Stand for Council

Councils are the closest level of government to the community. To represent their communities successfully, they need great quality candidates to put their hand up for election.

To support potential candidates, Greater Shepparton City Council in partnership with the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV), is hosting regional-based information sessions to give potential candidates the information and inspiration they will need when considering running for Council.

Greater Shepparton City Council will be hosting a First Nations Stand for Council Community Information Session on Thursday 30 May from 5pm to 6pm at Riverlinks Eastbank, 70 Welsford Street, Shepparton.

The MAV will also be hosting several in-person and online sessions across Victoria, with interested participants able to register to attend more than one session, including outside of their municipality. Alongside the First Nations session in Shepparton, there will be three sessions held in Goulburn Ovens Murray:

• Tuesday 11 June: Goulburn Ovens Murray – Host: Strathbogie Shire Council
• Wednesday 12 June: Goulburn Ovens Murray – Host: Mitchell Shire Council
• Thursday 13 June: Goulburn Ovens Murray – Host: Wangaratta Rural City Council

To register for any of these sessions, or to find out what other sessions are being held across Victoria, visit the MAV's Stand for Council page.

What you need to know

To be a candidate for a local council election, you must:

• be an Australian citizen
• be aged 18 years of age
• be enrolled on the voters' roll for the council in which you wish to stand
• have completed the mandatory Local Government Candidate Training
• not be disqualified from being a councillor
• If the council has wards, you can be a candidate for any ward in the council.

• Requirements for becoming a local council candidate

What you need to do

The Victorian Government provides compulsory Local Government Candidate Training for all Victorians who wish to nominate as a candidate in any council elections. The training will help you understand the role and responsibilities of being a councillor. Under the Local Government Act 2020 you will not be able to nominate as a candidate unless you have completed the training.

• Mandatory candidate training requirements

Find out more

Find out more about how local government works, the election process, and upcoming information sessions on the MAV's Stand for Council page.

Additional information is available from the following resources:

• Victorian Electoral Commission
  Mandatory training is available for all Victorians who wish to nominate as a candidate in any council elections.
• Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA)
  The VLGA offers information sessions and supporting resources in the lead up to each General Election, including a toolkit which supports candidates in running a successful campaign.
• Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV)
  The MAV offers a series of professional development training for councillors and officers. Our training workshops and professional development pathways provide councillors with an enhanced understanding of their obligations, roles and responsibilities through skill enhancement and professional development pathways.
• Australian Local Government Women’s Association (ALGWA) Victorian Branch
  ALGWA aims to encourage women to participate in local government or make a career in local government. They can assist in furthering knowledge and understanding of the function of local government and to act in an advisory capacity to intending women candidates for local government election.