Local Government Candidate Training

Ever thought about becoming a Councillor? Councillors shape the future of the local area by helping form strategies, policies and plans to achieve the vision for the local area and meeting the needs of local communities. Now’s your time to shine with the upcoming Council elections occurring later this year. 

In order to nominate for Council, each candidate must undertake Local Government Candidate Training, and report it’s completion to the Victorian Electoral Committee (VEC). 

The candidate training – introduced in the Local Government Act 2020 – has been updated by Local Government Victoria to better equip and prepare candidates who are prospective first-term councillors. The training will help candidates understand the role of a councillor and what it requires before nominating. The training also serves as a refresher for more experienced councillors.

The training takes around an hour to complete and includes information on:

• eligibility requirements for candidates
• the role of a council
• the role of a councillor, including greater emphasis on the strategic nature of the role and the time commitment required
• how councils make decisions
• updated information on governance and integrity requirements including personal interest, conflicts of interest, confidentiality, and conduct expected of councillors
• support available to help incoming councillors perform their role.

Candidate nominations for elections will open on September 9 and close on September 17 2024 – so it’s a good idea for candidates to complete the training before nominations open. 

This training is compulsory for all candidates. 

To learn more or get started, click on the button below.