Welcome to your September edition of In Focus News; designed to keep you informed about our current programs and activities.


ANNUAL CONFERENCE


The theme of this year’s conference is It Starts with Us. It is a call to action to find the leader in all of us.

Register now for the conference at the new paranaple convention centre, Devonport from 16 – 18 October.

Join delegates from across the industry to hear from leading speakers and celebrate successes of your colleagues at the Gala Dinner.

Accommodation has been reserved at the Quality Inn Gateway Hotel. Download the brochure and book here.

Thanks to our sponsors for their ongoing support of our conference as they enable us to deliver the excellent program of engaging speakers.

JLT Public Sector - Tasplan Super - CBA - Edge Legal - Page Seager - LG Hub - LGAT

Azility - Anderson Morgan - Dobson Mitchell Allport - Cradle Coast Authority

Insight GIS - Counciljobs - Work & Training - MAS National

paranaple convention centre

Photo courtesy of Lyons with Maddison Architects and Birrelli.


HR SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP (SIG)

HR specialists from Councils across the state attended the first in the new series of HR SIGs, chaired by Julie Tolputt from the West Tamar Council. The meeting was held at the Tamar Function Centre on Tuesday 24 September.

Thanks for the excellent presentations from:

  • Damian Peirce, MEGT
  • Anne Mcculloch and David Dilger, Edge Legal
  • Heather Malerbi and Jane Fleming, Family Violence Counselling and Support Service, Communities Tasmania
  • Ekaterina Skalidis, Dobson Mitchell Allport
  • Claire Haberle, People and Culture Manager, Tasplan Super & Clare Pearson, OzHelp


Special thanks to Tony Miller, Counciljobs for supporting the HR SIG.


BRANCH MEETINGS & AGM

North West Branch

Thanks to Sandra Ayton and the Central Coast Council for hosting the North West Branch Meeting and AGM on Wednesday 11 September. The morning tea was fabulous.

Congrats to Tracey Bradley and Roseanne Titcombe for being re-elected as President and Secretary of the region.

Thanks also to Sam Rogers, Marketing Principal – Cyber, Marsh JLT Specialty for his presentation on Trends in Cyber Risk & Cyber Insurance and Daryl Connelly, CEO, Cradle Coast Authority for his presentation on the Cradle Coast Regional Futures Plan.

Southern Branch

The Southern Branch meeting was held at the Brighton Council Chambers on Thursday 19 September. Thanks to the Council, especially Janine Banks for their wonderful hospitality.

Presentations made by James Dryburgh, Chief Operations Officer, Brighton Council on specific projects in the municipality, David Allingham, Senior Planner, Brighton Council on the Planning Scheme process and Dr Katrena Stephenson, Chief Executive Officer, LGAT on current LGAT priority activities were greatly received.

Congratulations to Trent Henderson who will assume the role of President of the Southern Region after the State AGM on the 18 October. The role of Secretary is currently vacant.

Northern Branch

The Northern Branch will be hosted by the City of Launceston for their next meeting and AGM on Wednesday 27 November. Keep an eye out on the events page for full details.

State AGM

Register here for the AGM on Friday 18 October, 8.30 am - 9.00 am at the Formby Room, paranaple convention centre.


FAREWELL TO MARTIN GILL

Martin Gill has resigned as GM of the Meander Valley Council to take on a new role in Victoria and for a desire to be closer to family. 


He has spent seven years at the Council, initially as Development Services Director and for the past three years as GM. Jonathan Harmey, Director of Corporate Services is acting in the role until a new GM is appointed.

He kindly presented at the Emerging Leaders Program in June this year.

Martin, wishing you the very best from all at LG Professionals Tas!


BEHIND THE SCENES


Registrations are now open for an exclusive event for council executives and it is filling fast! We're putting you in the room for a series of meetings and briefings with the officials behind the policies and budgets that directly affect your councils and communities.

LG Professionals is inviting council executive staff from within our network to Canberra this October to meet with Ministers and Commonwealth senior executives to draw insights on programs that can support your communities at Parliament House from 23-24 October.

Download the program and register by clicking here to secure your place or simply contact Matthew Lentini, Communications and Events Coordinator, LG Professionals Australia on 02 6230 1824 or by email with any queries.


MEMBER PROFILE – JAYNE RICHARDSON

Each newsletter we aim to feature one of our current members. In this edition, we have interviewed member, Jayne Richardson who is the Communications Coordinator from the Break O’Day Council.


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

I have been at Break O’Day Council (BODC) for 4 years now. Prior to that I worked as a journalist at the Examiner. In my role I produce most written material i.e., newsletters, media releases annual reports, brochures etc. Basically, anything to do with Communications, brand or marketing. My most recent project is the St Helens Mountain Bike Trails brand and marketing development.

What made you want to work in Local Government?

To be honest, I just wanted a job where I could use my writing and marketing skills and when I saw the opportunity to do this and move to the beautiful east coast of Tasmania I was in!

What made you join LG Professionals Tasmania? It’s a great way to connect with other LG officers and share ideas and skills. I have found the contacts I have made to be really valuable and extremely helpful.

What interests do you have outside of work?

I love to get out in nature and go bush walking, but I am also a film buff so I love to kick back and watch Netflix. I also play guitar and enjoy writing non-fiction and poetry.

If you could give your 12-year-old self 1 piece of advice what would it be?

Be true to yourself and don’t worry about what others think, at the end of the day you only have to answer to yourself.

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

I am a huge fan of Japanese anime and the Marvel universe… I even own a couple of Marvel prints by a Tasmanian Marvel artist.

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

That’s a tough one, for me LG’s biggest challenge is always ensuring we represent our community to the best of our ability.

Biggest regret outside of work in the past 10 years?

I don’t believe in regrets only learnings… looking back is only constructive if you can learn something. Once you have grappled with this learning move forward and don’t look back again.


EDGE LEGAL

Edge Legal have been proud supporters of LG Professionals employment and safety needs for over a decade. We are employment and safety law specialists who help organisations deliver a 'results with respect' approach to managing people - not driven by compliance or fear of claims.

Our services include:

PEOPLE MANAGEMENT

Our pro-active approach is to manage most issues as performance (non-disciplinary) using a ‘crucial conversations’ framework supported by emails. This avoids overly formal processes.

RISK &COMPLIANCE

We keep organisations legally compliant by providing user friendly documents and training HR to implement them. We review them annually to ensure continuance compliance.

SPECIALIST PROJECTS

We have expertise in one off or infrequent transactions where existing in-house skills need enhancing or complementing such as Investigations, Enterprise Bargaining, Safety, and Change Management.

DISPUTE RESOLUTION

We can represent you to resolve most claims quickly and economically at an early fixed cost for conciliation. We are experienced advocates in all types of workplace disputes.


LG REVIEW NEWS

The September edition of Tasmania's Local Government Legislation Review Newsletter – LG Review News is available here to view or download.


We are very interested to know if you have any ideas or requests for activities, programs or services you wish to have on offer this year.

You are welcome to call or send me an email if you have any specific requests or ideas.

Best wishes


Mary Frost
LG Professionals Tasmania