The Local Government Association of South Australia is funding eight new initiatives as part of a $520,000 innovation funding injection for SA councils – with two Flinders University researchers being major beneficiaries.

For the latest round of the Local Government Research and Development Scheme, grants have been awarded to tackle common challenges, fast-track solutions and unlock innovation to meet citizen demands and build stronger communities.

The latest round of grants were announced last week, with successful applications including the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences’ Associate Professor Michelle Gander to provide an SA Local Government Aboriginal Cultural Capability Toolkit ($71,686) and the College of Science and Engineering’s Emma Kuhn to provide a clandestine laboratory and methamphetamine contamination toolkit for Environmental Health Officers ($34,700).

LGA President, Mayor Dean Johnson says the latest round of projects focus on key sector priorities like homelessness and housing, climate and environment, financial sustainability, community wellbeing and inclusion and skills shortages. “These latest projects are creating lasting, positive change for our communities,” he says.