Please see below for scheduled programs and events. We also have Expressions of Interest open for our Short Courses.
The LG Professionals SA Ignite Program is a leadership learning path for supervisors, team leaders and coordinators in local government across South Australia.
The focus of the program is to enable those who have limited experience in managing and leading people to develop the competencies required to be successful in their role.
Download the full prospectus here.
Registrations at our events and programs are open to Local Government Professionals Australia, SA members, council employees, employees of regional subsidiaries and Local Government Professionals Australia, SA invited guests unless specified otherwise on the event or program brochure.
By registering for this event/forum/program you will be subscribed to the LG Professionals SA mailing list. Should you wish to unsubscribe at any time, please email eve@lgprofessionalssa.org.au.
The LG Professionals SA Career Navigator Program supports women to develop a strong, authentic professional identity and approach their career and work with positivity and proactivity.
The Program equips participants with the knowledge, skills and confidence to:
Designed to be highly interactive, with an emphasis on peer learning, the Career Navigator Program is made up of a two 1.5-hour online sessions and a two-day in person workshop at LG House, which will equip you with skills and tools to dial down your inner critic, build your career courage and take charge of your life and career.
Registrations for this event are open to female Local Government Professionals Australia, SA members, council employees, employees of regional subsidiaries and Local Government Professionals Australia, SA invited guests.
By registering for this program you will be subscribed to the LG Professionals SA mailing list. Should you wish to unsubscribe at any time, please email admin@lgprofessionalssa.org.au.
By registering for this event/forum/program you will be subscribed to the LG Professionals SA mailing list. Should you wish to unsubscribe at any time, please email admin@lgprofessionalssa.org.au.
In the local government environment, being able to influence those inside and outside of our organisations is a critical skill. Our ability to communicate clearly and influence ethically is essential to being able to productively manage projects, workloads and timelines.
In addition, we build ongoing collaborative relationships as a by-product of establishing effective negotiation behaviours. This short course encourages you to gain an insight into your current negotiation preferences and to develop the micro-skills necessary to navigate through the range of negotiations you face in the workplace.
This course will provide you with tips and tricks to enhance your current communication, negotiation and influencing styles. Course facilitator, Gary Edwards, will share a range of tools and frameworks that will enable you to communicate more effectively in any situation.
For more information, visit https://lgprofessionalssa.org.au/speak-with-influence-negotiate-with-ease/
Registrations for this event are open to Local Government Professionals Australia, SA members, council employees, employees of regional subsidiaries and Local Government Professionals Australia, SA invited guests.
In an increasingly complex environment, problems that persistently defy solutions despite your best efforts are likely becoming more frequent.
We find ourselves bumping up against the limits of the effectiveness of our usual problem-defining and problem-solving approaches. It's not that we need to abandon our usual approaches; rather, we need to expand them.
Organisations are systems, and when we learn to see the relationship between structure and behaviour in our system, we can understand how we might shift structures to enable different/better behaviour patterns. That is systems thinking.
LG Professionals SA is pleased to present this one-day masterclass with guest international facilitator Dr Barry Bales. The program will introduce systems thinking skills that will enable you to effectively define and address organisational challenges. To make this program as practical as possible, participants will practise using their new systems thinking concepts in addressing a real organisational challenge they currently face.
Who should attend? Those in mid or higher-level leadership roles who already have substantial leadership skills and experience
Download the flyer here
Where we begin
This isn’t just another training program. It’s a chance to pause, breathe, and reconnect with what truly matters for your leadership.
Amid constant demands, we rarely stop to consider who we’ve become and where we’re heading. XLP – Connect invites you into a space of trust, curiosity, and growth. You will be surrounded by others who care deeply about how leadership evolves in complex times.
You might be returning after a previous deep leadership learning experience or arriving curious about what leadership could look like next. Either way, you’ll be surrounded by people who are thoughtful, open, and ready to lean into the future with you.
Whether you’re navigating change, seeking clarity, or simply craving meaningful connection, this is where it begins again.
What you'll take away
This program is for experienced local government leaders in regional and metropolitan councils and subsidiaries who are seeking to expand their thinking and leadership impact.
Download the 2026 Prospectus
Registration at our events and programs are open to Local Government Professionals Australia, SA members, council employees, employees of regional subsidiaries and Local Government Professionals Australia, SA invited guests.
The LG Professionals SA Career Catalyst Program is designed for female leaders who want to build a strong leadership legacy and identity, without compromising their values, wellbeing or relationships.
The program equips participants with:
By registering for this program, you will be subscribed to the LG Professionals SA mailing list. Should you wish to unsubscribe at any time, please email admin@lgprofessionalssa.org.au.
Developed in partnership with Adelaide University and local government experts, the Strategic Management Program (SMP) has been designed to increase the skills and capabilities of leaders and managers in local government.
Participants will build high-level leadership and management skills within a local government context, and learn technical skills to manage business functions and enhance innovation, strategic thinking, business acumen and operational excellence.
Please note: As at 19 December 2025 the Prospectus has been updated with new dates for Module 3.
Download the prospectus here
The Plain English movement was designed to cut through the confusing legalese of important documents in an effort to create clear and coherent communication using common, everyday language that is easily understood by the reader. Incorporating Plain English principles into your work will result in less writing time, shorter documents and enhanced readability. Even if your role doesn’t require a lot of writing, how you come across is crucial to your credibility. The ability to write clearly, precisely, powerfully and persuasively is a key skill that enables you to summarise and present ideas, build relationships and gain commitment to action. It can also demonstrate your knowledge, confidence and professionalism. This course uses your own writing examples to demonstrate the use of Plain English principles and persuasive writing techniques.
This course will be delivered in person at LG House, 148 Frome Street, Adelaide.
For more information, visit lgprofessionalssa.org.au/powerful-business-writing.
Join us for an eye-opening and educational session on the potential of AI!
Discover how AI is enhancing productivity, transforming industries and unlocking new opportunities to be efficient. We’ll delve into the benefits of AI and its offerings; from automating routine tasks to driving innovation. Learn how AI has been used for years up until this point, and how AI has developed over time to be more accessible and user-friendly as ever.
To support you in your journey, this session will explore the challenges and risks associated with AI, including ethical concerns, job displacement, and data privacy issues. Learn practical strategies to mitigate these problems and harness AIs full potential responsibly. Whether you’re an industry professional or just curious about AI, this session is your gateway to understanding and mastering the future.
Suitable for: All staff within local government, as your first step into AI.
Key learnings:
This session will provide you with an introductory overview into AI, focusing on the different platforms, how you can integrate AI into your daily work, and the current best practice governance on use.
This course will be delivered online via Zoom.
For more information, visit lgprofessionalssa.org.au/ai-training
Learn how to use AI to enhance your local government workday.
AI is revolutionising the way we work - join us in this hands-on session designed to equip you with practical skills for leveraging ai tools effectively within your workplace.
Suitable for: All staff within local government who hold a general understanding of AI including principles, ethics and AI tools; especially suited for those who complete their work frequently on their computers.
Looking to gain a basis of understanding with AI? Check out our AI Transformation: Introduction to AI short course.
This session has been designed to:
For more information, visit lgprofessionalssa.org.au/ai-bootcamp
You are the people who POWER local government in South Australia. Join us for the LG Professionals SA Annual State Conference: Powering Local Government - an inspiring day designed to strengthen the people who make our communities thrive. This conference brings together leaders, storytellers, and innovators to explore the skills, insights, and connections that empower local government staff. From impactful leadership and effective communication to workforce wellbeing, resilience, and collaboration, each session is crafted to build your capability, connection, and confidence. Hear from dynamic keynote speakers, gain practical insights, and engage with a panel of field workforce staff sharing their experiences and perspectives. Come ready to be inspired, learn, and connect with your peers across the sector.
Developed by the sector for the sector, this conference program is highly relevant and engaging for local government professionals in all job roles and levels, from metropolitan and regional councils and subsidiaries. Join us at the flagship local government conference for 2026 to learn, develop and network with your sector colleagues.
View the full program here.
Looking to Book Multiple Guests?
Let us do the work for you! Please complete this form and email to Megan Hay, Events Coordinator at mhay@lgprofessionalssa.org.au
By registering for this event, you will be subscribed to the LG Professionals SA mailing list. Should you wish to unsubscribe at any time, please email admin@lgprofessionalssa.org.au
Project management is a fundamental skill in our modern workforce, as it ensures that what is being delivered is not only right, but that it also delivers against the business opportunity - so it's important that we get it right.
This course is designed to cover the basic principles of managing projects to help you plan, control and organise activities to ensure that you are delivering successful projects every time. It is best suited for staff who may be new to managing projects or have not previously undertaken any formal project management training.
Suitable for: those seeking to enhance their self-developed project management skills, including: Officers, Coordinators and Team Leaders.
For more information, visit lgprofessionalssa.org.au/introduction-to-project-management.
The Management Challenge is a simulation-based team building, learning and networking program using real local government themes—the types of issues that a senior management team in a council would most likely face.
The teams are challenged to respond to a series of tasks in a unique one-day, fast paced, ‘pressure cooker’ environment. Some tasks will require written responses (such as a council report or recommendation document), and some will take the form of role plays or presentations and the teams are also scored on observations of how well they display energy, synergy, effectiveness and creative thinking.
View the prospectus here.
By registering for this event you will be subscribed to the LG Professionals SA mailing list. Should you wish to unsubscribe at any time, please email admin@lgprofessionalssa.org.au
Every day in local government, we're managing projects.
Whether you’re leading infrastructure upgrades, delivering community programs or improving internal processes, strong project management skills are essential. And as local government professionals, we should be leading the way.
This course will explore project leadership and you will learn how to manage some of the challenges faced when managing big projects in a local government context.
Our Advanced Project Management course is designed for those ready to move beyond the basics. Perfect for anyone with experience managing projects, or who has completed our Introduction to Project Management. This course digs deeper into project management theory and looks at both operational and strategic elements of project management.
Best suited to those who have some project management experience behind them, and those that have completed the Introduction to Project Management course.
For more information, visit lgprofessionalssa.org.au/advanced-project-management.
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The Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) is a program aimed to provide participants with a greater level of comprehension and understanding of local government; increased understanding of leadership concepts and practices and how to integrate these learnings into the workplace, increased confidence; enhanced self-awareness; an appreciation of and an ability to work with different personality types; the opportunity to challenge their assumptions.
Registrations open Wednesday 14 January 2026.
Download the prospectus here.
Check your Council Classification here.
Mailing Address: 148 Frome Street ADELAIDE SA 5000 Phone: 08 8224 2080 Email: admin@lgprofessionalssa.org.au