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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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!
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APC All Stars; Josh Banks, Clarisse Semler-Hanlon, Amy Fagan, Nathan Emes and Angie-Marie Ross
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Member Profile -
Proudly sponsored by
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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...
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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:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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CEO Network Forums
SAVE THE DATE
- Thursday 5 September 2024 (joint forum with GM and Directors Network)
- Thursday 7 November 2024
Further information will be released soon.
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Business Performance and Improvement Network Forums
SAVE THE DATE
- Friday 12 April 2024
- Thursday 25 July 2024
- Wednesday 20 October 2024
Further information will be released soon.
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People and Culture Network Forums
SAVE THE DATE
- Thursday 4 April
2024
- Friday 20
September 2024
- Thursday 21
November 2024
Further information will be
released soon.
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General Managers and Directors Network Forums
SAVE THE DATE
- Wednesday 31 July 2024
- Thursday 5 September 2024 (joint forum with CEO Network)
- Wednesday 15 November 2024
Further information will be released soon.
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Women's
Network Forums
SAVE THE DATE
- Thursday 13 June
2024
- Wednesday 11
September 2024
Further information will be
released soon.
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Further information regarding Community Managers Network offerings will be released soon.
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LG PROFESSIONALS SA SPONSORSHIP AND CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP
Do you work for or know an organisation who would be interested in gaining exposure to local government professionals through sponsorship with LG Professionals SA?
As a not-for-profit association, LG Professionals SA rely on the support of sponsors to be able to continue to deliver the range of high quality events and professional development programs that we are known for.
Partnering with sponsors also creates opportunities for our members to learn, build relationships and receive best value. Please contact Megan Down for further details on corporate partnership opportunities.
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ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROFESSIONALS AUSTRALIA, SA
LG Professionals SA is a not-for-profit member based association representing professionals working in local government in South Australia.
We have the ability to link and connect people from different councils who may not otherwise form relationships or share.
Our high quality professional development programs and networking events are uniquely local government – reflective of the culture of the sector and sensitive to the needs of its professionals.
The content of our events and programs are informed by our members and people who genuinely care about the sector.
We provide a safe and supportive environment in which to grow and learn while creating opportunities to make time away from the office to work on the business or on self.
We award and acknowledge achievements of excellence.
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