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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
Recognises an individual or team’s demonstration of the South Australian public sector values in their service delivery.
