The Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA) has developed a diploma designed specifically to meet the needs of elected members in Western Australia.
This follows the approval of the Association’s application to become a Registered Training Organisation last October, enabling it to develop a range of accredited ‘Officer’ training courses.
The Diploma in Local Government (Elected Members) course content covers areas that directly relate to the roles and responsibilities of elected members and will provide a nationally recognised qualification.
WALGA President Councillor Bill Mitchell said it offers elected members an opportunity to be recognised as leaders in governance within the sector.
“WALGA has taken a proactive approach to developing the skills and knowledge of our Elected Members to ensure informed decision making and sound governance prevails across the sector,” he said. “The diploma is focused on the roles and responsibilities of elected members and the high level of expertise that is required.”
Councillor Mitchell said the training targets areas identified in WALGA’s Triple S report that are acknowledged as being critical to effectively and efficiently undertake the role of an elected member. These include legal responsibilities, leadership within the community and on council, land use planning, asset management, policy development, financial management and budgeting as well as strategic planning.
“By completing the diploma, Elected Members will have the opportunity to gain recognition of their current skills and expand their skills base through a combination of classroom learning and real life on the job projects,” Bill Mitchell said.
The diploma will be delivered over a 12 to 24 month period, commencing in January 2010.
For further information contact the Workplace Solutions Training team at WALGA on
(08) 9213 2090.
