2026 council elections education program
This program will make sure councils and elected members have the tools, knowledge and resources for a smooth and consistent election cycle.
Who this is for
Council staff preparing for the 2026 council elections, candidates seeking to nominate and council members accessing training post the election.
What's being delivered
- Consistent, high-quality candidate education materials (in-person and online).
- Governance tools and training for council staff to support election processes.
- Three mandatory induction sessions delivered at regional hubs at no cost to councils.
- Online tools and resources to support ongoing elected member development.
About the project
This project aims to improve education and support for candidates, newly elected members and council staff.
The program will:
- enhance the quality and delivery of candidate education, including improved in-person sessions and online content
- provide councils with updated governance policies and guidelines to prepare for elections
- deliver three mandatory council member induction sessions at no cost to councils
- promote regional collaboration by hosting training sessions in shared hubs
- supplement in-person learning with online tools and resources.
The program will also help improve candidates’ and elected members’ understanding of their roles, responsibilities and expected behaviours.
Partnerships
LGA is delivering this campaign in partnership with:
- LG Professionals SA
- Electoral Commission of South Australia (ECSA)
- Local government leaders with council election expertise.
Project funding
This project is funded through the Local Government Research and Development Scheme.
This scheme allocates funding to projects that support the development of SA local government. Successful applicants are decided through an annual grant round.
Project progress, December 2025
- Project Plan Finalised: Election Education project plan completed with key milestones set.
- Working Group Established: LGA 2026 Elections Working Group formed.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Engagement plan developed and incorporated into the project plan.
- Recruitment Completed: Learning Specialist appointed.
- Training Standards Submitted: Revised LGA Mandatory Training Standards sent to the Minister for approval in November 2025.
- Candidate Resources Reviewed: Updated Nominations Information booklet prepared for release in March 2026.
- Pre-Election Training Commenced: Initial sessions delivered for council staff on Election Project Planning; further sessions scheduled.
- Collaboration Established: Working agreement developed with Electoral Commission and LGA for a coordinated approach.
Find out more
If you have any questions about this project or the Research and Development Scheme, please contact:
Mathilde Thorsen
Senior Projects and Grants Coordinator
Email: mathilde.thorsen@lga.sa.gov.au