Meet Charli: Executive Assistant

Charli: Executive Assistant at the Rural City of Murray Bridge.

"That’s one of the great things about council – there are opportunities to jump into different roles and try them out."

While I was deciding what to study after finishing high school, I started working with the council in our Customer Support Team, Regional Art Gallery and Visitor Information Centre.

When our EA to the General Manager Community Development went away on leave, I got the opportunity to act in their EA role and discovered a love for this work. That’s one of the great things about council – there are opportunities to jump into different roles and try them out.

I enjoy the fast-paced and forever-changing nature of my role. I love that I get to work closely with the leadership team and be part of decision making. Knowing that my efforts contribute to the efficiency and success of the team is incredibly fulfilling. I find real enjoyment in being able to make someone else’s day a little easier.

New opportunities or challenges are always presenting themselves, helping me to grow personally and professionally. I’ve learned many valuable skills working here, including document management, stakeholder engagement, event planning, project management, time management, networking, legislative awareness and more.

"I think the long-term impact we have on the community is amazing, and we provide people with a better lifestyle, which is very rewarding."

I’m responsible for managing schedules, coordinating meetings and handling communications. My role contributes to an improved quality of life for the community by ensuring that the Rural City of Murray Bridge operates smoothly and can meet the demands and expectations of its residents. For example, I coordinate meetings like the Community Advisory Committee, which gives community members a forum for sharing their concerns and opinions.

I think the long-term impact we have on the community is amazing, and we provide people with a better lifestyle, which is very rewarding.

Through professional development, support and encouragement, I have now been afforded the opportunity to work as Murraylands Skills Centre Site Coordinator for 3 months. This will provide me with a new wealth of knowledge to take back to my substantive role.

We have a very supportive team here, in both our group of EAs and leadership. With that support and encouragement, me and a colleague have started studying MBAs. There are so many career opportunities waiting to be explored, far beyond what you might initially envision.