This month we caught up with Erin Findlay, Senior Manager - Community Services at City of Playford about her role, the 21st Annual Leadership Excellence Awards and what she enjoys doing outside of work.
What is your role and what does it involve?
My role is interesting and diverse. I oversee all Community Services at the City of Playford - so that’s everything from Home Assist and disability services to community development to creative cultural development. My role is really to focus on that next 2 to 3 year window in terms of strategic service delivery. It’s a fantastic, fast paced and rewarding role.
Earlier this year City of Playford won the Community Partnerships and Collaboration Award at the 21st Annual Leadership Excellence Awards for the Playford Wellbeing Hub – can you share an overview of the project?
In late 2020, the City of Playford collaborated with Wellbeing SA as the lead agency of the South Australian Government’s Statewide Wellbeing Strategy on a project to support physical, social, mental and community wellbeing in response to COVID-19.
The Playford Wellbeing Hub launched in December 2020 and within 12 months saw 3168 attendances at 46 different initiatives designed to create opportunities to be active, support wellbeing through food, strengthen social connections and encourage community capacity building and connection to the Hub.
The project’s success has been founded on strong partnerships with 56 organsiations, including State Government agencies, local community groups, sporting clubs, schools, businesses and volunteers.
The goals of the hub are to:
- Creating opportunities to be active
- Supporting wellbeing through food
- Strengthening social connectedness to foster wellbeing
- Encouraging community capacity building and connection to the Hub.
What does this award mean to the Council, staff, and the community?
Its an important award as it recognises the value of partnerships. It acknowledges that when different levels of government truly work together in partnership there are so many benefits and better outcomes to be had.
For the dedicated staff who have worked hard on the project, it’s a great recognition of their effort and commitment.
For our community, this award is quite special. Our community have been closely involved in the design, delivery and evaluation of the project. This has been really successful and has meant that the community have taken real ownership in the project. It shows that when we involve the community as a partner, the sky is the limit!
What is the most satisfying thing about working in Local Government?
For me, it’s the ability to impact people’s lives in a positive way. Working so close to the community allows us interact on a meaningful basis and make a real difference.
Finally – what do you enjoy outside of work? How do you spend your leisure time?
Outside of work I enjoy time with my family friends. I’m a big sports fan and I love to watch a range of sports. I also enjoy hiking and I can’t wait to take my new puppy out on the trails. Finally I’m working towards one of my lifetime goals, competing in a half ironman. It’s a slow process but I’m just aiming to finish!
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