Pre-election candidate information session

The content will include:

• The benefits and importance of Local Government
• Understanding the role of Council, the role of the Councillor and Mayor
• A typical council structure
• Challenges of the role and how to meet them
• The importance of diverse representation on Council
• Representing community representation, speaking on key issues and how to do this confidently
• Meeting procedures and rules of debate
• Support available including information, networks and professional development
• Introduction to local government jargon and what it means
• Putting it together: making the commitment
• Q&A. 

At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

• Identify the key requirements for becoming a candidate
• Identify the legislated role of a councillor, mayor and as a member of the governing body
• Recognise how the councillor role fits in with other roles and various levels of government
• Address their key expectations and potential challenges in becoming a councillor
• Understand a councillor’s and council role fits in with the local government  Integrated Planning and Reporting framework
• Identify key elements of council meetings, code of conduct and conflict of interest.

Jenny Dowell OAM is an experienced facilitator, educator, mentor, and previous elected member for 12 years and Mayor for 2 terms.  Jenny has delivered councillor professional development training for LGNSW for the past 8 years and held the role as a Mayor Mentor since 2016.   Before her entry into local government, Jenny was a teacher of deaf and hearing-impaired children and heavily involved in community organisations.