Become a Councillor

If you want to be involved in the future of your community, and are willing to learn and participate, then you should explore what it takes to be a councillor and nominate for local government elections.

Key dates

Nominations Open on Thursday, 31 August 2023 
Nominations Close at 4pm Thursday, 7 September 2023

Nominations must be lodged with the Returning Officer:

• at any time during the above period by arrangement; or
• between 2pm and 4pm Thursday, 7 September 2023 (close of nominations) at the Shire of Augusta Margaret River, 41 Wallcliffe Road, Margaret River.

Importance of Councillors

Many people in our local communities can provide strong and strategic leadership. Local government can perform at its peak and make informed decisions when communities are represented by a diverse group of leaders. Diversity comes in many forms including backgrounds, experiences, culture, age and gender.

Becoming a Councillor provides an opportunity to influence local directions and create long-term, positive outcomes within your community. Being a Councillor is also a rewarding challenge — one which requires commitment, responsibility and accountability.

A Councillor’s primary role is to represent their district and the people who live in it. Councillors provide a bridge between the community and the council. As well as being an advocate for local residents, Councillors play an important role in keeping their communities informed about issues that affect them.

Prospective Councillors

Prospective Councillors are encouraged to attend a Council meeting to find out how Council works and whether it would be a good fit for you. Council meetings are open to the general public. 

Find out more about Council meetings, agendas and minutes. 

If you are interested in nominating as a Councillor, prior to nomination you must complete the Candidate Induction. 

Elected members are provided with a comprehensive induction in the week following the election and will be enrolled in training. Councillors must also abide by a Code of Conduct. 

The following websites provide a wealth of information and guidance for prospective Councillors:

• Local Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries
• Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA) webinars
• Western Australian Electoral Commission

Nominations Requirements

Candidates are required to lodge with the Returning Officer:

• a completed nomination in the prescribed form, signed and witnessed. This form is available from the Returning Officer or the Western Australian Electoral Commission;
•  a single A4 page profile of not more than 1,000 characters (including spaces) containing information about the candidate;
• a nomination deposit of $100 (cash, EFT, bank cheque or postal order); 
• a recent passport-sized photograph (optional)
• every candidate must have completed the online course titled Local Government Candidate Induction, available at DLGSC prior to nominating; and
• (optional) in addition to your A4 profile, you may provide additional information that you consider to be relevant to your candidature. This written statement must be not more than 2,000 characters (including spaces), must be in the English language and is for publication on the local government’s official website.

The Commission has developed an online system called Nomination Builder to assist candidates to complete their nomination form which includes the candidate profile. This is the preferred method of completing the nomination form and profile for elections conducted by the Commission. Candidates complete their nomination details and profile, print the completed form which has a reference number allocated and lodge it with the Returning Officer. The nomination builder can be accessed via Elections.

You cannot use Nomination Builder to prepare the additional information.

Where an agent lodges a nomination on a candidate’s behalf, it must be in the prescribed form with a written authorisation signed by the candidate. 

The documents may be hand delivered or posted to the Returning Officer and must be received by the close of nominations.

More information and contact

Full details about eligibility and nomination procedures for prospective candidates can be obtained by contacting the Returning Officer, Brian Warbey on 0474 702 651 or the Western Australian Electoral Commission on 13 63 06.