The Victorian Greens are seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) from engaged community members who share our values and would be interested in seeking election to their local Council as a Greens-endorsed candidate.

This role could be for you if you:

• Want to contribute positively to where you live
• Have a strong work ethic and good team-work skills
• Are values-aligned with the Greens

We are especially looking for people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse professional and life experiences.

Useful but not essential experience may include:

• Advocating for change in your community or workplace
• Experience working or volunteering in a for-purpose organisation
• Experience on a board
• Professional or vocational experience

As a candidate you would:

• Receive candidate coaching from the Victorian Greens
• Gain experience and insights into what it takes to secure a local government seat
• Work alongside other Greens candidates and campaigners in your local area and across the state to develop and implement your election strategy
• Campaign from the time you are preselected (likely between March-June 2024) through to October 2024 to achieve visibility and win votes

The EOI is the first step of the process to being elected a Councillor. Successful EOI applicants will be invited to participate in an internal party preselection process. If preselected as a candidate, you will undertake an election campaign, with the support of your local branch and the Victorian Greens, leading up to the election in October 2024.

Being preselected as a candidate does not guarantee that you will be elected as a Councillor. You don’t need to already be a member of the Greens, but would need to join in order to run for preselection.

Running as a candidate is a voluntary role. If elected to Council you would be paid a Councillor's allowance according to the Victorian Independent Remuneration Tribunal.

The role of Councillor is a relatively flexible role, and each Councillor makes it their own, depending on their interests, skills and capacity. Councillors tend to dedicate between one and five working days a week to their Council role. The role typically includes one to two monthly evening Council meetings, regular meetings with other Councillors, weekly daytime briefings and attendance at community and consultation events. Councillors require a level of administrative skill and literacy that allows them to read and understand briefing documents, and interpersonal and reasoning skills to negotiate positions and make decisions.

If elected as a Councillor, you will:

• Join other elected Greens and non-Greens Councillors to make important decisions about your community
• Be guided by the Greens’ four pillars: peace and non-violence, grassroots participatory democracy, ecological sustainability and social justice
• Be true to Greens policies in the decisions you make
• Develop strong working relationships with other Greens Councillors across Victoria, and state and federal MPs

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to have a conversation with the Victorian Greens and current and former Councillors about the role before proceeding to the next step.