Member Benefits & Services

Information, advice and support

• Confidential telephone and face-to-face advice and support from experienced current and former councillors, Mayors and CEOs
• We are the only body to specialise in democratic governance
• We assist councillors, community leaders and council staff to work more effectively together
• Regular e-news updates from our President keeping you in the loop on current issues
• As a member you will receive invitations to all our events: regular Leading Edge Forums, learning and development workshops, briefings and celebrations
• Members receive discounts for VLGA learning and development workshops and briefings held on topical issues as they arise

Advocacy - we 'stick our neck out'

• Uniquely, VLGA represents the interest of councillors, community leaders and community members
• We ‘stick our neck out’ and advocate for our members’ interests
• We strive to improve community respect for councillors and community leaders by putting some balance into media debates

Your input influences policy!

• VLGA runs regular surveys seeking members' views on policy
• 'Bottom-up' governance - our Working Groups involve councillors, community leaders and council staff providing strong member input making decisions and recommendations to the Board
• Our Board is broad-based both geographically and politically; members are from rural and regional, interface and metropolitan areas and from a wide range of (or no) political affiliations
• Members are entitled to vote in the biennial Board Elections

At the leading edge

• We run regular Leading Edge Forums (LEFs) providing new ideas and debate on current issues 
• We take the lead on issues such as councillor working conditions, learning and development, remuneration, consultation and engagement, governance and support for community leaders
• Rather than duplicate, we support the important corporate governance work of other peak bodies such as the MAV and LGPro
• Our Essential Mayors Weekend training for new Mayors is unique in Australia and supported by an ongoing Alumni Association, The Mayoral Chain
• We tailor learning and development courses for individual local governments and other community needs. See VLGA Training

Contact

Resource Officer
Sarah Colgan
T: +61 3 9349 7983
E: Send Email