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View membershipOn behalf of our Divisional Council, we are thrilled to announce that Ms. Nerida Saunders, PSM, and Mr. David Brown have been awarded an IPAA National Fellowship.
The award of National Fellow is made annually to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to public service and the Institute of Public Administration Australia, a tradition dating back to 1983. Some further background on this award is available via the IPAA National Website.
At this year’s National Conference, IPAA National President, Professor Renee Leon PSM FIPAA, congratulated the new National Fellows on receiving this prestigious award and thanked them for their contribution and service.
We congratulate and thank Nerida and David, both highly deserving of this award, for their many years of passionate service to South Australia.
Nerida and David have made an extensive impact through their work, and we have shared just a few points from their biography and career highlights below.
Learn more about each National Fellow from other IPAA divisions across Australia here.
Nerida Saunders is a proud Murri Woman from the Kamilaroi Nation, and Executive Director of Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Attorney-General’s Department, South Australian Government. Her career spans areas of social justice and child protection, having been the first Aboriginal Executive Director of Children, Youth and Family Services, South Australia.
Nerida has a strong focus on improving the lives of indigenous people. She has been Co-Chair of the Aboriginal Affairs Executive Committee (AAEC) since 2020 and worked on developing Reconciliation Action Plans (RAP). As a member of the Premier’s Council for Women, she brings a strong voice for indigenous women, sharing her expertise and insight to ensure women’s interests and needs of women are at the forefront of the South Australian Government’s policies and strategies.
In 2016 Nerida was awarded the Public Service Medal for outstanding public service in the provision of leadership and advocacy in the area of Aboriginal affairs and reconciliation. Her commitment to social justice, women’s rights and equality and strong advocacy for indigenous rights and reconciliation have positioned her as a passionate role model for the next generation of Aboriginal Leaders in the public sector.
As Chief Executive of the Department for Correctional Services (DCS), South Australia, and member of the Criminal Justice Reform Council, David is driving wide-ranging reform across the system to increase public confidence through improving service delivery and ensuring service is just and fair. He has embedded a culture of learning and improvement to change established thinking and practices through major initiatives including Shaping Corrections as a driver of innovation for DCS through collaboration and improvement.
As Co-Chair, Aboriginal Affairs Executive Committee, David is committed to improving outcomes for indigenous people across the South Australian Criminal Justice System and led the delivery of the DCS Gender Equality and Respect (GET) Action Plan and the DCS Women’s Offender Framework and Action Plan which provided targeted cultural support for Indigenous women and linked to Justice Sector Reform, Justice Reinvestment and large-scale reform supporting women’s safety and equality.
David continues to deliver strong evidence-based policy initiatives across key strategic directions to create a safer and fairer society for all South Australians.
Why do IPAA SA Members take the time out of their busy days to attend IPAA events? At some of our recent events, we spoke with Personal and State Government Members, asking them to share what they value the most.
Many of our members highlighted that IPAA SA events provide them with an opportunity to step outside their normal environment and meet colleagues from across the sector and beyond. Expanding your network and catching up with people can help you grow your sense of purpose in what you do for the state and present exciting new opportunities.
Members also valued being able to hear from thought leaders and key public sector decision-makers on the direction and goals of the sector. As one of our members shared, it’s a chance to “hear about the really important issues, to get under the headlines, into the really meaty substance about what we are dealing with on a day-to-day basis in policy”.
We would like to thank all the Personal and State Government Members who got in front of the camera to share with the wider community and we also look forward to sharing more insights and reflections from our member community in the coming weeks through our LinkedIn and Facebook pages.
Thank you also to Merlin, who did a fantastic job in bringing together the many voices of the IPAA SA Member Community.
If you would like to catch up on recent IPAA SA events you can view the latest event recordings here:
Or browse upcoming events here.
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Personal Members of IPAA SA hold individual membership with IPAA SA and are bound by the Institute’s Constitution.
Personal Members of the Institute are champions, ambassadors and leaders in the public sector at all levels. Membership demonstrates a commitment to a career in the public sector and demonstrates a commitment to your professional association.
Personal Membership offers exclusive development and networking opportunities not available to other membership categories.
Personal Membership is not linked to an organisation and therefore remains from job to job and even state to state, as Personal Membership is transferrable between interstate IPAA divisions.
IPAA SA has seven different Personal Membership options offering specific and unique benefits based on professional status and career goals.
Personal Membership recognition awards include
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Personal Membership is open to any individual who is:
The IPAA SA Divisional Council may reject any application for Membership at its discretion.
Yes, you are able to access members rates for training and events from any IPAA. Some IPAA’s will have a varied offering so please don’t hesitate to contact us if you would like specific information before you visit another division.
Your membership is valid for 12 months after you receive your Welcome Pack (unless you have chosen a 2 year or more membership period).