Mandatory candidate training

The links to access the Learning Management System (LMS) can be found on the Department of Local Government, Racing and Multicultural Affairs (DLGRMA) or the Electoral Commission of Queensland (ECQ) websites.

On the LMS logon page, there is a link to ‘Have you forgotten your password’

Click on this link and follow the prompts to change your password.

You only need to provide your name and email address to create an account. The name you provide should be the name you intend to use when running for election.

The information collected on the Local Government Learning Centre portal will be used by the Department of Local Government, Racing and Multicultural Affairs to confirm completion of “So you want to be a councillor” mandatory training course and may be provided to the Electoral Commission of Queensland and the Office of the Independent Assessor to confirm completion.  

Ways to access the training course include –

• Visit your local library and complete the course using the public access computers.
• Call the Department of Local Government, Racing and Multicultural Affairs on (07) 3452 7148 between the hours of 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Monday to Friday or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and you will be sent the training by mail.
  • Australia Post timeframes for delivery to metro or country areas is between 2 – 6 days.
  • Once you have completed the course, contact the Department of Local Government, Racing and Multicultural Affairs on (07) 3452 7148 to finalise your training. Once this is completed you will be sent a completion certificate.

Ways to access the training course include –

• Log onto the LMS via the DLGRMA or ECQ website. Go to the Resources pages where you will see the version of training to download to your computer to complete off-line.
  Once you have completed the course, contact the Department of Local Government, Racing and Multicultural Affairs on (07) 3452 6747 to finalise your training. Once this is completed you will be sent a completion certificate.
• Visit your local library and complete the course using the public access computers.
• Call the Department of Local Government, Racing and Multicultural Affairs on (07) 3452 6747 between the hours of 8:30am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to request the training be sent to you by mail.

In November and early December 2019 face-to-face training sessions were held at 18 locations including Thursday Island, Napranum, Mt Isa, Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Bedourie, Jundah, Longreach, Winton, Richmond, Rockhampton, Maryborough, Boulia, Charleville, Toowoomba, Brisbane and Logan.

Candidates who did not attend a training session and are unable to complete the training online can discuss alternative options by phoning the department on (07) 3452 7148 or by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Department of Local Government, Racing and Multicultural Affairs will provide the face-to-face training.

You can find out if you are eligible to become a councillor by visiting www.dlgrma.qld.gov.au/candidates or www.ecq.qld.gov.au.

There are a number of things you need to have completed in order to nominate for the election. This includes completing the mandatory online training. Please visit the Electoral Commission of Queensland’s website at www.ecq.qld.gov.au for further information about candidate nominations. You can also download the Ready for council elections in 2020? (PDF, 0.5MB) fact sheet and other resources.

You can attach your certificate to your nomination form when lodging with the Returning Officer.

If you don’t have your certificate, you can request another copy from the Department of Local Government, Racing and Multicultural Affairs. Please visit www.dlgrma.qld.gov.au or call (07) 3452 7148 between the hours of 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Monday to Friday to request a copy of your certificate.

Important Information
It is your responsibility to ensure you have completed the mandatory online training and to ensure you are eligible for nomination. Completion of mandatory training will be confirmed against records held by DLGRMA for each nomination accepted. If you nominate and are found to be ineligible (for example, if you have not completed the mandatory candidate training), the ECQ may refer the matter to the Queensland Police Service (under s169 of the Local Government Electoral Act 2011).
Providing false and misleading information is a serious integrity offence that carries up to 7 years imprisonment.

You can contact ECQ by telephone on 1300 881 665 or by email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Nomination forms are available after the Notice of Election has been published, which will be in early 2020. For more information please visit the ECQ’s website –  www.ecq.qld.gov.au

Mandatory training was one of a number of recommendations from the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission’s ‘Operation Belcarra’ Report (2017). Mandatory training is now a provision under the Local Government Electoral Act 2011.

The training must be successfully completed within six months before the nomination day for an election.  The training includes new laws about a person’s obligations as a candidate and a person’s obligations as a councillor, if elected. Further information can be found at www.dlgrma.qld.gov.au or www.ecq.qld.gov.au.

The local government reforms reach across both electoral and local government legislation and, as such, all current councillors and mayors must also complete the mandatory training if they are planning to be a candidate in the 2020 local government election.

The training includes information about new laws regarding a person’s obligations as a candidate and a person’s obligations as a councillor, if elected. Further information can be found at www.dlgrma.qld.gov.au or www.ecq.qld.gov.au.

No. You do not have to nominate if you complete the training.

The training should take approximately 60 minutes.

No. There will be short quizzes throughout the training. When you complete the training a certificate of completion will be emailed to you.

Yes. You will be able to save your progress and return to the training at a later time.

The training will provide you with information about your obligations as a candidate and your obligations as a councillor, if elected.

You can access the training here.

No. You must complete the training before nominating for the 2020 local government elections and any other subsequent local government election.

It is recommended that you complete your training as soon as you decide to run in the election so that you are informed about all of your legal obligations as a candidate, starting from the time you publicly announce your intention to run in the election.

There is no cost to do the training.

Yes. If you cannot complete the training online, you can attend a face-to-face training session. Please visit www.dlgrma.qld.gov.au to register for a training session near you or call (07) 3452 6747 for more information.

Call the Department of Local Government, Racing and Multicultural Affairs on (07) 3452 7148 between the hours of 8:30am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Call the Department of Local Government, Racing and Multicultural Affairs on (07) 3452 7148 between the hours of 8:30am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..