District Leadership Groups

Each DLG includes a core membership of the most senior regional representatives from the Departments of Communities, Education, Health and Justice, as well as theWA Police Force and Mental Health Commission. In addition to the core members, each DLG tailors its membership to its local context. Membership includes 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 Human Services Directors General Group provides oversight for DLGs and has endorsed the Department of Communities (Communities) as the lead agency for DLG development.

Communities provides coordination and support to facilitate DLGs in achieving their strategic intent as outlined in the Statement of Commitment to DLGs, signed by the Directors General and Commissioners of the core member agencies.

Administrative and project support for DLGs for the 2024-25 financial year is funded by Communities and the Mental Health Commission.

If you would like to get in touch with your local DLG, please refer to the attached contact list. 

What’s happening

Communities provides support to DLGs including:

• Case management support to improve governance and capacity
• Advocacy and coordination between partner agencies
• Triaging of requests relating to statewide matters
• Standardisation of membership, governance, operations and reporting
• Coordination and delivery of resourcing.

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."

Jamie Strickland (Chair, Great Southern and Wheatbelt DLG):

"The support of the DLG Development Team has been critical with the two DLGs that I am currently Chairing. One DLG hadn’t met for some time and required a refresh, and the other had an unforeseen change in leadership. In addition, for both, there will be significant work through the implementation of the South West Native Title Settlement, which is new territory. The DLG Development Team has worked with and supported the DLGs to ensure that we have access to resources and information, including information from other key agencies and are in a good position to move ahead. They really are a key partner for the DLGs that I am involved with."