2024 Council elections

All candidates must complete Local Government Candidate Training before they are able to nominate.

You must complete the training before formally nominating as a candidate.

You can find out more and take the course by clicking on the image below:

Information sessions are a great way for candidate to learn about what is involved in being a Councillor.

Details regarding information sessions will be listed below:

Municipal Association of Victoria Stand for Council sessions

Delivered in line with Victorian Electoral Commission, the Municipal Association of Victoria's Stand for Council program enables potential candidates to learn about:

• Local government and the important role councils play for our local communities
• The role and responsibility of a Councillor, Mayor, Deputy Mayor and CEO
• The election process and candidate requirements
• What newly elected councillors can expect soon after the elections
• Councillor training and development opportunities.

An in-person session will be held at the Swan Hill Town Hall on Wednesday, 7 August from 6.30pm-8.30pm.

The MAV is also hosting a Stand for Council sessions specific to First Nations people, young people and women during May and June. 

For more information about the Stand for Council program and to register for any of these sessions, please click on the image below.

Congratulations - You have completed your compulsory candidate training and attended an information session; now it is the time to nominate.

Nominations will be accepted between 9am Monday, 9 September and 12 noon Tuesday, 17 September.

Information regarding nominating can be found on the Victorian Electoral Commission website, which you can access by clicking on the image below:

Various groups and organisations have developed resources for people considering standing for Council:

Victorian Local Governance Association Local Women Leading Change campaign

The Victorian Local Governance Association actively works to increase women’s participation in local governments as citizens, candidates and councillors, with the aim of 50 per cent of Victoria's Councillors and Mayors to be women by 2025.

To assist the VLGA's goal, various resources are available that can assist women considering standing for Council. This includes online training and campaign toolkits.

For more information and to access these resources, please click on the image below.