Online training for candidates

Horsham Rural City Council is encouraging people to put their hand up to stand for the council at this year’s October election.

Council chief executive Sunil Bhalla said with less than six months to the next election, it was important prospective candidates had the information and support they needed.

“HRCC has many opportunities for great achievements ahead and like other municipalities, there will be challenges to navigate and significant decisions to be made to guide the future directions of our municipality,” he said.

“Standing for council is the ultimate way to be part of that essential decision making for our community.”

Victorian Local Government Association, VLGA, is offering online training opportunities for council candidates.

The council and VLGA will host a 1.5-hour pre-candidate information session at 5.30pm on May 28. Other information and registration details are available on the council’s website.

Closer to the election, candidates will need to complete separate training, mandatory for all people running for local government. Special training for female candidates is also available.

The Local Women Leading Change candidate training program, supported by the State Government, consists of two modules, Local Government 101 and Candidate Development.

These modules will be available by video and supported by interactive Zoom workshops, in response to COVID-19 restrictions.

The ‘Local Government 101’ videos are live on the VLGA website, www.vlga.org.au/advocacy/ womens-policy/online-workshops. The VLGA is also producing a weekly Local Women Leading Change Podcast, where women can explore aspects of local government elections in detail.

The Horsham council is urging anyone interested in learning more about being a councillor and the work of local government to register for the online workshop, watch the VLGA videos and listen to the weekly podcasts.