The LSA Values Awards give staff the opportunity to nominate and recognise individuals or teams who have demonstrated one or more of the LSA’s Values of People & Passion, Trust & Respect, Innovation & Growth.
In 2024, staff submitted 47 nominations for their peers which were reviewed and assessed by a Selection Panel consisting of five staff members from across the organisation. LSA Board members presented seven awards to the deserving winners at our final all-staff meeting for 2024.
Learn more about the winners below.
People & Passion Award: Tamara Wheaton
Tamara has promoted professional development through workshops, team presentations and leading complex participant discussions. Her respectful approach in difficult conversations and active role in the LSA’s Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group highlights her genuine care and purpose-driven mindset.
People & Passion Team Award: Participant Support Team
The Participant Support Team build authentic relationships with both staff and participants, managing interactions with respect and care. They have embraced structural changes to play an even greater role in participant support including assisting in planning visits to regional areas.
Trust & Respect Award: Nicole Brown
Nicole has taken responsibility for tasks above and beyond her role to meet staff and participant needs. Her honest, kind and accountable leadership qualities foster a supportive team environment, characterised by open communication and mutual respect.
Trust & Respect Team Award: Human Resources Team
The Human Resources Team showed exemplary teamwork to support one another during a time of high workload, and transparently communicated their limitations to internal stakeholders whilst striving to meet tight deadlines. This year they navigated the implementation of a new system, legislative changes and managed multiple recruitment processes simultaneously, to provide outstanding support across the business.
Innovation & Growth Award: Priyank Desai
Priyank’s commitment and determination are evidenced by working tirelessly to resolve issues and support the business throughout the Salesforce implementation. By challenging traditional processes, he has encouraged others to approach tasks differently, fostering a culture of learning and empowerment.
Innovation & Growth Team Award: Salesforce Operations Team and Subject Matter Experts
This team effectively prioritises tasks to maximise business value amidst numerous requests from across the organisation. Their innovative approach to streamline workflows and implement an agile delivery model, has enabled the LSA to quickly address evolving business needs.
The LSA’s Making a Difference Award: Erin Hamilton
This award recognises an individual who has exemplified the public sector purpose to make a difference so South Australia thrives through their role and service to the community. Erin’s dedication, expertise and compassionate approach has positively impacted both her team and participants. Her willingness to step into new challenges, collaborate across the business, and problem-solve demonstrates her commitment to service excellence.
The LSA (Loyalty, Support, Attitude) Award: Chris Materne
The inaugural LSA Award winner is selected by the Executive Team. Chris provides seamless support to staff, managers and the Executive team always showing kindness and respect. She can be relied upon to consistently demonstrate a positive attitude, especially in a high-pressure environment and during peak workloads.
