Professional Development & Programs
Advocacy, Stakeholder Engagement & Policy
As a peak body for local government, the VLGA gives member councils a voice through regular meetings with key government departments, the Minister for Local Government, portfolio ministers and their advisors.
The VLGA is a consultative organisation with a strong focus on supporting our members and forming collaborative partnerships to deliver our programs. We embrace the opportunity to connect with councils and councillors from all parts of Victoria and beyond and work collaboratively with policy makers and integrity agencies whose work impacts upon the local government sector – such as IBAC, Local Government Victoria (LGV), the Municipal Inspectorate, the Victorian Auditor General, the Victorian Ombudsman and the VEC – and other peak bodies, such as LGPro Vic and the MAV, to deliver programs and services the focus on relevant and time critical matters before the sector.
External Committees
As a peak body for local government, the VLGA represents and advocates on behalf of its membership in a number of policy and stakeholder working groups including but not limited to:
Local Government Act 2020 Project Control Board
Department of Jobs & Regional Precincts (DJCS) COVID-19 Local Government Roundtable
Essential Services Commission Engagement & Performance Technical Working Groups (Rate Capping)
The Local Government Performance Reporting Framework (LGPRF) Steering Committee
Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability’s Reference Group
Ministerial Gender Equality Advisory Committee
Stakeholder Reference Group – Officers for the Protection of the Local Environment
Rural and Regional Councils Sustainability Steering Group
The VLGA Value Proposition
The Victorian Local Governance Association is an independent (non-partisan) governance organisation supporting councils and councillors in achieving the highest standards of governance on behalf of their communities.
Our overriding value is to strengthen and support good governance in local government that will enable, promote and facilitate trust and confidence in the sector.
We create value in the following ways.
- We marshal thought leadership for the sector across a wide variety of topics;
- We present high calibre panels of professionals, agency leaders and senior bureaucrats and Ministers in areas relevant to the sector;
- We facilitate highly relevant discussions on complex issues which are readily accessible to all;
- We are agile and adapt our service offering to meet the needs of our member organisations;
- We advocate and represent the position of local government to other levels of government;
- We are engaged (and sought after) as a peak body – the independent local government governance organisation -to participate in forums, think tanks, advisory committees convened by government, academic institutions and other lead agencies;
- We provide resources, information, professional development and education and undertake projects and events that support good governance and leadership;
- We deliver funded programs which meet the strategic priorities of the government of the day;
- We advocate for participation in local democracy that is inclusive and represents the diversity of the community and deliver programs that build the capacity of candidates and councillors.
Are you interested in local government?
For more than 30 years the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA) has been a representative voice for its members, as well as a key provider of training and professional skills development.
Our training focuses on enhancing councillor capabilities and ensuring elected representatives are well equipped to represent their communities.