2023/24 proved an interesting year for the LGIS scheme and our members. There have been inflationary pressures, labour markets have been tight and skilled workers difficult to find, the workforce is ageing, and there has been substantial legislative change including the Local Government Act and a brand-new Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act.
It’s a question very few people want to ask but given the current cyber risk landscape shows no signs of slowing, it’s likely an inevitable question for organisations, including local governments.
Many local government leaders are concerned about their organisation’s cyber vulnerabilities; in the 2024 JLT Risk Report cyber risk was listed as CEOs’ number two concern. However, it’s a complex landscape and it can be daunting to work out where to start or prioritising initiatives.
Safety is everyone’s responsibility. Local governments are committed to ensuring the health and safety of their bushfire volunteers. However, safety responsibility does not fall solely on the local government – individual volunteer firefighters also have a duty to look after themselves and not put themselves or others at unreasonable risk.
Every year local governments across Western Australia invest millions of dollars in the assets that deliver vital services to their communities. Whether it’s a new roof for the recreation centre, construction of a new administration building or creating a new home for the library, LGIS members are building, renovating, extending or repairing assets. The question is, what happens if the contractors fail?
A rising awareness of psychosocial hazards and local government’s duty to actively mitigate them is causing plenty of discussion within the sector. The City of Mandurah has proactively responded to their work, health and safety obligations recently launching their new program which educates and supports individuals, teams, managers and the broader organisation.
The claimant (child) was travelling across a bridge in the playground and fell through a confined space causing a broken femur, cuts and bruises. The claimant alleged that the playground was unsafe and had design flaws that didn’t prevent children from injuring themselves.
By their very nature playgrounds have an element of risk, designed to challenge children and deliver development opportunities. They’re valued and sought-after amenities in every local government area across Western Australia. They also come with high levels of expectation from the community that they will be well designed, in appropriate locations and maintained in a condition that ensures safe and enjoyable experiences for children
The recent WA Local Government Convention was an excellent opportunity to chat with members and talk about the issues that matter to you. LGIS also appreciated the invitation from WALGA to provide members with an update at their AGM on our 2023/24 results and achievements. For more information, our end of financial year reports, A Year in Review and Annual Financial Report, are now available on the LGIS website or you can read the article on page 18.
LGIS continued with our new workers’ compensation act roadshow, this time educating the northern metro members on the significant legislative changes. Together with WorkCover WA and legal partners Moray & Agnew, we delivered another tailored information session on the new Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act (2023) WA.
