The 2021 ‘Premier’s Excellence Awards and Address’ celebrated outstanding achievements within the South Australia Public Sector, this year particularly showcasing the exceptional efforts during the state’s emergency response. During this event the Hon. Steven Marshall also delivered his address to the public sector, sharing more on the state’s COVID-19 recovery and how we can all move forward with purpose.
The event was MCd by Commissioner Erma Ranieri PSM FIPAA who shared her enthusiasm and praise for how our public sector rose to the challenges of recent times.
The Premier’s Address to the Sector
“My number one task today is to acknowledge and thank the public service in South Australia for the outstanding job they have done with those three – major, very impactful events that have hit our state”
The Hon. Steven Marshall noted some of the extraordinary circumstances that we found ourselves in during late 2019 and 2020, with first the devastating bushfires in both Kangaroo Island and the Adelaide Hills and then a subsequent global pandemic. He shared his pride in the public sector’s response to these challenges, as well as the fact that trust in our government is at an all-time high.
Premier Marshall shared that the exemplary efforts of the sector have enabled our state to move forward economically and socially and that “we now have more people employed and we have more wages paid now than pre Coronavirus”. He also highlighted some of the many examples of the ways in which our sector has moved with greater adaptability and mobility, such as in the delivery of education throughout 2020.
The State’s budget for recovery was also explored during his address, with the Premier sharing his enthusiasm for the largest infrastructure spend in the history of the state – providing a needed boost to jobs and the economy. Affordable housing, school development and investment in innovative projects were other areas that were also highlighted as key in our recovery.
Finally, Premier Marshall shared some of the reforms that had come about as a result of the previous ‘I Work for SA Your Voice Survey’. The results of this survey saw an improved emphasis on nurturing Indigenous leadership in the public sector, as well as increasing the number of indigenous people employed in the sector. With the latest YourVoice survey launching after on Tuesday, 27 April , the Premier encouraged all state government employees to take part and share their opinions.
Excellence Awards
On behalf of IPAA SA and our Divisional Council we would like to offer our congratulations to the outstanding winners and finalists. The whole of the SA public service has gone above any beyond during these challenging times and we hope that everyone across the sector can take away a sense of pride and accomplishment in what has been acheived.
Excellence in Service Delivery Award
Recognises an individual or team’s exemplary service to the community of South Australia. Their program, service or initiative has had a far-reaching, positive impact.
INDIVIDUAL WINNER: Kate Tyrell, Central Adelaide Local Health Network
INDIVIDUAL FINALISTS:
- Toby Coates, Central Adelaide Local Health Network (watch video)
- Lucian Bogdan Soloman, Central Adelaide Local Health Network (watch video)
TEAM WINNER: Kidstuff – Indigenous Young Parents Program, Women’s and Children’s Health Network
TEAM FINALISTS:
- Geriatrics in the Home Program, Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (watch video)
- Kanggawodli Dialysis Initiative, Central and Northern Adelaide Local Health Networks (watch video)
Excellence in Service Delivery – Emergency Response Award
Recognises an individual or team’s exemplary service to the community of South Australia in an emergency. Their program, service or initiative has had a far-reaching, positive impact.
INDIVIDUAL WINNER: Mark Turra, SA Pathology
INDIVIDUAL FINALIST: Martin Reid, Department for Energy and Mining (watch video)
TEAM WINNER: Medi-hotel Quarantine Program, SA Health, SA Police, SA Ambulance Service and SA Pathology
TEAM FINALISTS:
- Bushfire Rebuilding and Recovery Program, Department of the Premier and Cabinet (watch video)
- COVID Response Coordination Team, Department for Education (watch video)
- Bushfire Response and Recovery, Department of Primary Industries and Regions (watch video)
Public Sector Values
Recognises an individual or team’s demonstration of the South Australian public sector values in their service delivery.
INDIVIDUAL WINNER: Vicki Beard, Department for Energy and Mining
INDIVIDUAL FINALISTS:
- Christopher Tilley, Department for Correctional Services (watch video)
- Wayne Cunningham, Department of Human Services SA (watch video)
TEAM WINNER: COVID-19 Response, Department of Primary Industries and Regions
TEAM FINALISTS:
- Duty Lawyers Services, Legal Services Commission of South Australia (watch video)
- IN.DPC: intranet in the cloud, Department of the Premier and Cabinet (watch video)
Watch this event in full below