Communiques

Local Government Learning and Development Framework

COMMUNIQUE NO. 11 - 16 February 2024

The Local Government Learning and Development Governance Group (the Governance Group) met on 16 February 2024. The following is a summary of the key decisions and takeaways from the meeting in relation to the Learning and Development Framework (Framework).

Consultation and promotion

The Governance Group agreed to commence targeted consultation with councils for eight weeks from 3 April to 29 May 2024. A consultation package will be available to councils and will include:

• a consultation summary paper;
• online survey; and
• online targeted workshops.

Councillors and council officers will be contacted directly via email when consultation begins. At that time, information will be provided about how they can participate in the process.

Responses from the consultation process will be collated, analysed and used to make recommendations to the Governance Group for consideration. A report including findings and recommendations will be published.

Financial and operational sustainability of the Framework

The Governance Group acknowledged the need to steward discussions regarding how we ensure the Framework is made financially and operationally sustainable for the longer term. There is opportunity to discuss sustainable funding approaches as part of the broader Framework consultation period, particularly through conversations at upcoming LGAT workshops and forums and at individual council workshops where requested.

Framework development

The development of the Framework continues to progress as follows:

• councillor capabilities have been refined with additional information. These will also be provided for feedback during the consultation process.
• new certificates have been developed with the Learn to Lead branding. These will be issued via the online learning management system. They will also be provided to councils and education providers to issue when learning and development activities that support the Framework are undertaken by councillors.

Reporting of councillor participation rates

The Governance Group noted the previous decision from the Premier’s Local Government Council (PLGC) Meeting held on 8 December 2023: the PLGC agreed that mandatory reporting of the names of councillors and the learning modules that they have completed should be included in each council’s annual report to provide transparency and accountability.

It was noted that the Government is currently in caretaker mode and that any decision to amend legislation would be a decision for the incoming Government.

Reporting on council participation rates

The number of councillors completing the online learning modules, both at a statewide and council level, are collated quarterly (due end of March) and provided to councils. The Governance Group agreed to provide councils with a graph that included the names of all councils and their respective participation rates (it will not include individual councillor names). This graph will not be distributed to councils until the June quarterly report is released.

Contact and distribution

Please feel free to share this communique with your local government networks to raise awareness of the Framework’s development and progress.

More information about the Framework, access to the online learning modules for community members and local government staff, and previous communiques can be found on the Office of Local Government webpage Local Government Learning and Development Framework.

For further assistance please contact the Office of Local Government via email to localgovernment@dpac.tas.gov.au or call 6232 7022.

COMMUNIQUE NO. 10 - 7 December 2023

The Local Government Learning and Development Governance Group (the Governance Group) met on 7 December 2023. Following is a summary of the key decisions and takeaways from the meeting.

Consultation and promotion

The Governance Group recognised the opportunity to consult, gather feedback and promote the Learning and Development Framework (the Framework). It was agreed that a consultation package will be finalised and consultation commence early in 2024. The package will include:

• a discussion paper;
• survey; and
• online targeted workshops.

Consultation will be structured using the Framework’s four key priority areas. See below for examples of what may be included in the consultation.

1. Promotion and awareness

   Statement:

   Councillors, candidates, and community members need to know why councillor learning and development is important and valuable. This will support and encourage councillors to participate in learning activities.

   Questions:

   What is the best way to communicate with councillors and the community? Are there other ways that might be better but are currently not used?

   Are there barriers for people with disability accessing information about the Framework? Are there barriers to other groups of people. If so, how can we address these barriers?

   How can the Framework be more inclusive?

   Are there any specific incentives or recognition programs that could enhance long-term participation?

2. Fit for purpose

   Statement: The Framework supports councillor learning and development through participation in a range of activities that support the development of specific councillor capabilities.

   Question:

   What will ensure the current Framework is fit for purpose and meets the learning and development needs of candidates and councillors?

   Statement:

   A Councillor Learning and Development Policy and a Councillor Capability Review and Development Plan have been developed.

   Questions:

   How will these documents support councillors to learn?

   How will these documents assist councillors to identify their learning needs and make a development plan?

3. Sustainability of the Framework

   Statement:

   For the Framework to be sustainable the roles and responsibilities, both operational and financial, need to be agreed to and specified in the Framework.

   Questions:

   What financial models could best support the Framework?

   What operational aspects of the Framework would councils be prepared to be responsible for?

4. Evaluation and continuous improvement

Statement:

The Framework will be regularly evaluated and amended to ensure it is continually improved. Data will be collected from various sources for the evaluation. Councillors will be able to contribute to the evaluation by providing feedback through surveys.

Question:

Are there are other ways councillors would like to provide feedback to assist with evaluation?

Financial and operational sustainability of the Framework

The Governance Group discussed:

• the costs associated with maintaining the Framework and learning activities; and
• options and responsibilities for delivering and funding the different aspects of the Framework.

It was acknowledged that councils are already formulating budgets for 2024/25 and will need to be consulted early if they are to include allocations for learning and development in their next budget. Council general managers will be contacted directly in early 2024 prior to the formal consultation period commencing to ensure that councils have context regarding a proposed financial contribution model to support the ongoing operation and sustainability of the framework.

Framework development

The development of the Framework continues to progress as follows:

• the Framework is being promoted with a new graphic device, colour palette and name ‘Learn to Lead’;
• the new Learn to Lead website is live;
• new Learn to Lead resources are being designed and include an information flyer, banner and course certificates; and
• new online learning modules on planning and ethics are under development.

Future of Local Government Review recommendations

The Governance Group noted three specific recommendations contained in the Final Report of the Future of Local Government (FoLG) Review that supported the Framework’s current development:

Recommendation 3

• That the Tasmanian Government work with the sector to develop, resource, and implement a renewed Strategic Planning and Reporting Framework that is embedded in a new Local Government Act to support and underpin the role of local government. Under this Framework councils will be required to develop – within the first year of every council election – a four-year strategic plan.
• The strategic plan would consist of several specified component plans as a minimum, including an elected member capability and professional development plan.

Recommendation 15

• To be eligible to stand for election to council, all candidates must undertake – within six months prior to nominating – a prescribed, mandatory education session, to ensure all candidates understand the role of councillor and their responsibilities if elected.

Recommendation 16

• The Tasmanian Government and the local government sector should jointly develop and implement a contemporary, best practice learning and ongoing professional development framework for elected members. As part of this framework, under a new Local Government Act:
  • all elected members – including both new and returning councillors - should be required to complete a prescribed ‘core’ learning and development program within the first 12 months of being elected; and
  • councils should be required to prepare, at the beginning of each new term, an elected member learning and capability development plan to support the broader ongoing professional development needs of their elected members.

The Governance Group noted:

• the new Strategic Planning and Reporting Framework will actively inform and drive education and the development of the Framework as it relates to building councillor capability (recommendation 3);

• online learning modules for candidates were developed as part of the Learning and Development Framework and provided prior to the 2022 local government elections. These will be reviewed and updated prior to the next election and will support recommendation 15; and
• the Framework has been developed to date through collaboration with the State Government, the Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT) and sector representatives. The Governance Group has been developing core capabilities and a program of activities to help councillors develop those capabilities. These will be provided for consultation in 2024.

To support learning and development of councillors, a Councillor Learning and Development Policy and a Councillor Capability Review and Development Plan have been developed, and will be provided for consultation in 2024. These activities support recommendation 16.

Priorities for 2024

The Group’s 2024 priorities and milestones to support the ongoing development of the Framework are listed in the table below.

Councillor participation numbers

The number of councillors completing the online learning modules, both at a statewide and council level, are collated quarterly and provided to councils.

The Governance Group agreed to recognise councils that are leading in the completion of online modules. There are three Learning Packages available for councillors to complete. The data in the graph below shows the total percentage of Learning Packages completed by each council. The two councils with the highest percentages are Devonport City and West Coast.

COMMUNIQUE NO. 9 - 6 November 2023

The Learning and Development Governance Group (the Group) met on 3 November 2023.

Actions supporting the continued development of the Framework are progressing well. These include the development of a new website for the Framework, accessible and printable module handouts, and more online modules being made available.

The Governance Group considered proposals to support a process of engagement and consultation on the Framework with the local government sector in early 2024. The Group considered parameters for consultation, relating to the previously identified four key priorities the Group have been working through over 2023 to develop the Framework:

1. (Promotion and awareness): promote the importance and value of councillor learning and development;
2. (Fit for purpose): develop and implement a Framework that is inclusive and accessible in design and meets the needs of participants;
3. (Sustainable): establish arrangements to ensure that the ongoing implementation of the Framework is financially and operational sustainable; and
4. (Evaluation and continuous improvement): the ongoing development of the Framework through evaluation and continuous improvement.

The Group approved and agreed to the following:

• parameters and scope, in line with the priorities, for the consultation process in early 2024;
• drafting of a discussion paper to support consultation;
• providing the Premier’s Local Government Council (PLGC) with an update on the Group’s progress and the proposal to consult with the sector in early 2024; and
• amendments to the Governance Group Charter.

Over the course of the year, the Director of Local Government (the Director) has provided quarterly summaries of state-wide and individual council participation in the online learning modules. The Director will provide the next quarterly participation information to all general managers, mayors, and deputy mayors in December prior to the Christmas holiday period.

COMMUNIQUE NO. 8 - 11 October 2023

The Governance Group (the Group) met on 22 September 2023.

The Group are pleased to report that the secretariat continues to work on actions to support the Framework. These include the continued development of a new website for the Framework, accessible and printable module handouts, and more online modules.

At this meeting, the Group considered options for evaluation activities to support continuous improvement of the Learning and Development Framework (the Framework). The Group also discussed the financial and operational sustainability of the Framework.

The Group discussed and agreed to the following:

• the adoption of a set of Capability Descriptors and Councillor Objectives under each of the previously agreed Councillor Capabilities. These descriptions and objectives are intended to help councillors understand what the Capabilities include so they can identify areas where they have strengths or where they need further work.
• updating the Interim Governance Group Charter. The Group reflected on the importance of the four priorities set out under the Interim Charter. The Group considered that these remained relevant and approved their retention.
• a conceptual budget to indicate how the Framework could be financially and operationally sustainable. The Group discussed and provided in-principle agreement regarding the high-level responsibilities of councils, the Local Government Association of Tasmania, and the State Government under the conceptual budget.
• potential mechanisms through which the local government sector could contribute towards the Framework.
• in-principle agreement that consultation with the local government sector will be necessary and that this would most likely take place early in 2024.
• the Framework’s evaluation framework. This evaluation framework will be used to ensure that the Framework remains fit-for-purpose and incorporates the feedback of participants over its lifetime.

The Group also received a presentation from Linda Kelly, the Tasmanian State Coordinator from the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD). Ms Kelly delivered a short presentation to the Group outlining how an AICD course could be designed and delivered to mayors and deputy mayors, as well as other councillors, as part of the Framework. The Group agreed to continue engagement with the AICD and discuss how a course design could be developed to accommodate the needs of local government.

The Director of Local Government recently provided all councils with the quarterly state-wide participation data for councillor progress in the online learning modules. The Director will provide the next quarterly state-wide and individual council participation information to all general managers, mayors, and deputy mayors at the end of December before the Christmas period.

The below graph is a progress report on state-wide participation progress in the online learning packages from the September report. This graph and the specific data sets for each council were provided to general managers, mayors, and deputy mayors to inform the progress of individual councillors in the online learning modules.

Please disseminate this communique through your local government network.

More information about the Framework, access to the online learning modules for community members and local government staff, and previous communiques can be found on the Office of Local Government webpage Local Government Learning and Development Framework.

For further assistance please contact the Office of Local Government via email to localgovernment@dpac.tas.gov.au or call 6232 7022.

COMMUNIQUE No. 7 - 18 August 2023

The Governance Group (the Group) met on 18 August 2023.

The Group considered options for ensuring that the Learning and Development Framework (the Framework) is accessible, inclusive, and fit for purpose for all participants and agreed this work would be ongoing.

In developing the Framework as fit for purpose – the Group discussed and agreed to the following:

• Provisional capabilities for councillors to develop under the Framework. The Group agreed to the provisional adoption of a combination of the currently implemented South Australian and New South Wales councillor capabilities.
• The provisional capabilities agreed to by the Group are as follows:
  • Behaviour;
  • Relationships;
  • Civic leadership;
  • Legal;
  • Strategy; and
  • Finance and resources.
• Having agreed to the provisional capabilities for councillor development, the Framework’s new activities Matrix was discussed.
  • The Matrix is a diagrammatic document which lists the provisional capabilities against the different learning activity groups (formal learning, work-based learning within councils, and relationship-based learning).
  • The Matrix sets out current but also proposed activities for councillors over several years that support each capability.
• An example of a Councillor Learning and Development Policy (the Policy) and a Councillor Capability Review and Development Plan (the Plan) were discussed.
  • The example Policy describes and sets out issues related to councillor learning and development such as:
    • Scope of the policy (activities, development, capabilities);
    • Roles and responsibilities (councillors, mayors, general managers);
    • Commitment of councillors (accountability);
    • Interaction with the Plan and how councillors will be measured on progress under the Framework;
    • Reporting requirements for learning activities and councillor development; and
    • Proposed funding arrangements for the Framework.
  • The example Plan is a document intended to assist councillors on their journey to review and continually improve their capabilities. The Plan helps councillors identify their strengths and areas for improvement.
    • The Plan also gives councillors an opportunity to document the learning and development activities required to strengthen capabilities; and
    • The Plan is to form part of an evaluation framework where councillors work with the general manager (or nominated person), and the mayor.
  • The Group recognised the positive steps that were being made through both the Policy and Plan. Together, these documents send a positive message to local government and communities about the commitment by councils, LGAT, and the State Government to councillor learning and development.
  • The Group agreed to conduct consultation with councils on both the Policy and Plan.

The Group considered the Edge Legal Workplace Health and Safety Review of Elected Representatives recommendations against Framework. The Group agreed that most of the recommendations from the Review were already being progressed with learning activities provided. These learning activities have been promoted to councillors through presentations by the Director of Local Government, Communiques sent to councils and published on the Office of Local Government website, learning participation reports, and a facilitated session with mayors and deputy mayors. The remaining activities will be addressed by the Framework through varied activities and prioritised at a later date.

The Director of Local Government will provide the quarterly statewide and individual council participation information to all general managers, mayors, and deputy mayors at the end of September

Please disseminate this communique through your local government network.

More information about the Framework, access to community members and local government staff to the online modules and previous communiques can be found on OLG’s webpage Local Government Learning and Development Framework. (Note all councillors are currently enrolled and do not need to register).

For further assistance please contact OLG via email to localgovernment@dpac.tas.gov.au or call 6232 7022.

COMMUNIQUE No. 6 - 7 July 2023

The Governance Group met on 4 May 2023.

At the meeting the Governance Group considered options for ensuring the Learning and Development Framework (the Framework) is sustainable financially and operationally. It was noted that at this early stage of development there are many unknowns and assumptions that have been made to develop a budget. This will require ongoing review and updates until the Framework is fully developed before decisions can be made confidently.

In relation to the financial sustainability of the Framework the Group discussed:

• What councils currently provide for learning and development of councillors and how they allocate funding.
• What is the possible cost of maintaining the Framework over a four-year term period.
• What are the possible sources of revenue to pay for the cost of the Framework.
• The following considerations:
  • The first iteration of online modules will be the most expensive unless there is significant future change in local government such as a new Local Government Act, or implementation of recommendations following the Future of Local Government Review that would require a lot of changes to the online modules.
  • Without significant change, the online training environment may only need minor updates or adjustments and therefore the majority of investment can be directed either towards other learning opportunities to enhancing the online experience.
  • Many councils are already providing learning and development opportunities, providing this in a formal way should allow for savings.
  • Using a calendar for all learning and development across different providers could provide opportunities to save on procurement of education. For example, engaging a provider to run multiple sessions across councils rather than individual councils seeking their own providers separately.
  • A statewide approach will provide equal access and remove the decision making re access from an individual/s.

The Governance Group is still working through options for sustainable funding for the Framework, including clear roles and responsibilities for the State, LGAT, Councils and external training providers.

The Office of Local Government, with the Director of Local Government, delivered two online facilitated workshops to mayors and deputy mayors. The workshops, held on the 19 and 25 May, provided an overview of the Framework, and engaged participants in how to engage with and complete the learning modules.

The intention of the workshops was to provide mayors and deputy mayors with the necessary information to provide mentorship to their fellow councillors. Building on capability and mentorship opportunities within local government serves as an important way in which all councillors can benefit from ongoing learning and development.

The workshops also provided an opportunity for participants to provide feedback on the development of the Framework to date and to discuss issues and solutions. The workshops were recorded and distributed to mayors and deputy mayors for those who could not attend either session.

The below graph is a progress report on state-wide participation progress in the online learning packages. This graph and the specific data sets for each council were provided to general managers to inform the progress of individual councillors in the online learning modules.

COMMUNIQUE No. 5 - 24 March 2023

The Governance Group had its second meeting on 24 March 2023.

At the meeting the Governance Group considered and agreed to:

• an amended interim Governance Group Charter to direct the Group’s activities.
• a proposed workplan for the following 12 months.
• developing a dedicated website for the Local Government Learning and Development Framework (the Framework) with the potential to add a portal in the future.
• methods for sharing information such as:
  • communiques to be sent to each council and published on the Office of Local Government (OLG) website following each Governance Group meeting.
  • statewide participation rates in the online learning modules (see graph below) to be distributed to councils and published on OLG website.
  • individual councillor participation rates will be provided to their council only.
• the promotion of the importance and value of learning and development through the following:
  • facilitated online meeting with mayors and deputy mayors to:
    • go through an online module as a group and explain how to navigate the module and Learning Management System, including completion.
    • identify if further assistance (technical, computer skills, literacy etc) is required by anyone and how best to provide assistance.
    • collect feedback about the Framework to date (challenges, what does/doesn’t work, possible improvements etc) to assist with improvements.
  • research a new name for the Framework to assist with branding and marketing.
  • develop a communication strategy.
• the Framework being continually improved using interim evaluation methods such as:
  • feedback from module surveys.
  • completion of module quizzes and scenarios assessing participant outcomes.
  • analysis of data from the Learning Management System, such as completion rates.

The Framework’s Learning Package 3 – Module 2 – Building Relationships was published on 6 April 2023. The development of Module 3 – Planning is underway.

COMMUNIQUE No. 4 - 10 February 2023

The Local Government Learning and Development Framework (the Framework) Learning Packages 1 and 2 were released in August and September 2022. Anyone with an interest in running for the council elections or members of the community who had a general interest were able to enrol and complete the online learning modules and there were approximately 106 people enrolled.

These modules have been reviewed and updated following feedback provided by learners and are now provided to three groups of learners:

1. Councillors – all councillors are enrolled in Learning Packages 1, 2 and 3.
2. Local government staff - other people working in the local government sector are able to enrol in the same Learning Packages as councillors by completing a registration form.
3. Public - the content from Learning Packages 1 and 2 is available to members of the public or those interested in running for councillor in the future by completing a registration form.

The Working Group has not met since the last meeting in August 2022 but has contributed to the ongoing progress of the Framework out of session.

Learning Package 3 is now available with Module 1 released and Module 2 due for release soon.

In December 2022, the Premier’s Local Government Council (PLGC) agreed to the establishment of a Governance Group to oversee the further development of the Framework. The Governance Group met for the first time on 10 February 2023. The membership includes:

Mathew Healey – Director of Local Government, Office of Local Government, Office of Local Government (Chair)

Ben Morris – Policy Director – Local Government Association of Tasmania

Mayor Paula Wriedt – Kingborough Council

Mayor Mary Duniam – Waratah-Wynyard Council

John Brown – General Manager - Break O’Day Council

Paul Jackson – Manager Legal and Governance - Hobart City Council

At the meeting the Governance Group considered and agreed to:

• an interim Charter to direct the Group’s activities;
• the priorities for the release of ongoing online modules as part of Learning Package 3;
• meeting six weekly to progress the development of the Framework;
• prioritising the workplan tasks to be undertaken as follows:
  • promoting the importance and value of councillor learning and development;
  • continuous improvement of Framework through appropriate evaluation methods;
  • developing a financially and operationally sustainable Framework; and
  • ensuring the Framework is inclusive and accessible in design and meets the needs of participants.

COMMUNIQUE No. 3 – 29 August 2022

The Office of Local Government (OLG) continues to work with the Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT) on a Local Government Learning and Development Framework (the Framework) to formalise the approach to education and learning in local government. The work is also being progressed with the help of a Working Group who met again on 29 July and 26 August 2022.

Content for online modules

Topics for modules have been agreed by the Working Group.

The content has been compiled from previous presentations delivered by OLG, LGAT and the Tasmanian Electoral Commission (TEC). They also utilise resources already developed and available such as LGAT’s councillor and candidate handbooks, TEC’s candidate handbook and the Good Governance Guide. The content has been reviewed by the working group and a group of elected and non-elected officials that have been selected as a reasonable representation of the targeted audience. For example Learning Package 1 was aimed at community members and Learning Package is aimed at new or returning councillors. So testers were sought from the relevant areas to provide feedback.

An evaluation process will be developed to ensure the Framework is continuously reviewed, updated and improved.

Learning Package 1 (Pre-Election)

• Released on 29 July 2022.
• 78 people registered (as at 24 August 2022)
• Current feedback has been positive

Learning Package 2 (Post Election – Early Learning)

• Reviewed by elected members. Positive feedback received. The recommendation that Module 1 was too long, so the Module was separated into two modules.
• Released 26 August 2022

Learning Package 3 (More In-Depth Learning in Key Areas)

• Working Group agreed on content, objectives and outcomes and identified the following modules for development as an early priority:
  • Understanding your role
  • Building positive relationships
  • Land-use planning
  • Fair and transparent decision-making
  • Ethical standards
  • Effective strategic planning and monitoring performance including financial literacy
• These modules be rolled out following the election.
• Further modules will be identified in consultation with the sector.

Promotion of modules

• This has occurred through:
  • LGAT, OLG and Tasmanian Electoral Commission websites
  • LGAT Facebook and LinkedIn and newsletter
  • Media release provided to Minister
  • Tasmanian Training Consortium newsletter
  • ALGWA face to face meetings

Sustainability of Framework

• The working group is now focussing on the governance arrangements for the Framework and the principles to support a sustainable funding model.

Please disseminate this communique through your local government network.

More information about the Framework, access to register for the online modules and previous communiques can be found on OLG’s webpage Local Government Learning and Development Framework.

Contact details for OLG localgovernment@dpac.tas.gov.au or call 6232 7022.

COMMUNIQUE No. 2 – 24 June 2022

The Office of Local Government (OLG) continues to work on a Local Government Learning and Development Framework (the Framework) to formalise the approach to education and learning in local government. OLG is consulting with the Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT) and a Working Group and held a second meeting on 14 June 2022.

From the Working Group meeting

• The content, objectives and outcomes for Learning Packages 1 and 2 of the Framework were agreed to, noting there may be slight changes following testing and incorporation of feedback as development continues. A copy has been attached for your information.
• The Working Group has been provided with the first online module to review. Following this it will be tested by others, including selected elected members.
• Online modules will be complemented with hard copy manuals such as LGAT’s handbooks for candidates, councillors, and mayors as well as the Good Governance Guide and the Tasmanian Electoral Commission (TEC) candidate handbook
• Upcoming items to be discussed by the Working Group include funding and governance arrangements to ensure the Learning and Development Framework is sustainable.

Know Your Council modules/sessions

Councils are being encouraged to prepare their own face to face/online sessions as module 3 'Know Your Council' to be included as part of Learning Packages 1 (optional) and 2.

These sessions/modules can provide the local detail and flavour not included in the formal modules of Learning Packages 1 and 2.

The Know Your Council module in Learning Package 1 is optional for Councils, but could focus on the needs of your community, information about the local area, the council etc.

Know Your Council in Learning Package 2 would include important induction information for new councillors such as the budget, strategic plans, current business, council policies, guidelines etc. A checklist can be provided to assist with ideas on what to include in these modules. For planning purposes, we are aiming for Learning Package 1 to be released on 1 August 2022 and Learning Package 2 on 1 September 2022.

Communication campaign and promotion of learning packages

LGAT is working on a communication campaign to promote the upcoming local government elections, encourage diversity of those who nominate and to encourage people to vote. The campaign will commence in the first week of July 2022. LGAT will provide separate communications to councils in relation to how councils can assist with spreading the word. LGAT’s campaign will also assist in promoting the learning packages.

The LGAT communication campaign is being coordinated with a communication campaign developed by the TEC. The TEC campaign has two parts. The first part aims to educate the community about compulsory voting and the second part informs people about election details and encourages them to vote.

Please disseminate this communique through your local government network. Communiques are published here on this page (Local Government Learning and Development Framework).

For more information contact OLG at localgovernment@dpac.tas.gov.au or call 6232 7022.

See also the Local Government Learning and Development Framework - Summary topics, objectives and outcomes document.

COMMUNIQUE No. 1 – 24 May 2022

The Office of Local Government (OLG) is developing a Local Government Learning and Development Framework (the Framework) to formalise the approach to education and learning in local government.

OLG has been consulting with other agencies such as the Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT), the Integrity Commission, the Tasmanian Electoral Commission, the State Planning Office and The Tasmanian Audit Office to identify previously provided education that should be included in the Framework and to also identify any gaps.

A working group has been established to assist with development of the Framework and the members include:

• Mathew Healey – Director of Local Government, OLG
• Dianna Christine – Principal Project and Policy Officer – OLG
• Giselle Vincent – Policy and Project Officer – OLG
• Ben Morris – Policy Director – LGAT
• Simon Overland – General Manager – Burnie City Council
• Clare Shea - Manager Governance - Clarence City Council
• John Brown – General Manager - Break O’Day Council
• Paul Jackson – Manager Legal and Governance - Hobart City Council

The working group held its first meeting on 16 May 2022 and:

• Agreed broadly to the objectives, outcomes and format of the Framework, noting there are some areas to be updated. Once these are finalised they will be communicated. Generally the overall aim is to ensure people thinking about running for council have a good understanding about what it means to be a councillor before they nominate and then once nominated or elected there is an opportunity to increase their knowledge and skills to assist them to perform their role as councillor.
  • Noting it is still in development, at this stage the Framework will consist of three online learning packages:
    • Learning Package 1 has two modules:
      1. What it means to be a councillor and encouraging people to nominate
         • Councils are also encouraged to provide information about their own municipal area that can be linked to Module 1.
      2. Getting elected – information about the electoral process
    • Learning Package 2 could have two or three modules. Below is an example of three modules:
      1. Learning the Basics (what is needed for the first few months as a councillor, including dealing with interests, planning etc)
      2. Foundations of good governance
      3. Know your council (council-run sessions)
    • Learning Package 3 will consist of several modules which will provide detailed information about good governance principles and elements as set out in the Good Governance Guide, plus further details on legislation such as meeting procedures etc and how they are applied in practice.
  • The Framework will also include other methods of learning that are not formal online modules such as work placed activities and building relationships and networks to support the sharing of knowledge.
  • Learning Package 1 will be available in August for people to complete before nominations close. The other packages will be available shortly after that.

Please disseminate this communique through your local government network.

For more information contact OLG at localgovernment@dpac.tas.gov.au or call 6232 7022.