Local government provides a diverse range of employment opportunities due to the services it provides.

Some of the many careers local government offers include:

Health & Community Services
Study Disciplines	Positions
Early Childhood Studies Disability Studies Health & Social Science Psychology & Humanities Social Work Arts/Youth Affairs	Aged Care Worker Child Development Officer Community Relations Manager Cultural Affairs Officer Disability Care Worker Environmental Health Officer Family Support Worker Maternal and Child nurse Social Planners, Social Support Officer Youth Worker

Engineering
Study Disciplines	Positions
Engineering	Civil Engineer Construction Engineer Design Engineer Performance Engineers Project Engineer Structural Engineers Traffic Engineers

Corporate & Business Services
Study Disciplines	Positions
Accounting Business Management Commerce Communications Economics Finance Human Resource Management Information Technology Law Marketing Political Science	Administration Officers Business Analysts, Business Planners Economic Development Manager Financial and Management Accountant Human Resource Manager IT Support Marketing and Media Advisor Policy Advisor, Purchasing Officer, Project Manager Research Analysts, Risk Consultant Solicitors, Statutory Planner, Strategic Planner

Environmental Management
Study Disciplines	Positions
Environmental Management Landscape Architecture Park Management Science	Landscape Architects Natural Resources Officer Environment Officer Parks Planners Park Rangers Waste Management Officer

Planning and Development
Study Disciplines	Positions
Town Planning Architecture Urban Design Property & Construction Management	Architect Building Inspector Building Surveyor Permit Officer Property Management Officer Town Planner Urban Planner Valuer

Tien Nguyen Asset and Standard Engineer, Greater Dandenong City Council Engineering a difference for the communities of Greater Dandenong Vietnamese born Tien Nguyen was a child when he and his father battled dangerous waters to come to Australia. Now, he is giving back to his family’s adopted community of Springvale. Having lived the harsh existence of a refugee, Tien knew at an early age it was up to him to make a go of his life.

After finishing high school he studied to become an engineer and worked for several years in his chosen profession.

Ever grateful to the community that has supported him and his family since coming to Australia, Tien seized an opportunity to make a difference when a vacancy arose with Greater Dandenong City Council’s Economic Development Unit.

In the role of Business Development Officer, Tien liaised with Asian communities across the city and helped traverse language barriers.

“Despite being an engineer, Council gave me an opportunity to work with the community I am passionate about.

“I wanted to help the Asian community with problems they encountered in their businesses, many of which are brought about by language barriers.

“To know I was helping them and contributing to the area I grew up in was really satisfying.

After three years in this role, Tien decided to return to engineering but stayed with the Council, joining the Asset and Planning Team, where he is responsible for the new bus shelter roll out, enquiries and faults, traffic signals and a speed alert mobile unit among other things.

“Working for local government offers choice and diversity while making a real contribution to communities. I relish the opportunity to change careers but it is working for my community that I am most proud of.

“Where else can you work with and for the community and then transfer into another area that is completely different?” he said.

 

 

Greg Little Acting Manager of Community Services, Northern Grampians Shire Council Little in name, big in heart Living and working in the same community brings an interesting perspective to Greg Little’s work, requiring him to balance his role in providing and shaping services as Acting Manager of Community Services for the Northern Grampians Shire Council with his personal involvement in the community he serves.

“As someone who intends to grow old in this community I’m in the privileged position of developing services to support our older people that one day I will likely rely on myself,” Greg said.

Returning to his roots in St Arnaud, Greg left his job in Melbourne with the Department of Human Services to take up the position of Aged and Disability Services Team Leader and has since been promoted to the broader community services role.

“Working for local government gives me the opportunity to get my hands dirty. Instead of outsourcing the development of our ideas we’re involved in every aspect of delivering them.

“We’ve just completed a major project in the development of the Taylor’s Gully Children’s Precinct, the first centre of its kind in Victoria to offer all local family services under one roof.

“From the initial concept stage and consultations with the community through to working with the builders, attending site meetings and even unpacking boxes we’ve been involved every step of the way.

“In my professional capacity seeing this project through has been very rewarding, and as the parent of a preschooler whose kindergarten is part of the new facility it has special meaning.”

Greg Little is typical of the community minded professional attracted to working in local government. Having left his hometown to pursue a career with long term prospects, Greg always yearned to return to his community.

“I was working in local pubs and factories in St Arnaud when I met my wife and started thinking about my future. I was closely involved in my community but living in a small town had limited career opportunities.

“Community services appealed to me because I have a passion for working with people. I could also see great potential for career development as governments responded to a rapidly ageing population coupled with the trend towards people with a disability becoming less institutionalised.

“So I moved away to study and start a career in disability services.”

Local government provided the opportunity for Greg and his family to return to nearby Stawell, and his job takes him back to St Arnaud two days a week.

But working for the Council is more than a lifestyle opportunity for Greg, recently taking up new career challenges in the area of children’s services.

“The career development opportunities in councils are not generally well understood. Rural councils in particular have to foster their own, making local government a good breeding ground for professionals who want to make a difference in their community.

“I’m working harder than I ever have but I’m enjoying my work more than anything I’ve done before. For me, it’s about the intangible rewards that come from working for the community you live in.”