Each DLG includes a core membership of senior regional representatives from the Departments of Communities, Education, Health and Justice, as well as the WA Police Force and Mental Health Commission. In addition to the core members, each DLG tailors its membership to its local context. Membership can include representatives from State and Commonwealth governments, local government, not-for-profit organisations and the community services sector, Aboriginal community-controlled organisations and industry.
The primary role of DLGs is to:
- Identify shared local priorities
- Develop strategies to address local priorities
- Deliver collaborative initiatives to address local priorities
- Provide a consultation and feedback forum for State Government and place-based initiatives, including the provision of timely and accurate local information to government and other stakeholders
- Consult with local communities, coordinate joint services, measure impact and share expertise and resources in their region.
The Department of Communities (Communities) is the lead agency for DLG development and provides coordination and support to facilitate DLGs in achieving their strategic intent.
What’s happening
Communities provides support to DLGs including:
- Support to improve governance and capacity
- Advocacy and coordination between partner agencies
- Standardisation of membership, governance, operations and reporting
- Coordination and engagement across DLGs.
In collaboration with DLGs and key stakeholders, Communities is continuing to work to address challenges and opportunities for DLGs to empower them to deliver better outcomes in local communities.
Communities is also providing specific support to DLGs in the South West Native Title Settlement (SWS) area. The SWS is an agreement between the Noongar people and WA Government across approximately 200,0000 square kilometres of the south-west region. The SWS supports the WA Government to work in partnership with the Noongar people to elevate economic, social and community outcomes.
The SWS includes a Community Development Framework (CDF) and DLGs across the SWS area have been named in this as key regional engagement partners. Under the CDF, DLGs are encouraged to build relationships with the respective SWS Noongar Regional Corporations to establish ways of working together. Communities is supporting DLGs to engage with Regional Corporations.
What people are saying
Michael Piu, CEO, St Patrick’s Community Support Centre, (Chair, SW Metropolitan DLG):
"The collective efforts of the District Leadership Group have been instrumental in achieving good local outcomes. We’ve been able to identify priorities that matter in this community, and genuinely work together to find the best way to make a difference."
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