Don't stay on the sidelines - find out what it takes to stand for council
LGA South Australia has developed an official suite of free Stand For Council training materials to help people understand how local government works, who can nominate, the roles of Mayors and Councillors and how council decisions are made.
Available on the LGA and Electoral Commission SA’s councilelections.sa.gov.au website, the five interactive online courses take around 15 minutes each to complete and can be worked through at any time and at the learner’s own pace.
LGA President, Mayor Heather Holmes-Ross said the training was an accessible starting point for anyone considering having a greater say in their community.
“This free, online training provided by LGA and supported by the Minister for Local Government will help South Australians explore whether standing for council is right for them,” Mayor Holmes-Ross said.
“We’re already seeing people across the state signal their intention to stand in the upcoming council elections, with nominations formally opening on 26 January. If you’ve ever considered running, now is a great time to start exploring what’s involved.
“The Stand For Council online training starts with a simple checklist of leadership qualities and skills, helping people identify the transferable skills they already have and the experience they could bring to the role.
“Some people might think they need a degree, professional qualification or political career to become a Mayor or Councillor, but that’s not the case.
“What matters is caring about your community, wanting to help shape its future, and being willing to listen and learn. If you want to have a greater say, this free training can help you understand the steps to do that.
“I’d also encourage prospective candidates to head along to your next local council meeting, sit in the public gallery, observe how things run and get a feel for proceedings to help decide if it’s something you could see yourself being part of and contributing to.”
Local Government Minister, the Hon Rhiannon Pearce MP said standing for council is an opportunity for South Australians to make a lasting difference and influence local decision-making in their own communities.
“Local democracy is a crucial part of our democratic system. It gives people a direct say in the decisions that shape their neighbourhoods, towns and cities, and helps ensure local priorities stay at the heart of local decision-making,” Minister Pearce said.
“SA councils are strongest when they reflect the communities they represent. We need people from all walks of life, with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives, to put their hands up and help shape their community’s future.
“If you want to have a say in what happens in your community, don’t just watch from the sidelines – get involved.
“I encourage anyone considering standing for council at the 2027 elections to take advantage of this free training to understand what the role involves, what to expect and how to take the next steps towards nominating.”
The free Stand For Council online training can be accessed at councilelections.sa.gov.au
Nominations for council elections open on Tuesday 26 January 2027 and close at 12:00pm Tuesday 9 February 2027.
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For media enquiries, contact media@lga.sa.gov.au