A bit about Local Government Local Government is everywhere in WA 138 individual LG s across the entire state.
A bit about Local Government Some Snapshots How many people does LG employ in WA? 16,602 Which council employs the smallest number of people? Shire of Cue 11 staff Which council employs the largest number of people? City of Wanneroo 1046
A bit more about Local Government Smallest Council Shire of Peppermint Grove 1.1 sq.km (about the same size as the Joondalup Golf Course) Largest Council Shire of East Pilbara 371,696 sq.km Council with the smallest budget Shire of Cue - $1,1871,572 Council with the largest budget City of Stirling - $176,538,570
Recreation and Leisure in Local Government Local Government one of the biggest employers in the Recreation and Leisure Industry Aquatic and Recreation Centre Staff Facility Planners Recreation Officer Club Development Events Officer Management
What does a Local Government Recreation / Leisure Officer Do? LOTS Build Skateparks Design Community Facilities Manage Staff Grant applications Research and write Strategic Plans (Leisure Strategy, Physical Activity Plans) Undertake Needs Analysis and Feasibility Studies for major projects such as Aquatic Centres
What does a Local Government Recreation Officer Do? Give advice and/or write policies Manage the use of sports fields and community halls Manage leases with community organisations Secretariat on advisory committees Give approvals for Circuses to come to town Coordinate a community Fun Run Start a new Surf Life Saving Club Junior Sports Star of the Year Program
What does a Local Government Recreation Officer Do? Create a Sports Hall of Fame Run a Sports Travel Assistance sponsorship program Take seniors for a walk around a park Coordinate a Beach Party Help deliver State initiatives at a local level (eg Kidsport) Help coordinate a Sports Expo Write procedure manuals Talk to people
Area of Focus - Making Money The nature of Recreation and Leisure in LG means you will be quite often writing grant applications. Proving you can do this well makes you very employable Tips for Good Grant Writing Be clear on what it s for Go talk to someone from the funding body Look for partners Know what the funding body wants Check you ve filled out the application properly
Area of Focus Risk Management Being Proactive planning for a future activity Financial Operational Political Legal Image and PR Being Reactive dealing with a crisis Follow policy at all times Keep records of everything either said or done Make sure your supervisor or manager knows what s happening Bring in outside help if it s available
Area of Focus - Sustainability The Triple Bottom Line Financial, Social and Environmental Financial and Social sustainability plays a greater role in Recreation and Leisure. We are mainly trying to achieve Social Sustainability Developing community capacity Will it still be going in 1 yr? 5 yrs? 20 yrs? Financial Sustainability is pervasive Ongoing program support Facility provision Grant funding
Getting into Local Government Lots of opportunities and no two jobs are the same. As a general rule, in larger councils the jobs are more specialised, in smaller councils the jobs are broader in scope. It s not who you know it s who knows you! Industry associations can help a lot with this.
What can you offer skills we like Staff Management Public Speaking Industry experience as a volunteer Project Management Success in grant applications Ability to ask some intelligent questions and find information Get your name and face known Community Consultation
Jobs you re likely to see and maybe apply for Local Government Authority - 1 Recreation Services Coordinator ($64k - $75k) Recreation Development Officer ($59k - $63k) Club Development Officer ($53k - $57k) Local Government Authority - 2 Coordinator Community Facilities Planning ($80k - $89k) Community Facilities Planner ($68k - $79k) Local Government Authority - 3 Coordinator Leisure Services ($75k - $80k) Community Events Officer ($68k - $73k) Leisure Development Officer ($63k - $67k)
Recreation and Leisure in Local Government Any Questions???