Victoria Local Governance Association

What Victoria Local Governance Association does

The Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), legal name "Victorian Local Governance Association", is an independent not-for-profit peak body headquartered in Richmond, Victoria, Australia, with a stated history of 30 years of operation supporting local government governance in the state. It serves as the only organisation in Victoria with a singular, dedicated focus on supporting councillors and the people who work with them to change culture, improve conduct, and demonstrate good local governance. Its principal constituents are the 79 local councils across Victoria (which collectively manage approximately A$9.9 billion in annual revenue) and the 641 elected councillors who govern them.

VLGA's core product set is structured around a portfolio of professional development and governance support services. Flagship training products include the Councillor Readiness Program (six modules covering team-building, councillor conduct, decision-making, diversity, community engagement and financial literacy, priced at A$3,000 for members / A$6,000 for non-members) and the Mayoral Leadership Program (A$825-A$1,000 for members, A$1,650-A$3,500 for non-members), both of which directly satisfy mandatory regulatory requirements under the Local Government (Governance and Integrity) Regulations 2020. Adjacent products include the new Coaching and Mentoring Program (launched May 2026), VLGA Connect Live Forums, the Local Women Leading Change program, the Victorian Councillor Census (a longitudinal research product first launched in 2024 in partnership with QDOS Research), Model Councillor Policies, the Young Councillors Network (launched December 2024), the Mary Rogers Awards, the HART Awards for reconciliation, the Local Government Working Group on Gambling, and Child Friendly Cities & Communities. There is no proprietary technology stack; VLGA operates as a service- and content-driven organisation distributing through its website (vlga.org.au), newsletters, social channels, in-person events and a Faculty of Facilitators/Coaches.

VLGA's revenue model combines three streams: recurring council membership subscriptions that grant all councillors and staff at member councils access to its programs; professional development and training fees paid by individual councillors or councils (with significant member vs. non-member price discrimination, e.g., 50%+ discount on the Readiness Program); and event registrations including the annual FastTrack leadership conference and VLGA Connect Live Forums. The organisation is member-funded through its 79 council members, supplemented by co-funding and co-delivery arrangements with the Victorian Government, Local Government Victoria, Reconciliation Victoria, GenderLens Australia, Bank Australia and CSIRO's ASPIRE platform. Governance is provided by a Board of Directors drawn from member councils, currently led by CEO Kathryn Arndt and Interim President Grace La Vella following 2024 post-election board changes.

Name

Victoria Local Governance Association

Legal name

Victorian Local Governance Association

Website

http://www.vlga.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA) is an independent not-for-profit peak body that supports Victoria's 79 local councils and 641 elected councillors through mandated-aligned governance training, professional development, advocacy, and sector research.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Local Government Professional Development and Governance Training

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Mayor/City Manager & General Administration (BPAIACAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Elected School Boards & Governance Councils (EDADABAE)

Keywords

• Local government training
• Councillor professional development
• Governance advisory services
• Local government advocacy
• Elected representative support

Headquarters

HQ city

Carlton

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Council Membership Subscriptions: Councils pay membership fees to access VLGA programs, services, and resources. All councillors and staff at VLGA Member Councils can access the organisation's programs and services.
2. Professional Development and Training Programs: Revenue from councillor training programs including the Councillor Readiness Program, Mayoral Leadership Program, and coaching and mentoring services. These programs satisfy mandatory regulatory requirements outlined by the Victorian Government.
3. Event Registrations: Fees charged for events, forums, and conferences including FastTrack annual leadership conference and VLGA Connect Live Forums.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA) is Victoria's independent peak body for local government, providing professional development, training, and governance support to all 79 Victorian councils and their 641 elected councillors. Its core offerings include the mandatory Councillor Readiness Program, Mayoral Leadership Program, Coaching and Mentoring Program, VLGA Connect Live Forums, the annual Victorian Councillor Census research initiative, and sector advocacy and recognition programs (Mary Rogers Awards, HART Awards, Young Councillors Network). The Association also operates community-focused initiatives including the Local Government Working Group on Gambling, Child Friendly Cities & Communities, and reconciliation programs.

Product overview

The Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA) offers a comprehensive suite of professional development and governance support services for Victorian local government councillors and councils. The core portfolio consists of structured training programs including the Councillor Readiness Program (satisfying mandatory Victorian Government requirements) and Mayoral Leadership Program, supplemented by the Coaching and Mentoring Program and VLGA Connect Live Forums. The VLGA also delivers research initiatives (Victorian Councillor Census), recognition programs (Mary Rogers Awards, HART Awards), working groups (LGWGOG on gambling harm), and community networks (Young Councillors Network, Local Women Leading Change). Additional offerings include governance advisory services, policy templates, podcasts, webinars, and reconciliation resources (Maggolee, Reconciliation Action Plan). The organization serves as Victoria's primary councillor support network with a singular focus on supporting good governance, improving conduct, and enhancing local government capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Councillor Readiness Program Signature professional development program comprising the 'Building an Effective Councillor Team' module and five governance modules covering councillor conduct, effective decision-making, diversity, community engagement, and financial literacy. Satisfies mandatory regulatory requirements under Victorian Government Governance and Integrity Regulations.
• Mayoral Leadership Program Targeted program for mayors and deputy mayors providing knowledge to fulfil their roles with competency. Directly aligns with mandatory professional development requirements introduced by the Victorian Government in 2024, covering roles and responsibilities, leadership, engagement and advocacy, and chairing meetings.
• Councillor Coaching and Mentoring Program Coaching and mentoring support program assembled with a Faculty of Coaches and Mentors from diverse backgrounds including seasoned local government professionals and former councillors. Provides longer-term guidance for personal and professional goals and additional support for managing complex issues.
• VLGA Connect Live Forums Live forum series providing councils with compliance information under the Local Government Act 2020 and other governance topics. Features expert speakers discussing issues relevant to local government operations.
• Local Women Leading Change Program Program supporting women's participation in local government and decision-making. Part of VLGA's gender equality initiatives bridging the gender gap in the sector.
• Victorian Councillor Census Annual Census capturing and tracking councillor demographics, attitudes, and key challenges to local governance over time. First launched in 2024, providing sector-wide insights previously unavailable.
• Governance Advisory Network (GAN) Network providing governance advisory services and support to councils and councillors on good governance practices and compliance.
• Mary Rogers Awards Annual awards celebrating and acknowledging significant contributions and achievements of women councillors as civic leaders in local government. Named after Mary Rogers, first woman elected to a Victorian Municipal Council (1920-1925).
• HART Awards (Helping Achieve Reconciliation Together) Awards recognizing local governments and community organisations for Helping Achieve Reconciliation Together - Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people working together building relationships, respect and understanding.
• Young Councillors Network Social and professional network for young councillors aged 40 years and under, providing professional development, training, networking, and peer support opportunities.
• Local Government Working Group on Gambling (LGWGOG) Working group focused on gambling harm prevention, providing councils with tools, updates, and discussion on gambling-related issues affecting communities.
• Child Friendly Cities & Communities (CFCC) Initiative supporting councils in becoming child-friendly, with an Advisory Group providing guidance and support for implementation.
• Model Councillor Policies Model Councillor Confidentiality Policy and Councillor Social Media Policy designed to ensure councillors operate with integrity and good governance, recommended as part of local government reforms.

Quantifiable outcome

• 43% of Victorian councillors are women (as of 2024 elections)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GenderLens AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 March 2023Tanja Kovac and Dr Maree Overall (Co-CEOs of GenderLens Australia) partner with VLGA to deliver gender equity and organisational change programs. They help identify gaps, risks and opportunities related to gender equality in local government. The partnership also conducts election analysis to track gender representation.
• Victorian GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe VLGA partners with the Victorian Government on initiatives including the Mary Rogers Awards for women in local government, the Victorian Councillor Census, and programs supporting good governance. The partnership involves government funding and co-delivery of sector-wide initiatives.
• Reconciliation VictoriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe VLGA partners with Reconciliation Victoria on the HART Awards (Helping Achieve Reconciliation Together), recognising local governments and community organisations contributing to reconciliation outcomes. Also collaborates on reconciliation forums and discussions.
• QDOS ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe VLGA collaborated with QDOS Research to conduct the first ever Victorian Councillor Census. QDOS Research was responsible for collecting data and ensuring complete anonymity of respondents, providing invaluable insights into the councillor experience.
• ASPIRE (Advisory System for Processing, Innovation & Resource Exchange)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerASPIRE, developed by CSIRO, is a digital tool supporting waste exchange and circular economy. The VLGA partnered with ASPIRE to run information sessions on the impact of the Circular Economy to councils. ASPIRE works to close the loop at local level between businesses and councils.
• Bank AustraliaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBank Australia sponsors the HART Awards as part of the partnership with VLGA and Reconciliation Victoria, supporting recognition of reconciliation initiatives in local government.
• Local Government Victoria (LGV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLGV partners with VLGA on initiatives including the HART Awards and various governance reforms. The VLGA works with Local Government Victoria to ensure councils are prepared for implementation of legislation such as the Local Government Act 2020.
• Monash Conference CentreminorOthersThe VLGA holds its Mayoral Leadership Program at Monash Conference Centre, Level 7, 30 Collins Street, Melbourne, as the venue for this annual training event.
• Faculty of FacilitatorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe VLGA has assembled a Faculty of Coaches and Mentors from various backgrounds including local government professionals, former councillors, and specialists in governance, leadership, media training, and employment law. Panel members are based in Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Local Government NSW (LGNSW): The peak industry body for NSW local government. LGNSW serves as the closest analogue to VLGA at the state level, providing representation, training, and professional development to NSW councils and councillors — making it the most direct structural peer across jurisdictions.
• Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV): The sister peak body in Victoria representing local government councils themselves rather than councillors specifically. Both organisations serve the same 79 Victorian councils and overlap on advocacy, sector capability, and government liaison, though MAV is council-facing while VLGA is councillor-facing.
• Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ): The national peak body representing New Zealand local government. LGNZ provides advocacy, policy, and member capability services across an entire national jurisdiction — the closest international analogue to VLGA's state-level peak body model.
• Local Government Association of South Australia (LGA SA): The peak body representing South Australian councils. LGA SA delivers member services, advocacy, and training to SA councils — directly comparable to VLGA's mandate but for a smaller South Australian council base.
• Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA): The state-level peak body for Western Australian local government. WALGA mirrors VLGA's model of providing advocacy, training, and governance support to member councils and elected representatives within a single Australian state.
• Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT): The peak body for Tasmanian local government. LGAT represents Tasmania's 29 councils, providing advocacy, member services, and councillor development — operating the same state-level peak body model as VLGA.
• Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ): Queensland's peak local government body, providing policy advocacy, member services, and councillor capability support to Queensland councils. Operates the same member-funded peak body model as VLGA at the state level.

Broad incumbents

• Australian Local Government Association (ALGA): The national peak body for Australian local government. ALGA operates at federal level, advocating to the Commonwealth and providing national representation — overlapping with VLGA's advocacy mandate at a broader geographic scale but without VLGA's state-level training and councillor development depth.

Regional players

• National Association of Local Councils (NALC): The UK peak body representing parish and town councils in England. NALC operates the same model of councillor-focused advocacy, training, and governance support but for the UK's smaller local council tier in a different geography.

Others

• Local Government Victoria (LGV): The Victorian state government regulator and policy body for local government. LGV is a strategic partner of VLGA but also a potential competitor — it administers the Local Government Act 2020 and could theoretically expand into direct training delivery, making it both a partner and a structural risk.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/_vlga
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/VLGAInc
• Facebookfacebook.com/VicLGA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/viclgassoc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Victoria Local Governance Association