Local Government NSW

21/10/2026

Expert guidance for Local Government careers

Understanding the diverse entry points into local government is our expertise.

LGNSW's Workforce Development team provides tailored advice and recommendations on starting a career and navigating pathways, including required skills and accredited qualifications in VET and Higher Education.

Learn more or reach out to the team for advice > bit.ly/49IuSQj

21/10/2026

🔧 Want to discover more about Geotech and Heavy Diesel Mechanics apprenticeships in council? Join Careers at Council for the next FREE Upskilling Your Workforce webinar.

📅 Thursday 19 November ⏰ 3.30pm - 4.30pm AEDT 💻 Online

Hosted by Mark Elsaj, Graduate Research Officer at Local Government NSW, the webinar will feature Samuel Burgess, Geotech Trainee, City of Wollongong and Maddison Ingram, Apprentice Heavy Diesel Mechanic, Bega Valley Shire Council.

Samuel will share how he went from hospitality to a career in civil construction, and Maddison will discuss how she turned her passion for mechanics into a hands-on career working with Council's fleet and plant equipment.

🔗 More info OR register now > bit.ly/4dBjSoY

20/10/2026

NSW Water Directorate forum to focus on digital water solutions 💧

The NSW Water Directorate's Annual Forum will bring together water professionals, government and industry leaders in Sydney to explore digital water solutions.

📅 Friday 30 October 📍 Aerial UTS Function Centre, Ultimo, Sydney

The forum, From Insights to Action: Digital Water in Practice, will focus on practical approaches to digital transformation, particularly for regional Local Water Utilities (LWUs).

The program will feature case studies, panel discussions, and insights from industry experts to help councils assess their digital readiness and identify opportunities to strengthen their capabilities.

View the full program OR for more info > bit.ly/4zz0Pnu

19/10/2026

Upcoming Training Courses for Mayors, Councillors & Council Staff in November 💻

Discover the latest online training courses available, specifically designed for high-quality, cost-effective professional development 👇

📅 View full learning calendar > bit.ly/4gIXXLD

15/10/2026

✨ Meet Kaela Valle, People & Culture Advisor at Upper Hunter Shire Council ✨

In the latest Careers at Council Employee Spotlight, Kaela shares her journey from early childhood education to a career in People & Culture, and how taking a chance on a council traineeship helped her build confidence and discover new opportunities.

Read the full interview 👇

Sometimes the most rewarding careers begin with stepping outside your comfort zone.

That was the case for Kaela Valle, who moved from early childhood education to human resources through a council traineeship. Today, she works as a People & Culture Advisor at Upper Hunter Shire Council, supporting employees across the organisation and helping create positive workplace experiences.

💡 In our latest employee blog story, Kaela shares how a career change helped her build confidence, embrace new challenges and discover opportunities she never expected in local government.

📄 Read the full story > bit.ly/47e6N1d

15/10/2026

Registrations are open for the Environment Symposium & Awards 🎫

Join council professionals from across NSW for a day dedicated to environmental innovation, collaboration and recognition.

📅 Thursday 3 December 📍 Aerial Function Centre, UTS Ultimo

The program includes:
👉 Inspiring symposium sessions across two learning streams
👉 Networking opportunities and project showcases
👉 Awards ceremony, recognising outstanding achievements across local government

📽️ Check out the highlights from our 2025 event below.

More info OR register now > https://bit.ly/4uZIIEV

13/10/2026

Local Government NSW is the peak body representing New South Wales local councils and associate members, including county councils, joint organisations, and regional organisations of councils.

Our role is to support, promote, advocate for, and represent the local government sector so our members are in the best possible position to serve our NSW communities.

We do this by:
✅ Providing policy advice, management support and grants to members
✅ Empowering members to deliver quality services to meet the needs of their local community
✅ Providing effective, responsive, and accountable leadership on policy issues
✅ Enhancing community awareness and perception of local government
✅ Shaping the industrial environment in which the sector operates.

Learn more about LGNSW > https://bit.ly/4dunjh7

13/10/2026

Is your council team across their asbestos obligations?

From development assessment to waste disposal, contaminated land to community inquiries, asbestos touches almost every corner of local government operations.

LGNSW provides a free, dedicated resource library to support NSW councils at every level.

Here's what's available to your team:

📌 Model Asbestos Policy → a ready-to-use policy framework
📌 Asbestos Management Decision Tree → clear guidance for staff managing asbestos inquiries in the field
📌 Managing Asbestos Concerns in the Community Guide → practical support for handling residential asbestos concerns
📌 Online Asbestos Network → an active forum connecting council asbestos practitioners across NSW
📌 Fee-free e-Learning modules → covering all key council roles and responsibilities via the NSW EPA Learning portal
📌 Containment, Storage & Transport of Asbestos Waste Guide → workplace-specific guidance for council staff
📌 Council case studies, templates and additional guides

Explore all free resources 🔎 https://bit.ly/49AE8VL

12/10/2026

MEDIA RELEASE 📢 Disaster funding retained in major win for councils and communities.

NSW Councils have made progress in their fight to ensure their communities are not left financially worse off in the wake of natural disasters.

After a concerted effort from LGNSW and its interstate and national counterparts, the Australian Government has today announced it will not proceed with changes to the Disaster Recovery Funding Framework as proposed by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

LGNSW President Mayor Darcy Byrne said the announcement was a major win for councils and communities across NSW, particularly rural, regional and remote councils facing acute financial pressure as they recover from increasingly frequent floods, storms and fires.

“The Australian Government has listened to councils and made sensible changes that recognise the scale and urgency of the disaster recovery challenge facing local communities,” Mayor Byrne said.

Read full release >

MEDIA RELEASE: NSW councils have made progress in their fight to ensure their communities are not left financially worse off in the wake of natural disasters.

12/10/2026

Finding the right General Manager or senior executive takes more than a generic recruitment process.

As an LGNSW member, your council has access to a recruitment service built specifically for local government:

✓ End-to-end executive search: from scoping to shortlist
✓ Senior and specialist role recruitment
✓ Remuneration benchmarking against comparable councils.

Find out how our Management Solutions team can support your next appointment → https://bit.ly/3LVAsVm