Opt In Networks

If you have created an account today, you will not be able to opt in to a network until your account has been verified, which can take up to 24 hours.

If you've already joined one or more of our networks, you can login via our home page, go to "Your Account" and click on "Networks Hub".

Jump to: General | Environment | Planning | Social & Community

General

• General Managers' Network: A closed email network and online forum. All general managers are automatically added to this network.
• Careers at Council Subscriber Network: Coordinated by the Careers at Council team, this network serves as an online forum for council staff from subscribed councils using the Careers at Council platform. It allows members to collaborate, share their user experiences, and benefit from the collective expertise within local government. Available to council staff with a valid email address only. Request to join
• Communications Network: A web forum designed to foster collaboration and liaison between communications and public relations staff working for NSW councils. This network is for council communications staff members only. Request to join
• Community Engagement Network: For local government community engagement professionals working within greater Sydney and surrounds to share learnings and collaborate. Request to join
• Digital and Creative Network: An online forum for NSW council staff to discuss all things digital and creative. Open to designers, digital producers, videographers, photographers, brand advisers, marketing experts, and website publishers, to share knowledge across areas such as digital strategy, user experience, branding, multimedia storytelling, and helping councils strengthen their digital and creative capabilities. Request to join
• Executive Assistants and Personal Assistants Network: For Executive Assistants and Personal Assistants to connect with peers, share knowledge, build a network of industry contacts and discuss challenges. Request to join
• Events Network: In addition to web forum discussions, the Events Network runs seminars throughout the year to foster collaboration and information sharing between event professionals working for NSW councils. Request to join | Meetings Information
• Governance Network: A platform that facilitates collaboration and information sharing between council Governance Officers on topics such as privacy, delegations, policies, designated persons and annual returns, and legislative compliance. Available to council staff only. Request to join
• GIPA Network: For council Access to Information Officers to discuss the application of the Government Information (Public Access) Act. Members can use this resource to exchange ideas and information with others within the local government sector. Available to council staff only. Request to join
• Human Resources Network: Coordinated by LGNSW’s Industrial Relations unit, the HR Network meets throughout the year to discuss current HR and industrial relations issues. Request to join | Meetings information ( member-only content)
• IT Professionals Network:  LGNSW provides administrative support to the Local Government IT Professionals Network, which meets quarterly and encourages collaboration and information exchange through a closed Teams network. Available to council staff only. Request to join
  
• Learning and Development Network: Online forum focusing on staff training, capability building, leadership development and organisational learning. Request to join
• Records Network: An online platform for council staff who maintain records. Available to council staff only. Request to join
• Workforce Development Network: Online forum focusing on workforce planning, talent attraction and retention, skills and career development needs to address long-term workforce challenges. Opt in to join

Environment

• Asbestos Network: Designed to connect all council staff involved in asbestos management and regulation to share information, resources, and best practice. The network meets on a monthly basis. Opt in to join
• Biodiversity Network: For NSW council staff and councillors to share information and discuss current issues affecting biodiversity. Opt in to join
• Climate Action Professional Officers' Group: CAPOG is a collaboration between local government staff, LGNSW and the Department of Planning and Environment on climate change adaptation and net zero emissions. The network meets quarterly. Opt in to join
• Circular Economy Network: An online knowledge sharing forum, primarily for council staff, where participants can learn about and discuss circular economy implementation. Opt in to join
• Companion Animals Network: An exclusive forum for council staff to connect, share information and discuss local government issues around the regulation and management of companion animals. Opt in to join
• Contaminated Land Network: To support informed decision-making by those involved in contaminated land management. Primarily a network for staff in councils, it is also open to state and federal government staff. Opt in to join
• Councils Managing Contaminated Land Together (CMCLT) Support Group: This group is for council staff responsible for preparing or updating, adopting and embedding a contaminated land policy and procedures within council. It is a special network formed subsidiary to the main Contaminated Land (CL) Network. It is focused on providing more in-depth assistance to those preparing contaminated policies and procedures in their councils. The group will meet every second month (one hour online) until end of June 2025. Opt in to join
• Environmental Health Network: For NSW council environmental health professionals to connect, share knowledge, and collaborate on sector priorities. Members can discuss emerging issues, exchange skills and experiences, and contribute to joint advocacy. Opt in to join
• Flying Fox Network: Enables NSW council staff to share information and discuss issues affecting flying fox management including camp and foraging habitat restoration and community engagement and education. Opt in to join
• Growing Greener Network: If tree planting, planning and management is part of your role, then consider joining. We also cover green infrastructure (walls, roofs) and urban heat mitigation. Opt in to join
• Invasive Species Network: For local government staff involved in managing invasive species (weeds, pest animals) to connect, share information and discuss issues affecting local government. Opt in to join
• Natural Resource Management Network: Enables NSW council staff and councillors to share information and discuss issues affecting natural resource management. Opt in to join
• Koala Management Network: For NSW council staff and councillors to share information and discuss issues affecting koala management. Opt in to join
• Public Spaces Unattended Property (PSUP) Network: Exclusively for council staff involved in implementing the Public Spaces (Unattended Property) Act 2021 (PSUP Act) to connect, share information and discuss local government issues around the regulation and management of unattended property (shopping trolleys, e-bikes, vehicles etc). Opt in to join
• Sustainability Network: SustainableNet is a Local Government NSW initiative designed to promote the issue of sustainability in councils throughout NSW. Opt in to join

Planning

• Affordable Housing Network: Enables council staff to connect, share information and discuss local government issues around the planning, provision and access to affordable housing opportunities locally. Any councils considering developing an Affordable Housing Contributions Scheme could particularly benefit from the ability to communicate different approaches and ideas. Available to council staff only. Request to join
• Building and Fire Safety Network: Coordinated by LGNSW’s Planning Team, the network promotes collaboration and information sharing on building regulation, fire safety and related issues. Available to council staff only. Request to join
• Caravan Parks Network: For council staff to connect, share information and discuss issues around the regulation and management of caravan parks and related issues such as manufactured home estates. Available to council employees only. Request to join
• Heritage Specialists Network: This network is for council employed heritage specialists to connect and collaborate, share information, discuss policy and advocacy responses and build sector support for council heritage staff. Available to council employees only. Request to join
• LGNSW Planning Network: Coordinated by LGNSW’s Planning Team, the network promotes collaboration and information sharing on land use planning and related issues. Available to council staff only. Request to join
• LGNSW Planning Portal User Network: Coordinated by LGNSW’s Planning Team, the network is an online forum available to council staff who are involved in administering and using the NSW Planning Portal on a day-to-day basis. Members can collaborate and share information on their Planning Portal user experiences and will benefit from the collective expertise of others in local government. Request to join

Social & Community Networks

• Ageing and Disability Network: An online forum designed to connect council staff involved in ageing and disability to share information, resources, and best practice regarding service planning and provision. Opt in to join
• Arts and Culture Network: Enables council staff to connect, share information and discuss arts and culture. Available to council staff only. Opt in to join
• Cemeteries Network: For council staff to connect with peers, share best practice examples and build a network of industry contacts. The network will discuss the new Interment Industry Scheme, as well as any other issues that may arise for the local government sector. This network is online only. Opt in to join
• Council CHSP Providers Network: The Council Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) Providers Network enables council staff to connect with peers to collaborate on aged care reforms and share knowledge and best practice. Request to join
• Coastal Safety Group: An online forum for facilitating collaborative, effective and consistent evidence-based approaches to coastal safety risk management across all NSW Coastal Councils. Opt in to join
• Community Safety and Crime Prevention Network: For stakeholders who have an interest in improving community safety and reducing and preventing crime. The group promotes partnership and advocacy opportunities, as well crime prevention practice and research information sharing. Request to join
• LG Primary Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Network: This network provides an online forum to connect council officers who are looking to strengthen their response to primary prevention of domestic, family and sexual violence. It aims to connect peers to share information, collaborate, and discuss challenges in developing and delivering policies and programs that prevent violence before it occurs. Request to join
• Economic Development Network: A forum for council staff working to promote sustainable economic development for the benefit of their local communities. Opt in to join
• Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery Network: An online forum to connect council officers working in Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery. Councils looking to contribute to upcoming important consultations on the State Disaster Mitigation Plan and the revised State Recovery Plan would benefit greatly from joining this network. Opt in to join
• Family Day Care Network: Enables council staff to connect with peers to collaborate on sector reforms and share knowledge and best practice. Request to join
• Multicultural Network: Connect with peers, build a network of industry contacts, share knowledge and discuss issues affecting multicultural communities across NSW. Meetings are held monthly. Request to join
• Night Time Economy Network: Helps councils foster safe, sustainable and vibrant night economies in their local communities. Opt in to join
• Special Entertainment Precinct Network: This network (SEP) supports councils in establishing, operating and monitoring SEPs. This dedicated online forum enables ongoing communication between councils and acts as a collaborative learning platform to address common challenges and share resources. Available to council staff only. Request to join
• Swimming Pool Network: An online forum for council staff to raise a whole range of topics related to swimming pools including (but not limited to) asset management, operation and maintenance, staffing, supervision, programs, water quality, safety, access, development, community engagement and resourcing. Opt in to join
• Social Planners Network: An online platform for council staff to connect with other social planners at councils in NSW, ask questions, share knowledge, and discuss social planning issues for local government. This network is online only. Request to join