VLGA - Victorian Local Governance Association Inc

29/05/2026

This week on VLGA Connect, host Chris Eddy speaks with the mayor of Glen Eira City Council, Cr Simone Zmood, about the council’s successful application for a rate cap variation, the reasons behind the request and how they consulted with the community.

To celebrate the launch of the 2026 Mary Rogers Awards for women in local government, Chris talks to last year’s inaugural winner Cr Kylie Spears, Wombolano Ward Maroondah City Council about why the awards are important and why people should nominate.

Watch here: https://youtu.be/5NKxZKNRbVM or download whenever you get your podcasts.

Sponsored by Hunt & Hunt Lawyers.

This week on VLGA Connect, host Chris Eddy speaks with the mayor of...

22/05/2026

This week on VLGA Connect, Mayor of Latrobe City Council, Cr Sharon Gibson joins Chris Eddy to discuss the unique challenge facing the Gippsland region due to the impacts of the closure of the power station and how the region is advocating for support to adapt.

Tony Raunic from Hunt & Hunt Lawyers returns to give his thoughts on how councils can manage the issue of homelessness, looking at amendments made by the City of Port Phillip to their local laws.

Watch here: https://youtu.be/bHETdL2rjVs or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Sponsored by Hunt & Hunt Lawyers.

This week, Mayor of Latrobe City Council, Cr Sharon Gibson joins Chris Eddy to discuss the unique challenge facing the Gippsland region due to the impacts of...

21/05/2026

Nominations for the 2026 Mary Rogers Awards for women in local government are now open.

The annual Awards, delivered by the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), in partnership with the Victorian Government, celebrate and acknowledge the significant contributions and achievements of women councillors in local government.

They also serve as a platform to promote and advocate for the advancement of gender equality and focus on supporting women’s participation in local government and decision-making.

Nominations are open in the following Award Categories until Friday, 3 July at 5pm:

🟣 Mary Rogers Award - Awarded to a current woman councillor, recognising their outstanding contribution as a civic leader in Victoria.

🟣 Emerging Woman Leader Award - Awarded to a first term woman councillor who is demonstrating outstanding leadership.

🟣 Gender Equality Council Champion Award (Metro/Interface)– Awarded to a Victorian Council in metropolitan or interface Melbourne in recognition of their work leading meaningful change in the gender equality space by supporting women’s participation in local government and decision-making.

🟣 Gender Equality Council Champion Award (Rural/Regional)– Awarded to a Council in rural or regional Victoria in recognition of their work leading meaningful change in the gender equality space by supporting women’s participation in local government and decision-making.

Visit the VLGA website to nominate: https://www.vlga.org.au/governance-leadership/local-government/mary-rogers-awards

15/05/2026

This week on VLGA Connect, Chris Eddy is joined by two mayors to break down both sides of the glass bin debate. Mayor of Merri-bek City Council, an early adopter of the four-bin system, Cr Nat Abboud and Mayor of Manningham City Council, part of the coalition of councils lobbying the state government for an alternative before the 2027 deadline, Cr Jim Grivas, discuss the pros and cons of the scheme.

Tony Raunic, Managing Principal at Hunt & Hunt Lawyers returns to discuss a controversial community decision at Yarra City Council.

Watch here: https://youtu.be/Gi7rpFKCUu0 or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts

Sponsored by Hunt & Hunt Lawyers.

This week on VLGA Connect, Chris Eddy is joined by two mayors to break down both sides of the glass bin debate. Mayor of Merri-bek City Council, an early ado...

08/05/2026

With the release of the state budget this week, Chris Eddy speaks to Mayor Stefan Koomen from the City of Casey to hear the views of the Outer Melbourne Councils on the pros and cons from the budget for this rapidly growing area.

Mayor of Mildura Rural City Council, Cr Ali Cupper discusses what is happening in the north west of the state, and gives a frank assessment of how the budget has fallen short for regional communities and ways the council are educating their community on the division of responsibility between local and state government.

Watch here: https://youtu.be/EdP_ri0Ws9k or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Sponsored by Hunt & Hunt Lawyers

With the release of the state budget this week, Chris Eddy speaks to Mayor Stefan Koomen from the City of Casey to hear the views of the Outer Melbourne Coun...

07/05/2026

For more than three decades the VLGA has provided practical support, professional development and policy guidance to councils, inspiring and enabling good governance and supporting elected representatives across their journey from candidacy to end-of-term.

The findings of our 2025 VLGA Victorian Councillor Census revealed councillors were seeking
additional external support and advice.

In response, the VLGA has launched a new Coaching and Mentoring Program. We have curated a diverse faculty of coaches and mentors who we can match to suit your current needs or individual requirements.

To find out more about the VLGA’s new Coaching and Mentoring Program visit https://www.vlga.org.au/news/vlga-launches-councillor-coaching-and-mentoring-prospectus

Our VLGA Member Council Financial Sustainability Price Ceiling ensures costs are kept to an absolute minimum. Quotes for non-member councils can be prepared to fit bespoke needs.

06/05/2026

Census Findings
The 2025 VLGA Victorian Councillor Census showed councillors are experiencing increasing levels of incivility while performing the duties of their role. 59% of councillors reported they had experienced threatening or intimidating behaviour from members of the public, and 10% said that this was a regular occurrence. The data also revealed women were more likely than men to have experienced abuse, especially bullying and non-sexual harassment, and intimidation from other councillors. You can read the full Census report here https://www.vlga.org.au/governance-leadership/local-government/victorian-councillor-census

VLGA Response:
In response, the VLGA is calling on the Victorian Government to support the VLGA in delivering a dedicated assistance and support program for councillors. This is an initiative we have been progressing for some time and consider essential in the current environment. Many councillors at VLGA member councils have expressed genuine concerns about the lack of supports available to them, particularly from a health and wellbeing perspective.

04/05/2026

Census Findings
The results of the 2025 VLGA Victorian Councillor Census showed councillors were increasingly experiencing incivility while performing the duties of their role.

When it came to reporting these behaviours, women were more likely to say that arrangements in place to deal with these behaviours by another councillor were effective (35% compared to men 63%)

In turn, of those who had experienced bullying and non-sexual harassment, only 10% of women felt supported by other councillors, compared to 45% of men. Men also reported feeling more supported by their CEO than women did (41% compared to 69%).

You can read the full Census report here https://ow.ly/E1yV50YKb0p

VLGA Response:
The VLGA believes everyone, whether an elected representative or community member, has the right to actively participate in respectful ways in key discussions and decision making without fear and without threats to their personal safety or targeted personal attacks. In February, the VLGA hosted its national annual leadership conference FastTrack which focused on incivility and its threat to local democracy. Participants examined the causes of incivility, its consequences for elected representatives, council staff and civic engagement, and examined practical strategies for fostering respectful communication and resilience in the face of hostility.

01/05/2026

This week on VLGA Connect, Chris Eddy chats with Evan King, CEO of the City of Ballarat to talk about how the ongoing fuel crisis is having a financial impact on council as well as the implications of a recent ruling on contracts from the Fair Work Commission.

Also this week, Tony Raunic from Hunt & Hunt Lawyers returns to give his take on recent developments in the sector.

Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiY24ls3MsY or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Sponsored by Hunt & Hunt Lawyers.

13-26 - VLGA Connect - Friday 1 May 2026

29/04/2026

Census Findings:
The VLGA Victorian Councillor Census revealed rules and regulations imposed by other levels of government were the biggest hurdle facing councillors in the first year of this term. This was followed closely by limited financial resources. Financial constraints were more deeply felt by those in small rural shires, with 72% of councillors serving in these areas saying limited financial resources were impacting their ability to deliver in their role You can read the full Census report here https://ow.ly/lRNj50YHYTv

VLGA Response:
Councils are regularly being asked to do more with less. The VLGA recently provided a submission into an inquiry into local government funding and called on federal and state governments to take some responsibility for the fiscal position councils now find themselves in. The VLGA is committed to working with all levels of government to best address the financial sustainability issue the local government sector is facing and the need to find a balance between providing affordability for ratepayers while continuing to deliver high quality community services and infrastructure.