Published on:
Monday, 13 July, 2026
At WALGA's 2026 People and Culture Seminar, representatives from across the Local Government sector shared their experiences of building careers and supporting the development of future professionals.
The session, 'Building capability, confidence and long-term careers in Local Government,' brought together perspectives from students, a senior leader and a WALGA trainer and assessor.
Together, they explored how structured learning and workplace support can help employees develop the confidence, judgement and knowledge needed to thrive in Local Government.
From Trainee to Director
Shire of Waroona, Kirsty Ferraro
Kirsty Ferraro reflected on a career journey that began almost 30 years ago as a Local Government trainee.
Rotating through different areas of Local Government gave Kirsty valuable insight into how Councils operate and helped her discover where her interests and strengths lay. Since then, she has progressed through a range of roles and leadership positions, while continuing to invest in her own professional development.
"My career certainly hasn't been a straight line, but the broad foundation I gained through my traineeship made those transitions much easier," Kirsty said.
Today, the Shire of Waroona is applying the same philosophy by investing in structured development opportunities for its future workforce.
Building confidence through experience
Shire of Waroona, Taylah Platell
Current Certificate III in Local Government trainee Taylah Platell shared her experience of entering Local Government straight after finishing school and the opportunity to explore different career pathways through her traineeship.
Since commencing with the Shire of Waroona earlier this year, Taylah has worked across a range of departments, gaining firsthand insight into the breadth of services delivered by Local Government.
"Working across different departments has shown me how many services Local Government provides and how different teams work together," Taylah said.
"I'm still discovering where I'd like my career to go, and that's one of the best parts about the traineeship. It's giving me the opportunity to explore different areas before deciding on a long-term pathway."
Creating pathways for career growth
Shire of Dumbleyung, Dylan Fryer
The session also featured Dylan Fryer, who completed the Certificate III in Local Government and is now undertaking the Diploma of Local Government (Planning).
After working across several industries, Dylan found a career that aligned with his values and his interest in serving the community.
"I love working in Local Government because you can see how the work we do contributes to delivering services, supporting communities and creating positive outcomes for residents," Dylan said.
With support from his employer, Dylan is building on the foundations established through his training and working towards a long-term career in Local Government, specialising in town planning.
Investing in future capability
Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale and WALGA Trainer and Assessor, Andrew Trosic
Andrew Trosic highlighted the increasing complexity of the Local Government environment and the importance of developing professionals with a broad understanding of governance and decision-making processes.
"The sector needs employees who not only understand their technical role but also understand legislative requirements and how Local Government operates as a whole," Andrew said.
"Building these skills early creates capable professionals with the confidence and judgement to make sound decisions."
Although each panellist followed a different path, their experiences reflected the diversity of careers available in Local Government and the important role development opportunities play in helping people grow.
From Kirsty's progression from trainee to Director, to Taylah exploring future career options and Dylan building specialist skills through further study, the discussion highlighted how investment in learning and development can support successful and rewarding careers across the sector.
The session also reinforced the important role organisations play in developing future capability by creating opportunities for learning, growth and career progression.
Ready for the next step?
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Whether you're starting your career, stepping into greater responsibility or developing your workforce, our qualifications support professional growth and organisational capability. Explore the LGA30120 Certificate III in Local Government and LGA50120 Diploma of Local Government to find the pathway that's right for you or your team
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