Lora Smith Email & Phone Number

Unley, South Australia, Australia

Thebarton, Adelaide

Adelaide, Australia

• Promoting the Program to prospective Regional Councils advising them of its purpose, Council eligibility and trainee selection criteria, OH&S and Award obligations and funding approval procedures and timeframes • Receiving, reviewing and approving acceptable funding applications to ensure they comply with selection criteria • Assisting with Council’s requirements in relation to traineeships• Make Councils aware of any other, additional funding available to them to supplement the Program’s funding • Advise Councils of the most appropriate Registered Training Organisations • Ensure the Council is registered with the Training and Skills Commission as an approved provider of traineeships • Receiving, reviewing and approving Councils’ trainee nominations to ensure selection criteria are met • Preparing and providing all relevant model templates and documents to successful Councils and trainee applicants. • Monitoring and facilitating the retention of trainees and manage funding allocations and milestones accordingly • Developing and maintaining a Program trainees’ recruitment and progress schedule • Funding and cost management • Attending regional meetings to monitor the Program and meeting with participating Councils and trainees • Providing case management support to Councils and trainees • Maintaining and managing all related records and program documentation • Providing trainees with access to the LGA’s online induction program • Managing stakeholder expectations and meeting reporting obligations to ensure a successful, quality driven and timely program for all stakeholders.

Adelaide, South Australia

RESPONSIBILITIES:  Develop, maintain and enhance relationships within the industry, whilst promoting GSA services nationally Work with the Industry Skills and Liaison team to achieve team goals and performance indicators Primary contact within the organisation for all internal and external local government communications. Collaboration with GSA Senior Advisors - Workforce Development and Training Packages on industry specific activities Develop and maintain an understanding of local government requirements, including upskilling and development of the current and future workforce Assist in the production and distribution of the annual environmental scan report through gathering local government specific research and feedback from stakeholdersACHIEVEMENTS:  Improved team communications through the adoption of ACT!, which captured communications with all councils (562) and local government stakeholders. Enabled delivery of effective and efficient customer service and increased opportunities for GSA services by over 70%. Through the management of industry-wide consultation, assisted the training package and development team to develop training standards that met the current needs of the sector. In 2013 successfully project managed and implemented an attraction and retention strategy for the local government sector through the development of an interactive web-based career and workforce development resource.(94% satisfaction rating received through customer service feedback survey.)

Mount Barker

PROJECT - Southern Adelaide Fleurieu Civil Construction Alliance (SAFCCA) workforce development training on behalf of the Regional Development Australia Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu & Kangaroo Island and the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (DIISRTE). Budget $691,500.ACHIEVEMENTS:  Successfully managed the project with over 40 main stakeholders 50 existing workers achieved a nationally recognised qualification in civil construction. 113 jobseekers engaged in vocational training, including 33 achieving a Certificate II level nationally recognised qualification and 20 employment outcomes.PROJECT - Implementation of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry-Caring for Country funded ‘Step up Soils’ program for vineyard growers in the Langhorne Creek region.ACHIEVEMENTS:  Project management of a $20,000 budget for 20 Langhorne Creek vineyard growers to implement and evaluate the program. Event management of a cross-regional field day that included industry guest speaker presentations on best-practice soil improvement methodologies. Upon successful completion of the program, vineyard owners requested an extension program to assist them in retaining optimum microbial soil conditions to improve drought and disease resistance.PROJECT - Regional Development Australia (RDA) Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu & Kangaroo Island, advised and liaised with local Councils in the region on proposed projects.ACHIEVEMENTS:  Assistance with local government special projects, including assisting a council with recycled water proposal and a renewable energy venture; mentoring Counsellors with the use of new technologies; and advising a community organisation on writing successful funding applications.

University Of Adelaide, Urrbrae Campus, Urrbrae South Australia

RESPONSIBILITIES:  Project Management of Horticulture Industry/ Federal Government co-funded Training to Grow Your Business training program for Language Other than English (LOTE) glasshouse vegetable growers on the Northern Adelaide Plains, SA Project Leader for Victorian Water Authority’s investigation of Smart Water Meter technology Provided stakeholder engagement, project support and research for water on the re-use project applications  Promotion and facilitation of research extension activities for the horticulture industry  Supported industry innovation by facilitating and conducting study tours Designed, facilitated, coordinated and evaluated the delivery of tailored vocational education training programs (Agriculture, Horticulture and Irrigation) including compliance with the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) Essential Conditions & Standards 2010. ACHIEVEMENTS: Successfully managed a $500,000 practical on-farm training project to build the human, social and economic capacity of 40 culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) vegetable growers. Fifteen growers attaining a nationally recognised production horticulture qualification. The project increased farm production by 60% and significantly decreased water consumption. Growers participated in quality assurance and safe handling of chemicals certification presented in their own langauge with some growers gaining access to suppliers in the Victorian produce market.

Croydon Park South Australia

RESPONSIBILITIES:  Managed the workforce development and vocational training requirements for the Electrical, Power, Water and Renewable Energy/Clean Tech Industries in South Australia on behalf of the Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology (DFEEST), including formation and facilitation of state government Steering Groups and committees to address workforce issues in the Water industry Project management of the Water industry skills project through to conclusion and within budget Provision of administrative support to designated sector groups and liaison with key stakeholders for workforce development, skill shortages, training, potential projects and sustainable workplace practices.ACHIEVEMENTS: Successfully managed and implemented a workforce development strategy to address SA Water's looming skill shortage due to the pending retirement of key staff. The project included: a $300,000 budget; 60 key stakeholders; 20 mature age water operators achieving a nationally recognised Certificate IV in Training and Assessment; and the professional production of water industry career pathway YouTube videos. Represented the Board at the Women in Non-traditional roles working group, including coordination of the first ‘Girls Rock Stand’ at the Career Expo, 2009 Industry contact person for career pathways in schools, technical colleges and Trade Schools of the Future in Southern Adelaide and Regional SA

Abbottsford, Victoria

RESPONSIBILITIES: Liaised with upper management to address workforce needs through training, assessment, preparation of course materials, coordination and facilitation of courses with Human Resources team, sourcing international specialists to up skill the workforce, and the design & implementation of evaluation procedures to ensure industry best practice Developed and facilitated technical learning programs to ensure achievement of key performance indicators for CUB Operations Facilitated effective communication of team activities and outcomes between upper management, CUB Operations, sales, marketing and suppliers Researched, identified and recommended innovative and value-add learning programs as part of the teamACHIEVEMENTS:  As part of the National Sensory Education Program (known as the ‘flavour training program’), established a database containing staff nationally, Fiji & PNG who were ‘Super Tasters’ to avoid future problems with product after a $2Mill loss after a mould from the pallets permeated the product