WALGA Training is proud to continue to support the sector by offering the prestigious Jacqui Dodd Scholarship to four successful recipients. The Scholarship is named in honour of former long-serving WALGA Training Services Manager, Jacqueline Dodd. Nominations are now open until August 14, 2023, with two Metropolitan and two Regional Scholarships being offered.
The LGA50220 Diploma of Local Government - Elected Member program is the highest level of qualification that an Elected Member can obtain through WALGA Training. This specialised training program enables Elected Members to increase their skills and knowledge to confidently fulfill their role and responsibility on Council and better serve their community.
Many CEOs are recognising the importance of this professional development and are supporting their Elected Members to undertake this training.
City of Mandurah Councillor Amber Kearns was one of last year’s recipients, telling the Mandurah Mail she was “extremely humbled” to receive the honour.
“It's an absolute privilege to represent the people in my ward and this scholarship is an incredible opportunity to equip myself for the job I was elected to do,” she said.
During the training program Councillors will learn how to confidently provide leadership to their community and effectively fulfill their role and responsibility, particularly in relation to good decision making in accordance with the Local Government Act 1995 and relevant regulations. The units covered in the program include Strategic Decision Making, Policy Development, Urban and Regional Planning, Asset Management, Dealing with Conflict and Effective Community Leadership.
The scholarship covers 50% of training and assessment fees up to a value of $5,085 and offers additional travel expense compensation for regional applicants upon completion of the program.
To qualify, applicants must be a current Elected Member, have completed all Council Member Essentials training and have never previously received the scholarship.
Scholarship recipient and Shire of Quairading President Peter Smith said the course proved invaluable to his community service.
“Undertaking the Diploma has been invaluable in increasing my knowledge and understanding of my role and responsibility to be an effective Elected Member,” he said.
“The training workshops have provided me not only outstanding opportunities to learn from subject matter experts in their field, but to also share and hear of the experiences of other Councillors in the course.”
Nominations now closed.
Acknowledgement of Country
WALGA acknowledges the continuing connection of Aboriginal people to Country, culture and community. We embrace the vast Aboriginal cultural diversity throughout Western Australia, including Boorloo (Perth), on the land of the Whadjuk Nyoongar People, where WALGA is located and we acknowledge and pay respect to Elders past and present.