Local Government Fact Sheets

A community is a group of people who are linked in some way. They might live in the same area or share the same interests, ideas or beliefs. Some communities are made up of people who work together, and others are formed by people who go to the same school or do the same activities. It is common for people in a community to regularly talk to and support one another.

There are many kinds of communities, and you are part of a few, even though you might not know it. Some examples of communities are:

• Families
• Schools and school classes
• Volunteer groups
• Clubs, bands, and groups that meet for a common reason like music, sport, or art
• Neighbours
• People who work together or in similar jobs
• Business groups
• Religious groups
• Online forums or chat groups
• People who share a cultural and/or ethnic background.

Community is a term used in to describe the entire population of a council area which is made up of many different local and shared interest groups and individuals.

Communities engage with their local government in different ways, using the services and facilities provided and talking about the local area and what changes could improve the community.

One of the opportunities for local councils is listening and responding to the many different voices in the community. Councils work hard to talk to the community, listen and act on what matters to them. Councils need to think not just about current community needs, but also future needs. A sense of community is a feeling we have when we are supported, listened to, and valued. Councils work hard to improve a sense of community by listening and acting on the community’s feedback.

Getting involved in your local community can help make you feel a sense of community. When your beliefs and values grow stronger, and you are motivated and optimistic, you can feel good about communicating your ideas with others. Councils have a range of ways you can connect with others, get involved and make a difference in your local area.

Download the What is local community? fact sheet

References:

‘Community’, Merriam-Webster, Jan 2024. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/community

Local Government Association SA

In Australia, there are three levels of government, and each level has different responsibilities. The three levels are:

• Federal Government – There is one federal government, made up of several parts. It looks after the whole country.
• State or Territory Governments – State or Territory Governments look after one state or territory. Our state government looks after the state of South Australia.
• Local Governments – Local government is the closest level of government to the community. There are over 500 local government bodies in Australia. Each one looks after a particular local government area. In South Australia we normally refer to these areas as council areas. There are 68 councils in South Australia. These areas are drawn on a map so you can see what council area you live in.

While each level of government works differently and has different powers, each has an important role. They work together to govern and provide services to the community. Councils have important knowledge about the needs of their local area and rely on state and federal government to also support local communities.

In South Australia, the Local Government Act 1999 is the law that guides how councils are established, their role and responsibilities.

Each council is made up of elected members and council staff. Elected members are also known as councillors. Council staff are also known as council employees.

The elected council is made of council members, including councillors and a mayor. The elected council are voted in by their local community in a council election. Elections typically occur every four years. The elected councillors and mayor must follow laws and rules about how they act and work with the local community.

The councillors serve the community by listening to diverse local voices and represent what is in the best interest for the whole community. This means they must make sure they are well informed on any issues affecting the local community. They need to understand the facts on important issues, listen and speak with people in the community, discuss and debate issues at council meetings. They also take part in many public activities and council events.

The mayor also takes part in these same activities. However, their main task is to lead and guide the council. They promote positive working relationships among councillors, ensure council debate is respectful, and make responsible decisions. The mayor works closely with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) between council meetings and is the main spokesperson for council.

The elected council, which comprises mayor and councillors, is responsible for employing just one person – the CEO. The CEO is responsible for employing, leading and managing staff known as council employees. The CEO and council employees need to follow laws and act in the best interest of the community.

Download The structure of local government fact sheet

References:

‘Three levels of government’, Parliamentary Education Office, Jan 2024. https://peo.gov.au/understand-our-parliament/how-parliament-works/three-levels-of-government

‘How councils work’, Local Government Association of South Australia, Jan 2024. https://www.councilelections.sa.gov.au/about/councils

Local Government Association of SA

Local government is the level of government that works most closely with you and your local community. They look after the different areas that people live in. The areas are known as councils, and each can differ in size, resources, and population. What all local governments have in common is their role to govern and manage the local area.

The main role of council is to provide services and facilities for local communities, improve the quality of life for people in the council area and act in the best interests of both current and future communities.

Local government makes regular decisions on local issues. There are many ways they engage their community. This can include running public meetings, local events and opportunities for people to have a say on on local topics. The local community has opportunities to speak during public meetings or give feedback at other times about what they need, what problems they think the community has and how it can be improved.

The role of local governments is to look after the things that make our community a welcoming, vibrant and safe place to live, work or visit. By law, councils must provide the following services and facilities:

• Waste collection
• Zoning, planning and building safety
• Fire prevention and hazard management
• Dog and cat management and control
• Parking control
• Public health and food inspection

Councils have a big impact on the lives of local people. Councils offer many more services tailored to community needs such as:

• Neighbourhood libraries and information services
• Bike paths and walking trails
• Community centres and learning resources
• Recycling services
• Local arts, festivals and culture events
• Community programs
• Aged care and childcare facilities
• Local swimming pools, sport and recreation facilities
• Local public community health and wellbeing services
• Local parks, nature reserves and playground facilities
• Planning, building, signage and advertising
• Roads, paths and transport in the locality
• Local environment protection and sustainability initiatives
• Local youth events and programs
• Tourism and visitor attractions
• Emergency management support
• Local laws, permits and licences

Councils also regularly talk to other local government and state government bodies. They discuss issues which might have an impact on multiple council areas. These issues include topics like public transport and roads, housing, the environment and community health issues.

Councils do have some limits in what they can do. Money and staff resources can greatly affect a council’s ability to initiate new programs. The income of a council comes from several different places, including:

• collecting council rates from their community members. This is an amount of money that is collected from households and businesses in the council area. Rates are the main source of council income.
• collecting money from fees and charges, such as hire costs or fines.
• receiving funding from state and federal government for specific projects or services.

Councils put this money back into the community by:

• paying their staff to provide the services and facilities for the community
• developing new buildings or delivering new community programs
• buying necessary goods like machinery to maintain local areas
• paying for local maintenance.

Larger councils typically have more monetary and staff resources and may find it easier to put into place new projects or services.

Download the The role of local government fact sheet

References:

‘Local Government’, Legal Services Commission SA, Jan 2024, https://lawhandbook.sa.gov.au/print/ch28s01.php#:~:text=Council%20activities%20include%20waste%20management,District%2C%20Town%20or%20City%20Councils.

‘The Roles and Responsibilities of Federal, State and Local Government’, Parliament of NSW, Jan 2024, https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/about/Pages/The-Roles-and-Responsibilities-of-Federal-State-a.aspx#:~:text=Local%20Councils%20are%20concerned%20with,disposal%2C%20and%20many%20community%20services.

Download the Making decisions and laws fact sheet

References:

‘Local Government’, Legal Services Commission SA, Jan 2024, https://lawhandbook.sa.gov.au/print/ch28s01.php#:~:text=Council%20activities%20include%20waste%20management,District%2C%20Town%20or%20City%20Councils.

‘Local Government Act 1999’, Jan 2024, https://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/__legislation/lz/c/a/local%20government%20act%201999/current/1999.62.auth.pdf

How Councils Work’, Local Councils SA, Jan 2024, https://www.localcouncils.sa.gov.au/how-councils-work

Council candidates put their names forward to run for election. The successful candidates are decided by the community through council elections. These elections are typically held every 4 years. Sometimes, between these elections a councillor might need to leave the role, which means a supplementary election occurs to fill the gap. This kind of election happens any time a place becomes available on the board.

Unlike state and federal elections, voting is not compulsory in council elections. This means community members do not currently have to vote in them. However, voting in local council elections is an important way that community members can positively impact their neighbourhood.

Once you turn 16, you can enrol to vote although you will not be able to formally vote until you turn 18. To enrol, you can visit the website of the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC). The AEC provides a step-by-step guided process which, once complete, enables you to vote in any election. The AEC runs federal elections, and when you have enrolled to vote your voting details are also shared with your local electoral commission. For us in South Australia, that is the Electoral Commission of South Australia (ECSA). ECSA run both our state and local government elections.

In council elections, voting is open to most people living and working in the council area and who are old enough to vote.

Local council websites show key information about current and past council elections. During the lead-up to an election they provide information on each candidate, their activities, and their interests. This information can help you can decide who you want to win a place in the council.

Download the Elections and candidates fact sheet

References:

‘Council candidates’, Electoral Commission South Australia, Jan 2024, https://www.ecsa.sa.gov.au/parties-and-candidates/council-candidates

‘Check my enrolment’, Australian Electoral Commission, Jan 2024, https://check.aec.gov.au/

‘Voting in Council Elections’, Local Government Association of SA, Jan 2024, https://www.councilelections.sa.gov.au/vote/voting-in-council-elections

Local government council elections are held every four years. The elections enable every eligible person to vote on who they want in their elected council. Local government elections have different criteria than state elections. To be eligible to vote in a local election you should be 18 years or older and fall into at least one of these categories:

• live within that council area
• own property within the council area
• own a business within that council area
• be a temporary resident (people who are not Australian citizens) living within the council area for more than 30 days.

Once you have worked out your eligibility, you can then enrol to vote. This requires you to provide your current address so that the Electoral Commission know you are voting inside your own council area. Many people simply enrol through the Australian Electoral Commission which ensures they are enrolled for federal, state and local elections. However, for temporary residents, they will need to enrol for their local government election specifically.

Once you are enrolled, and when it is time to vote, you will receive a ballot pack in the post which contains everything you need to vote in your local council election. Inside the pack you will find:

• a guide to voting
• information about the candidates
• a coloured ballot paper, which you use to vote for a council member
• a white ballot paper, which you use to vote for the mayor of the council
• a ballot paper envelope for your ballot papers to go in once they are completed
• a reply-paid envelope to send your ballot papers back in the post.

Ballot papers have empty boxes next to the names of the people you can vote for. Write 1 in the box next to the name of the person you want the most. Pick your second favourite and write 2 in the box next to their name. Keep picking until you have the required number of boxes filled according to your voting guide. Alternatively, you can continue numbering until every box is filled. Each box you fill out must have a different number as you cannot rank candidates with the same number.

Fold your ballot papers in half and put them in the ballot paper envelope. Seal the envelope, fill in the declaration with your details and sign it. After this, seal it inside the reply-paid envelope. You do not need a stamp for this envelope, you can mail it right away at a mailbox or post office. You can also take your papers inside the ballot paper envelope to your local council office, where they will have a ballot box you can put the envelope in. If you speak a language other than English or have issues hearing or speaking, you can get in touch with the ECSA for help to vote.

Download the How to vote in local government fact sheet

References:

‘Voting in council elections’, Local Government Association of SA, Jan 2024, https://www.councilelections.sa.gov.au/vote/voting-in-council-elections

‘How to vote in council elections’, Electoral Commission South Australia, Jan 2024, https://ecsa.easyread.com.au/how-to-vote-in-council-elections/

Local governments need their communities to speak out about the issues and concerns they have as residents of the area. Having your say on matters you’re passionate about is one way you can help effect change in the community you live in. Young people are not only residents of the community, but they are also the future of the community.

When you have a question, concern or suggestion about your community, environment, safety, or access, you have the right to speak up and be heard. Councils frequently ask for community feedback on a range of issues and projects. As a young person, you can get involved in different ways. These include:

• directly contacting a councillor or the mayor
• participating in community consultation
• starting a petition
• giving a deputation
• joining a youth committee.

If you meet the age criteria you could also:

• vote in your local election
• run as a candidate for the council.

If you have a topic of concern that you feel your council has a responsibility to act on, you can talk to the elected council directly in a council meeting by submitting a deputation request. If consent is given, you can speak at the next council meeting about your concern. Details of how to make a deputation are up to each local government.

Some councils have Youth Advisory Committees (YACs), which are committees of young people that will meet regularly to discuss youth issues. These committees represent the young people of the community and present their issues to the council. You can check online if your local government has a Youth Advisory Committee that you can join or contact.

If you do not have a YAC in your council, you can always suggest your council starts one. Your local government is always looking for more ways to engage with young people and work with you. There are also events and groups available for you to join that you can find online or by asking your local council. Meeting and talking with others in the community are important parts of being involved in local government decisions. Here are some events and groups you can try:

• South Australian Youth Week
• South Australian Youth Action Plan
• Youth Affairs Council of South Australia
• South Australian Student Representative Council

Australian youth are protected by the Children and Young People (Oversight and Advocacy Bodies) Act 2016. This means you have rights that most countries in the world agree you should have. This gives all children and young people the right to basic things like safety and access. If you are in crisis or need help with issues that you think go against your rights, there are other resources that can help you, such as the Commissioner for Children and Young People. There are also helplines available for any youth who are struggling, such as Headspace, Kids Helpline, ReachOut, BeyondBlue or Lifeline.

Let’s recap some key tips for getting involved and advocating for yourself to local government. Here are four things you can start doing today:

1. Learn about your rights as a young person living in Australia.
2. Research your local government’s policies or stances on an issue you care about.
3. Contact your local government officials and bring the issue to their direct attention.
4. Participate and get involved in youth events and groups whenever possible.

Download the How to have your say fact sheet

References:

‘Deputations’, City of Prospect, Jan 2024, https://www.prospect.sa.gov.au/council/council-meetings/deputations#:~:text=A%20deputation%20is%20a%20way,What%20can%20I%20speak%20about%3F

‘Deputations’, City of West Torrens, Jan 2024, https://www.westtorrens.sa.gov.au/Council/Meetings/Deputations

‘Publications’, Youth Affairs Council of SA, Jan 2024, https://www.yacsa.com.au/publications

‘Youth Services’, Local Councils SA, Jan 2024, https://www.localcouncils.sa.gov.au/services/youth-services

‘Youth Minister’s Advisory Council’, Department of Human Services, Jan 2024, https://dhs.sa.gov.au/about-us/our-department/inclusion-engagement-and-safeguarding/ministers-advisory-councils/youth-ministers-advisory-council

All three levels of government employ many differently skilled people who work together to maintain and improve our society. Local government is no different and it takes a lot of people working together to keep our communities running smoothly. Working at a council is more than just a job – it’s an opportunity to make a real difference in your community. There are many different roles or career opportunities within local government. These are in areas such as:

• Asset and property management
• Building and trades
• Business services in administration, customer service and governance
• Communications, marketing and media
• Community services
• Community arts and festivals
• Economic development
• Environment and sustainability
• Human resources
• ICT and cyber security
• Planning
• Sport and recreation
• Tourism and culture

Councils also employ people in contract roles, where a person or company is brought on temporarily to work on a particular project. Councils offer apprenticeships, which bring people into a trade and teach them how to do a particular job. Volunteering and work experience with councils are also rewarding ways to give your time and skills to help the community and council.

There are many benefits of working at a council in South Australia. Councils offer flexible working arrangements and provide opportunities to learn and grow your skills. They offer access to wellbeing programs that encourage you to thrive in your chosen career. You can search for work in local government based on the council area you want to work in, or the job you want. Available jobs are advertised on South Australia’s Local Councils website or the website of your chosen council.

Become an elected member

Council elected roles, such as mayor and councillors are important community leadership roles. Councils encourage people to become active in our communities and stand for council in local elections. When elected to council, council members are provided with a council member allowance and some resources and support to assist in their role. Councillors come from all walks of life, cultural backgrounds and have one thing in common – they want to make a difference for the good of the community. No specific qualifications are required, other than being an Australian citizen and eligible to vote in the elections. Qualities like working with a team, leadership skills and being able to listen are important.

Download the Careers in local government fact sheet

References:

‘Careers in Council’, Local Councils SA, Jan 2024, https://www.localcouncils.sa.gov.au/careers

‘Council Jobs in South Australia’, Careers at Council, Jan 2024, https://www.careersatcouncil.com.au/south-australia/