councils in NSW and we were so proud to see them connect and collaborate with their interstate local government colleagues!

APC All Stars; Josh Banks, Clarisse Semler-Hanlon, Amy Fagan, Nathan Emes and Angie-Marie Ross

REGISTER TO ATTEND THE 2024 LG PROFESSIONALS SA ANNUAL STATE CONFERENCE: NEXT GEN
Friday 22 March 2024

Time is running out to register. We would love to see all councils and subsidiaries represented – this event provides a great opportunity for sector professionals to come together, to connect, learn and share experiences.

The 2024 conference has been designed to inspire and energise South Australian local government professionals to embrace the changes, opportunities and challenges that the future holds, and use these to support prosperous and thriving communities.

Meeting the complex challenges of the future will require local governments to increase capacity and deliver services in new ways whilst still meeting customer expectations – to do this the workforce will need to evolve to new ways of thinking and working.

This period of rapid change also represents a time of extreme opportunity, and local government is in a unique position to wholeheartedly embrace the future, leading the way for South Australian communities.

ANNUAL STATE CONFERENCE - SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY FOR FIELD STAFF

To assist in the professional development of our field staff, we are very excited to offer for the first time 8 scholarships for field employees to attend our 2024 Annual State Conference: Next Gen. Attendance at the conference will provide the opportunity to network and meet with other field staff and your respective colleagues from a range of roles in the sector, and learn a great deal from a range of speakers.

If you are a field employee, or there is someone within your team who you would like to nominate to attend, please click here and complete the form by 5pm on Thursday, 7 March.

Should more nominations than position be received a random draw will be conducted to select successful recipients. Scholarship recipients must be able to attend the 2024 Annual State Conference on Friday, 22 March at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, as the ticket is not transferrable.

SHOWCASE THE SECTOR

23RD ANNUAL LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE AWARDS GALA DINNER
Friday 10 May 2024

It's that time of year again, where we come together to recognise, support and celebrate the fantastic work being done by our colleagues across the sector. We're so excited to celebrate 23 years of the LG Professionals SA Leadership Excellence Awards!

Our Annual Leadership Excellence Awards Gala Dinner is a great way to celebrate our sector's achievements, be inspired and network with peers.

Registrations close Wednesday 24 April 2024 unless sold out prior. Don't miss out!

Please coordinate registrations through your CEO office.

Find out more

LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS

EMERGING LEADERS PROGRAM
Program Commences 30 May 2024

The LG Professionals SA Emerging Leaders Program is a highly interactive program that will take participants on a seven-month experiential learning journey to develop their leadership skills. The program combines leadership techniques taught by UniSA lecturers and the opportunity to apply these techniques in participant led local government modules to further develop leadership capability.

As a participant of this program, you can expect to:

increase your understanding of leadership concepts and practices
build your confidence and self-awareness
challenge assumptions
better understand local government

If you'd like a copy of the recording of the Emerging Leaders Program Information Session held on Tuesday 12 December 2023, please email Eve Jackson, Training Support Officer at eve@lgprofessionalssa.org.au.

This program is SOLD OUT! Please join the waitlist.

Join the waitlist

LEVEL UP YOUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN 2024

We offer a range of short courses that have been curated to equip the sector’s staff with the skills essential to deliver on efficiency, performance and continuous improvement.

We've released an exciting range of short courses scheduled for the remainder of this financial year - take a look below.

Please contact Eve Jackson, Training Support Officer at eve@lgprofessionalssa.org.au for more information on any of our short courses or how we can bring them in house to your council or subsidiary.

Find out more

UPCOMING SHORT COURSES

MANAGING YOUR TIME, ENERGY & PRIORITIES
Monday 25 March 2024

This course will provide you with the knowledge and skills to improve your time management approach to your daily and weekly workload—work smarter, not harder! You’ll dive into issues that are preventing you from reaching optimum effectiveness and develop a range of techniques and strategies to better manage your time and get more out of your day.

Suitable for: Officers at all levels

Facilitated by Gary Edwards
As a lawyer, magician, negotiator, comedian and speaker, Gary is an expert in the art and science of influence – the key ability that businesses will need to navigate a future where nothing is quite as it seems. Gary has been a facilitator with LG Professionals SA for many years and delivers numerous short courses with exceptional feedback from participants.

POWERFUL BUSINESS WRITING
Wednesday 17 April 2024

Even if your role doesn’t require a lot of writing, how you come across is crucial to your credibility. The ability to write clearly, precisely, powerfully and persuasively is a key skill that enables you to summarise and present ideas, build relationships and gain commitment to action. It can also demonstrate your knowledge, confidence and professionalism.

This course uses your own writing examples to demonstrate the use of Plain English principles and persuasive writing techniques.

Suitable for: Officers, Coordinators, Team Leaders, Senior Managers

PERFORMANCE COACHING
Wednesday 15 May 2024

This course enables participants to develop skills and confidence in holding performance coaching conversations in an easy and comfortable environment. Participants are provided opportunities to engage with their direct reports in a new and contemporary approach. They will prepare for effective performance conversations in their workplace.

Suitable for: Coordinators, Team Leaders, Managers and Executives

Facilitated by Debra Sarre
With a Bachelor of Psychology and 20 years corporate experience Debra brings current knowledge and practices from the fields of Organisational Psychology and contemporary leadership and management. Debra delivers our Performance Coaching short course and has also been a key facilitator for our Emerging Leaders Program.

ADVANCED PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Wednesday 26 June 2024

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.

Suitable for: Staff who have experience with managing projects and wish to extend their knowledge

Facilitated by Lisa Twyford
Lisa is a highly motivated professional with extensive business improvement and project management experience. Her passion for these areas equips her with the expertise to deliver both the Introduction to Project Management and Advanced Project Management short courses. These courses sell out very quickly and feedback received is always excellent.

YOUR NEEDS, YOUR MEMBERSHIP

5. STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE
Respected and widely recognised within and outside of the sector, our Leadership Excellence Awards Program began in 2001 and celebrates outstanding achievements and innovation in local government. The awards showcase the level of expertise and excellence in our sector and is an opportunity exclusive to Members Only.

Learn more about what LG Professionals SA Membership offers you.

Find out more

NEW MEMBERS

Welcome to our 120 new members! Click here to see the list.

We look forward to providing support and professional development and networking opportunities through every stage of your local government career.

Member Profile -
Proudly sponsored by

Trevor Ashenden

This month we spoke with Trevor Ashenden, Coordinator - Community Rangers and Fire Prevention Officers at City of Onkaparinga, about his role, professional development and what's next for him.

How long have you been in local government?

I started with City of Onkaparinga in August 2020 as a casual Ranger, with no previous regulatory or local government experience.

In October 2021, I was the successful candidate for the role of Technical Support Officer within our section, responsible for drafting political correspondence; giving legislative advice to internal and external customers; and assisting in the development and review of policies and procedures. Read more...

NETWORK NEWS

LG Professionals SA Members are invited to join one of our many Networks.

Networks are groups of professionals who share a common interest or experience. We run a comprehensive range of Network meetings and forums throughout the year, offering staff the opportunity to learn and develop whilst sharing and networking with peers from their own and other councils and subsidiaries, across the state.

Our Networks include:

Women's Network

People and Culture Network

Community Managers Network

Business Performance and Improvement Network

General Managers and Directors Network

CEO Network

Join a Network today

If you would like to know more about our Network offerings, or have a suggestion for a new Network, please contact Haylie Maynard, Membership and Networks Officer at haylie@lgprofessionalssa.org.au.

NETWORK OFFERINGS

WOMEN'S NETWORK FORUM: MY WORTH
Thursday 14 March 2024

Join us for the first LG Professionals SA Women's Network Forum of 2024, My Worth. To honour International Women's Day 2024, the LG Professionals SA Women's Network are focusing on encouraging women to feel the sense of belonging in their workplace. Giving attendees the opportunity to deep dive into their goals and values. With a wonderful line up of speakers including Matilda Rose (Matilda Rose Career Coach) and Hayley Ashworth (City of Mitcham) it is going to be a great session. Register to attend via Zoom.

This Forum will be held in person at City of Charles Sturt Civic Centre and via Zoom on Thursday 14 March from 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM.

Due to an overwhelmingly positive response, in person attendance is now sold out. Please contact Haylie Maynard via email at haylie.lgprofessionalssa.org.au to join a waitlist to attend in person.

GENERAL MANAGERS AND DIRECTORS NETWORK FORUM: PSYCHOSOCIAL SAFETY
Thursday 21 March 2024

Join us for the first LG Professionals SA General Managers and Directors Network Forum of 2024, Psychosocial Safety. Like any other physical health and safety risk, psychological health risks from psychosocial hazards must be managed. This session will shed light on the new psychosocial regulations, employers’ responsibilities, and risk control frameworks to assist councils in meeting their duty to protect workers from harm in the workplace. With a great line up of speakers including Jason Mavrikis (Safework SA Advisory Service) and Karen Lennell (City of Onkaparinga) this is sure to be a beneficial session for General Managers and Directors across the sector. Register to attend in person or via Zoom.

This Forum will be held in person at City of Adelaide Civic Centre and via Zoom on Thursday 21 March from 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM.

CEO NETWORK FORUM - SAVE THE DATE
Thursday 21 March 2024

Join us for the first LG Professionals SA CEO Network Forum of 2024. We will explore the important topic of Cybersecurity. We are pleased to be joined by interstate incident and response expert Reece Corbett-Wilkins.

This Forum will be held in person at City of Adelaide Civic Centre on Thursday 21 March from 1:45 PM - 4:45 PM.

Registrations opening soon.