Workforce Development

National Steering Committee

In April 2006, Local Government Managers Australia National facilitated a Skills Shortage Forum in Canberra to explore and define skills shortage issues in local government. An outcome of the forum was the formation of a National Skills Shortage Steering Committee, and the development of the National Skills Shortage Strategy for Local Government.  In February 2009 a second National Local Government Skills Forum was held.

The steering committee draws on the knowledge, interests, skills and expertise of a number of professional bodies and other organisations aligned with local government:

• Australian Institute of Building Surveyors
• Australian Institute of Environmental Health
• Australian Library and Information Association
• Australian Local Government Association
• Australian Services Union
• Government Skills Australia
• Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia
• Local Government Community Services Association of Australia
• Local Government Finance Professionals
• Local Government Human Resource Managers (email only)
• Local Government Managers Australia
• Parks and Leisure Australia
• Planning Institute of Australia 

The purpose of the Skills Shortage Steering Committee is to:

• Audit current initiatives being undertaken to address skills shortages in local government
• Identify and consider the gaps in the various initiatives being undertaken
• Develop and promote coordinated sector-wide strategies to address local government skills shortages
• Negotiate with, and advocate to, relevant state, territory and commonwealth agencies to access relevant programs and secure funding opportunities for the implementation of local government skills hortage strategies
• Communicate the forum outcomes and proposed implementation plan to key stakeholders including state, territory and commonwealth ministers responsible for local government. 

In June 2009 the steering committee changed its name to the Local Government Workforce Development Steering Committee to reflect a broader focus, in part as a response to pressures such as the global financial crisis and the ageing workforce.