Supporting Democracy, One Electorate Office at a Time

When most people think about elections, they picture campaign launches, polling booths and election-night results. What they don't often see is the work happening behind the scenes to ensure elected representatives can begin serving their communities from day one.

For Lisa Samarzia, Manager, Electorate Services, that's where some of the most rewarding work at Treasury takes place. Her team helps establish the foundations that allow electorate offices across South Australia to operate effectively, supporting Members of Parliament and electorate office staff through one of the most significant periods of transition in public life.

From workforce and payroll support to workplace health and safety, office accommodation, budgets, inductions and operational services, the work is diverse, fast-moving and highly collaborative.

"We're often preparing months in advance," Lisa explains. "Once electoral boundaries and other election arrangements are confirmed, there's a huge amount of work that takes place behind the scenes."

For Lisa, it's this combination of complexity, purpose and people that has shaped her career.

Finding Purpose in Complex Challenges

Election periods bring unique challenges. While supporting outgoing members and their staff through uncertainty and change, the team must also prepare newly elected members and offices to become operational as quickly as possible.

"There's a lot of uncertainty, and every office is different," Lisa says. "Our role is to help people navigate that change and ensure they have the support they need."

The work requires adaptability, organisation and strong relationships. No two election cycles are exactly the same, and every transition presents new challenges to solve.

It's also a reminder that some of the most important public sector work happens out of the spotlight.

"The impact of what we do isn't always visible," Lisa says. "But when offices are set up well, staff are supported and people can focus on serving their communities, that's when you know the work has made a difference."

Her experience reflects one of the things that surprises many people about Treasury. While some assume the department is focused solely on budgets and finance, the reality is far broader, with opportunities spanning policy, digital, people and culture, customer services, project delivery, workforce services and operational leadership. Treasury employees contribute to outcomes that genuinely matter for South Australia and its communities.

Opportunity to Grow Through Meaningful Work

For Lisa, a career at Treasury has provided opportunities to take on meaningful responsibility, work across government and continuously develop professionally.

The election environment is fast-paced and often unpredictable, creating opportunities to build new skills, navigate complex issues and work with a broad range of stakeholders.

As the Electorate Services team continues to improve processes and enhance digital services, Lisa and her colleagues are helping modernise the way support is delivered while maintaining a strong focus on customer service and practical outcomes.

It's the kind of work that challenges people to think differently, solve problems and keep learning.

At Treasury, careers are built through experience, responsibility and exposure to work that has real impact. Employees are trusted with meaningful work, supported by experienced colleagues, and encouraged to grow their capability as new opportunities emerge.

Extraordinary Colleagues, Shared Purpose

Ask Lisa what stands out most about her work, and the answer isn't just the complexity of elections or the variety of challenges.

It's the people.

Supporting Members of Parliament requires collaboration across teams, disciplines and government agencies. Success depends on people working together, sharing knowledge and helping one another navigate change.

That culture of collaboration is one of the key strengths of Treasury's workforce. Employees work alongside experienced professionals from diverse backgrounds, bringing different perspectives together to solve important problems and deliver better outcomes for South Australians.

For Lisa, those relationships have been a defining part of her career journey.

The work may happen behind the scenes, but the sense of purpose is clear.

"I love the build-up to an election," she says. "Helping new members get established and ready to work for their communities is incredibly rewarding."