Council Member Essentials 2027: plan your mandatory training with LGA
LGA’s Council Member Essentials Program is purpose-designed for South Australian local government and meets the mandatory requirements within the 2026 LGA Training Standards for Council Members.
The Council Member Essentials is more than a compliance exercise. It is designed specifically for the local government environment, combining practical council scenarios, leadership development, governance knowledge and strategic insights.
LGA’s facilitators bring experience across local government, governance, leadership, financial management and organisational change.
The program covers five core areas:
- Module 1: Working Together – building effective working relationships between council members, the CEO and administration
- Building Local Leaders Forum – two free modules including Module 2: Leadership on Council – understanding the role and responsibilities of council members, and Module 3: Effective Council Meetings – building practical knowledge of governance, meeting procedures and decision-making.
- Module 4: Strategic Planning and Effective Financial Management – understanding strategic planning, financial management, risk and oversight
- Module 5: Strengthening Leadership Skills – developing communication, strategic thinking and leadership skills for complex council environments
Training that works for your council
Council Member Essentials can be delivered through scheduled sessions or tailored in-house workshops.
Modules can be booked at a time, date and location that suits your council, with facilitators connecting with councils ahead of each session to understand their context and training needs.
This gives councils the flexibility to build a training program that works for their elected members while meeting mandatory training requirements.
Start planning for 2027
Give your new council a strong start with training designed specifically for South Australian local government.
To discuss your council member’s training needs or arrange a tailored session, contact LGA Training team at training@lga.sa.gov.au.