Interested in becoming a councillor?
Every council needs people who are enthusiastic about making a difference in their local community. If you have a passion for your community, a willingness to learn new skills and want to work with others to make a positive difference, Clarence Valley Council encourages you to consider standing for your local council. Council encourages people of all backgrounds, gender, age and ethnic identity to consider becoming a councillor. The community served by Clarence Valley Council is diverse, and this diversity should be reflected in the people elected as councillors.
Anyone who is entitled to vote at council elections in NSW is also eligible to stand for election as a councillor. Before setting off to become a councillor, ensure you are on the electoral roll for the Clarence Valley Council area and be clear that you’re not disqualified from standing for office.
For more information about becoming a councillor, including registration, nominations and the election process, visit the NSW Electoral Commission website. The Office of Local Government and Locale Learning have resources for anyone thinking of standing for election in 2024.
Candidate nominations open in July 2024, please see the NSW Electoral Commission’s website for important deadlines such as when to lodge your nomination form.
Council Briefing Sessions
Clarence Valley Council will be holding Candidate Briefing Sessions to provide those interested in becoming a Councillor an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of an elected member of Council. Sessions will be held at the below times:
- In-person session in Maclean Council Chambers (2hrs) - 5:30pm Tuesday, 2 July
- In-person session in Grafton Council Chambers (2hrs) - 5:30pm Tuesday, 16 July
- Online session (1.5hrs) - 5:30pm Wednesday, 17 July
The Office of Local Government also provides an online candidate training tool available for anyone to access via their website https://www.olg.nsw.gov.au/public/about-councils/become-a-councillor-section/information-for-candidates/
Australian Local Government Women’s Association Leadership Workshops
The Australian Local Government Women’s Association (ALGWA) NSW Branch and Women for Election will deliver workshops covering leadership skills, how to run a successful campaign as well as the roles and responsibilities of elected councillors.
ALGWA NSW Branch President, Councillor Penny Pedersen said ALGWA’s forums introduce women, many of them already leaders in our community organisations, to elected women councillors, who can pass on the detail of their election journey and the importance of their role in local government.
"The workshops will be delivered by women with lived experience as political candidates, as well as facilitators who have served or worked in local government."
Follow this link to learn more
Register for Candidate Information Sessions
Registrations are now open for Clarence Valley Council’s Candidate Information sessions. Please contact our Executive Support team at executivesupport@clarence.nsw.gov.auor on 6643 0200 to register your attendance.