March 2021

NEW INNOVATION & DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION SIG

Registrations are now open for the NEW Innovation & Digital Transformation SIG.

Date: Thursday 15 April
Time: 10.00 am – 3.00 pm
Venue: Campbell Town Recreation Ground Complex

Click here for the agenda and speaker list.

Members & Non-members are welcome.

Proudly sponsored by:
Red Piranha

RISK, LEGAL & PROPERTY SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP

Registrations are now open for the Risk, Legal & Property SIG.

Date: Wednesday 21 April
Time: 10.00 am – 3.00 pm
Venue: Campbell Town Recreation Ground Complex 

Click here for the agenda and speaker list.

Members and non-members are welcome. 

Proudly sponsored by:
Page Seager Lawyers
JLT Public Sector

TASPLAN INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE 

The Tasplan International Women’s Day Awards for Excellence 2021 are designed to recognise and give visibility to outstanding contributions by women in the Tasmanian State Service, the community services industry and local government.

This year the winners were announced at a virtual event held on the 4 March.

Our warmest congratulations to all the winners, especially Karen Hampton, Community Services Manager, Devonport City Council who won the Inspirational Leader (Officer) Award.

 

Karen provided outstanding leadership to guide Devonport Council’s Community Services team in delivering events and services that resulted in substantial benefit to the community during COVID-19. Karen drove a revised funding approach with Elected Members to focus on smaller community events and social recovery actions to assist those members of the community who may have been vulnerable and struggling because of COVID-19. Karen balanced a performance driven approach with genuine empathy and concern for the community and in doing so, she inspired her team and provided them with challenging and rewarding work.

Karen is the Chair of the new Community Services SIG.

MEMBER PROFILE - MATTHEW SAWARD

This month we have interviewed Matthew Saward, Director Strategic Governance, Circular Head Council.

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

I have been Director of Strategic Governance at the Circular Head Council for 5 years. Prior to that I was Manager of Development Services also at Circular Head Council.

The directorate I lead includes Information Technology and Information Management, Communication, Risk Management, Property & Legal, and Governance. 

Being in a smaller Council you get opportunity to be involved in many different things.  One of the projects which has taken much of my focus was coordinating the development of our wellbeing centre  (including indoor swimming pools) which opened in 2019.


 

What made you want to work in Local Government?

I started in Local Government as a cadet Environmental Health Officer in 1995.  The role provided me the opportunity take on further study whilst also working which is what attracted me to it.  As an 18 year old at the time I definitely didn’t have a full appreciation of Local Government.

What made you join LG Professionals Tasmania?

I have been a member of other associations and appreciate the collaboration and sharing of wisdom that happens in Local Government.  When I changed roles 5 years ago I thought LG Pro would provide an opportunity to connect to a broader range of people.

What interests do you have outside of work?

In summertime I am kept busy by various roles with the local cricket association (administrator, player, grounds keeper!) as I have become involved again in the last 10 years when my children started playing.  As part of my local church I have been involved in the setting up of a school in rural Uganda, which I have had the opportunity to visit and make friendships and would like to return when travel restrictions ease.

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

I don’t know maybe buy Apple stocks!   Probably something along the lines of making the most of the time you have in that moment.

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

The pace of change and being able to respond or lead the community through change.  Local government being so much more accessible to the community than other levels of government means communities will turn to local government first.

Biggest regret outside of work in the past 10 years? 

Something I would do differently as my children are nearly all grown up would have been to make the most of some of the smaller moments.  At the time work or other commitments seemed more of a priority. Sometimes when you say next time there is not a next time.

FROM THE LEADER'S CHAIR:
GENDER EQUITY IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Local Government Professionals Australia celebrated International Women's Day earlier this month with the release of frank interviews with senior executives from across Australia detailing their own professional and personal leadership stories and the progress of gender equity in the sector.

The interviews are not just a celebration of the progress the sector has made, but an exploration of what still needs to change to reach true equality of representation and opportunity. It follows the setting of a 40:40:20 gender target in local government executive leadership by 2025 at last year's LG Professionals Australia Local Government Meeting.

Read more here

LGATASSIST

LGATASSIST (formerly the LGAT Welfare Fund) provides local government employees with support and assistance during times of health, financial and general personal difficulty.

The services offered by LGATASSIST are to provide:

  • Low interest loans to local government employees who are employed on a permanent basis
  • Access to financial counselling to assist with household management
  • Non-refundable grants may be approved for cases of extraordinary financial hardship

Mr Geoff Dodge, Life Member, LG Professionals Tasmania is our representative on the LGATASSIST Board.

Read more here

COMMONWEALTH BANK

Commonwealth Bank is Australia’s leading provider of integrated financial services. Our purpose is to improve the financial wellbeing of people, business and communities across Australia.

We are committed to local governments, by partnering to deliver customised financial solutions that recognise the valuable role councils play in the community and the pressures to deliver more from limited resources.

With our forward-looking approach, we’re continuing to transform and improve services and achieve efficiencies through technologies such as CommBiz Advanced Analytics, for better decision making and customer experience.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Check our upcoming events page to keep up to date and to register for our meetings, SIGs and events.

Save the date
Annual Conference
28-29 October
Eastcoaster Tasmania
Orford

Events Calendar

CHECK IN TAS APP

From 1 May 2021 Tasmanians and visitors will be required to use the Check In TAS app when they visit a range of business, organisations and events.

The app enables you to check-in to businesses, venues and events and have your data stored securely with the Tasmanian Department of Health in the event contact tracing is needed due to a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the community.

LG Professionals Tas is now using the Check in TAS App for all events.

The free Check In TAS app is available for download from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store

Covid-19 resources are available on the LG Professionals Tas website here. 

Read more here

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