December 2019

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BRANCH CHRISTMAS EVENTS

The Northern Branch met at the City of Launceston for a presentation of the ABCDE Learning Sites before touring the new Riverbend Park. Shame about the weather!

Thanks to Claudia Taylor, Sarah McCormack and Kris Airey for their informative presentations.

Congrats to Jonathan Harmey for being re-elected unopposed as President, David Mullenger, City of Launceston as Vice President and Merrilyn Young as Secretary.

The members then enjoyed lunch at Rupert & Hound at Seaport.

The North-West Branch met at the paranaple centre to hear from Jeff Griffith, Devonport City Council who spoke on Cyber Security and Daryl Connelly, Cradle Coast Authority who announced a partnership with the NW Branch.

This was followed by Christmas drinks at Southern Wild Distillery to celebrate the new partnership. Thanks Cradle Coast Authority for your support of the Branch.

The Southern Branch conducted a meeting at Boodle Beasley in North Hobart prior to hosting a Christmas function. 

The 2020 conference committee were selected at the meeting. Thanks to Anna Holland, Janine Banks, Paul Jackson, Laura Eaton and Trent Henderson for taking on the 2020 conference. 

NATIONAL REPORT

The National Office of LG Professionals in Canberra has had a busy year making sure your voice is heard at the Federal level of government, that Tasmanian LG Professionals members have the personal opportunity to engage with policy-makers in Canberra, and facilitating the ongoing development of your council’s emerging leaders.

As local government is the most heavily community-facing level of government, it is critical that our organisations are in the room for the development of Federal and State policy that falls to us to implement. The National Office has thus been utilising its strategic location next to the halls of Federal Government to make sure that not only is the local government voice heard, but that representatives are in the room in an even dialogue with key stakeholders in these conversations.

As a national voice for our interests and local government professionals, LG Professionals Australia has recently consulted with our sector before submitting local government feedback on Australia’s 2020 Cyber Security Strategy being developed by the Federal Government, and is currently developing the response of our professionals on the upcoming waste export ban.

On a person-to-person level, LG Professionals Australia this year launched Canberra Behind-the-Scenes which saw LG Professionals Members (including Tasmanians) in the room for meetings with Federal MPs and Department chiefs to discuss the Federal policies that affect their communities and organisations. LG Professionals Tasmania members are eligible for significant discounts on future events in this series which are planned for 2020.

MEMBER PROFILE

This month we have interviewed Karen Hampton, Community Services Manager from the Devonport City Council.

Karen, what do you do in your role and how long have you been doing it?

I am currently the Community Services Manager at Devonport City Council, a role I was appointed to in January 2018 after 7 years as Council’s Governance Coordinator.  My current role involves the management of Marketing and Promotions, Events, Sport and Recreation, Community Development, Volunteers and Environmental Sustainability.  The role is very diverse and challenging with every day being quite different, thus adding to the appeal of the position for me. 

What made you want to work in Local Government?

I first started in local government in 1982 in an administration role at Kentish Council.  Because of it being my home town, I realised early on the strong role that local government plays in shaping its communities.  Since then, I have had various roles in Local Government at Kentish, Cradle Coast Authority and Devonport over a combined period of 28 years so I can quite confidently say that Local Government is now firmly entrenched as my career of choice.

What made you join LG Professionals Tasmania?

I was encouraged to join what was then known as LGMA by a previous General Manager when I commenced my first management role in 2003.  Since that time, I have held roles at a Branch, State and National level and assisted with organising the State conferences held in the North West.  I consider myself very fortunate to have held the role of State President for 2 years (2014-2016) which added significantly to the professional and personal development I’d already gained from being a member.  

What interests do you have outside of work?

Other than family time, I am heavily involved in a Sheffield based Relay for Life team “The Mountaineers”, raising funds for Cancer Council Tasmania.  Our team has raised just under $300,000 since we commenced 11 years ago for this very worthwhile cause.

What is something most people don’t know about you?

Unsure why but from a very young age, my family have always called me “Kate”, which can at times lead to some confusion!

What do you think are some of the biggest challenges facing the sector at the moment?

I have seen significant changes in the roles and responsibilities of Local Government over the years.  I guess the most noticeable is trying to balance increased community expectations versus what is realistically possible, especially whilst trying to maintain rates at a reasonable level.

Biggest regret outside of work in the past 10 years?  

No regrets as such but wishing that I had contracted the “travel bug” a bit earlier than I have.  I’m certainly keen to see and experience more of the world.

FROM WORKPLACE STRESS TO WORKPLACE WELLNESS

LG Professionals WA launched an important research report prepared by the University of Western Australia around the factors affecting the health and well-being of local government CEOs in WA and the impact on service delivery to communities.

The resulting, ground-breaking research report reveals that local government CEOs across Western Australia are suffering from psycho-social distress at nearly three times the national average of the general population.

Their high levels of work-related stress exceed those found in traditionally 'dangerous' professionals like mining, construction and emergency services.

The report identified several contributory factors from a mismatch between job demands and job resources to a legal health and safety loophole and inefficient procedures for handling public complaints. The effects of these were found to be not only detrimental to emotional health but also physical health and the health of family members.
The report also highlights nine key recommendations.

The full report From workplace stress to workplace wellness: An assessment of the health and well-being of local government Chief Executive Officers in WA is found here.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2020 – AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE

Nominations are now open for the 2020 International Women’s Day Cross Sectoral Tasplan Awards for Excellence.

The Awards Program is designed to recognise and give visibility to outstanding contributions by women in Local Government, the Tasmanian State Service and the Community Sector.

Each award recipient is gifted $1,000 to support their professional development, a trophy and will receive statewide recognition.

The Awards categories include for the Local Government sector:

• Local Government: Inspirational Leader (Elected Representative)
• Local Government: Inspirational Leader (Officer)

The awards will be presented at the International Women’s Day Luncheon to be held on Friday 6 March 2020. Tickets for the luncheon will be released in the New Year.

Nominations close at 9.00 am Monday 17 February 2020. 

Pictured: 2019 award recipients

MTAA SUPER AND TASPLAN ANNOUNCE MERGER

Motor Trades Association of Australia Super Fund Pty Ltd (MTAA Super) and Tasplan Super (Tasplan) are delighted to announce that they will merge on 1 October 2020.

This merger will create Australia’s most dynamic superannuation fund with a combined scale of $23 billion in funds under management and 335,000 members nation-wide. It will also create additional jobs and retain and grow financial services skills in Tasmania, with the insourcing of MTAA Super’s administration to Tasplan’s Hobart based administration centre.

Read the media release here or for further information on the merger’s progress click here.

Page Seager is Tasmania’s largest law practice and one of the State’s leading law firms.

Page Seager is a specialist commercial law firm with over 30 lawyers.  We provide solution-focused advice to corporate and government clients. Our clients receive the benefit of the highest level of technical skills and responsiveness as well as accurate, practical and cost-effective advice.

Page Seager has a dedicated local government team that is seamlessly co-ordinated across the following areas: property and planning, corporate and legislative governance, procurement, insurance, compliance, dispute resolution, employment and workplace health and safety. 

Having worked for a range of Councils across Tasmania and in Victoria, we understand the issues of relevance to local government, we know what is important to Councils and we understand the legislative framework in which Councils operate.

The office will close on Thursday 19 December and re-open on Monday 6 January.

Wishing you a safe and relaxing Christmas and happy and healthy 2020.

From the Board and staff of LG Professionals Tas

Warm wishes

Mary Frost