Current professional development opportunities
Explore our current professional development opportunities below:
 | Leadership in Advancing Gender EqualityWebinar: This online session equips councillors with the knowledge and confidence to lead with purpose whist contributing to a legacy of equity and inclusion for Victoria. Led by GenderWorks accredited facilitator Kathy Oliver, this session will:
You'll leave this webinar with an understanding of the impact the councillor role has in making decisions that promote more gender equitable and inclusive communities. OnlineDate: Thursday 16 October 2025 OnlineDate: Thursday 20 November 2025 |
 | Masterclass: Speaking With ImpactMasterclass: This course empowers councillors to become authentic and engaging communicators. Led by seasoned presentation and media trainers, you'll learn how to understand your audience and tailor your messages to resonate with communities, effectively informing key audiences. With limited places available, this masterclass offers a rare chance to learn in a small, supportive group where every participant gets individual attention. You’ll explore how to prepare compelling speeches that align with strategic plans, using clear structure and impactful openings and closings. Through storytelling techniques, you’ll learn to weave personal anecdotes and real-life examples into presentations making them memorable, persuasive and relatable. Focus is on the art of authenticity, speaking with sincerity and confidence. By the end, you'll be equipped to deliver speeches that captivate, connect, and leave a lasting impression on your audience. MAV OfficeDate: Friday 17 October 2025 Greater Bendigo City CouncilDate: Thursday 27 November 2025 |
 | Techniques for Speed ReadingWebinar: This online course equips councillors with the foundational techniques of speed reading while enhancing comprehension and retention. The course is designed to assist in doubling your reading speed without compromising understanding, and introduces practical strategies for effectively absorbing and organising information. Through interactive exercises, you’ll learn how to sharpen your memory and use mind mapping to structure and store knowledge. These core skills can be applied across a wide range of documents, making your reading practices more effective and purposeful in your councillor role. You'll leave this course with a range of skills to confidently manage large volumes of reading material with greater speed and accuracy. OnlineDate: Friday 7 November 2025 |
 | Leading Healthy CommunitiesMasterclass: Want to understand the mental health and wellbeing of your community and how you can make a meaningful difference? The health and wellbeing of Victorians is shaped not just by individual choices but by the environments in which people grow, live, learn, work, play and age. As elected members, Councillors play a critical role in influencing these conditions and supporting communities to thrive. We invite you to participate in this new MAV professional development opportunity designed to strengthen your leadership in shaping healthier communities, and hear from, and speak with, the Victorian Government’s Wellbeing Promotion Officer. In this masterclass, you will build your influencing skills and deepen your understanding of how councils can lead initiatives that foster both physical and mental wellbeing. You’ll also gain a fresh perspective on data - what it reveals about the health and wellbeing of your community - and explore practical ways to use this insight to guide action. This opportunity is provided at no cost and is complimentary for MAV Members. MAV OfficeDate: Thursday 13 November 2025 |
 | Understanding Local Government FinancesMasterclass: This course equips councillors with the essential knowledge and skills needed to navigate the complexities of local government finances. Led by local government finance expert Domenic Isola, you'll learn about financial responsibilities, and develop a range of practical skills including having oversight of council budgets, interpretation of financial statements and application of key financial management principles. By the end of this course, councillors will be better prepared to make informed financial decisions for sustainable council operations that align with community needs and ensure sustainable financial health for their council. This professional learning opportunity is an absolute must for all councillors as it meets the requirements of mandatory training related to financial management. MAV OfficeDate: Thursday 20 November 2025 |
 | Homelessness: Practical Ideas for How Councillors Can RespondWorkshop: Homelessness is a growing concern for local government across Australia. Growing numbers of people without safe and secure housing options mean that councils, as public space custodians overseeing roads, parks, footpaths and community facilities, are often called to ‘’fix” visible homelessness. Held in partnership with the City of Ballarat, this in-person workshop is being held alongside the Council to Homeless Person’s state-wide Victorian Homelessness Conference from 27-28 November. Designed specifically for councillors, this workshop will explore the practical steps local government leaders can take to respond to homelessness while balancing the expectations of residents, businesses and community members. Delivered by local government and homelessness expert Leanne Mitchell and MAV’s Director of Community and Sector Development, Kath Brackett, this session draws on MAV’s groundbreaking 2025 research into local government’s experiences in responding to homelessness, as well as best practice case studies from Australia and overseas. What you’ll gain:
Ballarat Town HallDate: Friday 28 November 2025 |
Engage with us
For more information, contact:
MAV Sector Engagement and Development team
sedev@mav.asn.au
(03) 9667 5555