Local Government Legislator
What the work is
Represents the interests of people in a constituency as their elected member of a local government authority.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Develops local government policy, and formulates, amends and repeals legislation and by-laws
- Represents the interests of constituents and advocates for their needs and concerns
- Introduces proposals for government action and represents public and electoral interests
- Issues policy directions to local government departments and exercises control over local government authorities
- Collaborates with officials to develop and implement policies and programs
- Attends community events and meetings to provide service to the community, gauge public opinion, and provide information on local government plans
- May present petitions on behalf of concerned groups
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a fictional shire council and its surrounding towns, as an elected councillor. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A project residents have asked about for years finally gets approved
- A resident who came in angry leaves feeling that someone listened and followed up
- A tough vote ends with councillors from different sides still respecting one another
Hard days
- Two groups of residents want completely opposite things and both are right about something
- Giving up another evening and weekend for meetings, with no extra time to be at home
- Being blamed in public for decisions that were made years before you were elected
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 121331, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.