LGMA Media Release: State Government urged to invest State Budget funds into local government staff development and strategic planning

“We welcome funding announced in the State Budget yesterday for structural reform, in particular the $1.535 million announced to build capacity to support local governments embarking on reform,” said Andrew Hammond, President of Local Government Managers Australia (LGMA).

“But we have to make sure some of that helps build skills in local government, developing local government officers’ strategic planning know-how and capacity to manage change.”

Mr Hammond said he and the LGMA’s CEO, Steve Cole, will be meeting on Monday with the Director General of the Department of Local Government to discuss projects and initiatives to support local government officers through this period of reform.

The LGMA is calling for training for senior local government officers to help them deal with the demands of building a strong and sustainable local government sector and manage change as the reform process rolls out.

“Over recent years, the local government sector has faced fierce competition from the resources sector for skilled labour. Despite the cooling in the resources sector as a result of the global financial crisis, regional local governments in particular are still struggling with chronic skills shortages.

“Local government needs to be up-skilled to deal with the demands of planning effectively to meet the needs of their communities and managing change. The LGMA wants to work with the Department for Local Government to ensure that senior local government officers receive adequate training to meet these challenges. We want to see a program of professional development training opportunities for local government, especially in regional areas.

“We also want to ensure that everyone working in local government in Western Australia has access to services to support them through the challenges that they will face in coping with the career changes and emotional impacts that inevitably come with significant change.”

“We welcome funding announced in the State Budget yesterday for structural reform, in particular the $1.535 million announced to build capacity to support local governments embarking on reform,” said Andrew Hammond, President of Local Government Managers Australia (LGMA).

“But we have to make sure some of that helps build skills in local government, developing local government officers’ strategic planning know-how and capacity to manage change.”

Mr Hammond said he and the LGMA’s CEO, Steve Cole, will be meeting on Monday with the Director General of the Department of Local Government to discuss projects and initiatives to support local government officers through this period of reform.

The LGMA is calling for training for senior local government officers to help them deal with the demands of building a strong and sustainable local government sector and manage change as the reform process rolls out.

“Over recent years, the local government sector has faced fierce competition from the resources sector for skilled labour. Despite the cooling in the resources sector as a result of the global financial crisis, regional local governments in particular are still struggling with chronic skills shortages.

“Local government needs to be up-skilled to deal with the demands of planning effectively to meet the needs of their communities and managing change. The LGMA wants to work with the Department for Local Government to ensure that senior local government officers receive adequate training to meet these challenges. We want to see a program of professional development training opportunities for local government, especially in regional areas.

“We also want to ensure that everyone working in local government in Western Australia has access to services to support them through the challenges that they will face in coping with the career changes and emotional impacts that inevitably come with significant change.”

“We welcome funding announced in the State Budget yesterday for structural reform, in particular the $1.535 million announced to build capacity to support local governments embarking on reform,” said Andrew Hammond, President of Local Government Managers Australia (LGMA).

“But we have to make sure some of that helps build skills in local government, developing local government officers’ strategic planning know-how and capacity to manage change.”

Mr Hammond said he and the LGMA’s CEO, Steve Cole, will be meeting on Monday with the Director General of the Department of Local Government to discuss projects and initiatives to support local government officers through this period of reform.

The LGMA is calling for training for senior local government officers to help them deal with the demands of building a strong and sustainable local government sector and manage change as the reform process rolls out.

“Over recent years, the local government sector has faced fierce competition from the resources sector for skilled labour. Despite the cooling in the resources sector as a result of the global financial crisis, regional local governments in particular are still struggling with chronic skills shortages.

“Local government needs to be up-skilled to deal with the demands of planning effectively to meet the needs of their communities and managing change. The LGMA wants to work with the Department for Local Government to ensure that senior local government officers receive adequate training to meet these challenges. We want to see a program of professional development training opportunities for local government, especially in regional areas.

“We also want to ensure that everyone working in local government in Western Australia has access to services to support them through the challenges that they will face in coping with the career changes and emotional impacts that inevitably come with significant change.”

MEDIA ENQUIRIES: President Andrew Hammond 041 790 3945