Local Government

The Local Government sector forms part of the third tier of the Australian Government system behind Federal and State and it provides local leadership, economic and infrastructure development and an increasing range of social services and functions for the local community. The Local Government, also known as local Council or Shire, are often the major employer in regional and remote communities.

What does this industry cover?

Local Government has a presence in every community in Australia and their staff structure may vary but all comprise of elected representatives, council staff and administration/corporate services.

Each Local Government is specific to their community’s particular requirements but can offer services in any combination such as: Infrastructure and property services, delivery of recreation facilities, health services, community services, building services, planning and development approval, administration of facilities, cultural facilities and services, and water and sewerage services.

Job hunting preparation

Local Government offer career pathways for graduates, cadetships, apprenticeships and traineeships including school based. You can also complete work experience whilst at school or university. There are over 120 diverse apprenticeships available nationally throughout the local government network.

Employers in this sector would like candidates to have skills in: resilience, stress tolerance and flexibility, teamwork and communication, analytical thinking and innovation, and emotional intelligence.

Information for further research

Industry information is published by peak level associations, government and major employers. Accessing industry association sites, including member lists, is a good way of building up an understanding of an industry. Visiting employer websites and looking for careers or employment menus helps identify how employers recruit and the skills they are recruiting.