Local Government Regional Event Leadership Program
Upcoming dates
19 August - 9 September 2026
4 November - 25 November 2026
The Australian Centre for Regional Events is proud to announce a brand-new tailored program for local government teams who want to enable and support events within their community, enhance and streamline event approval processes and internal efficiencies and maximise the value they offer.
Events are critical for regional communities, yet many are struggling with increased costs and lack of human and financial resources.
How can councils adequately support event organisers without taking on the event themselves or draining their limited staff resources?
If your council can relate, this program is for you.
This program will enable council teams to strategically define their role in events and document strategies to gain maximum outcomes in an efficient and sustainable way.
-
Local government staff in economic development, tourism and community development that have a role or interest in events.
-
Introductory call with each council to determine their challenges and role in events
4 x 2 hr group sessions (1 per week)
Tailored workbook
-
Lesson 1: The role of council in events
In this lesson we will unpack the various roles that council can play in events from approving and enabling events to delivering and leveraging events. Councils will gain a greater appreciation of the social, economic and environmental value that events can bring to their community and how events can support their organisational and community objectives.
Lesson 2: Values based assessment framework
This lesson will allow Council’s to better understand events that are the best fit for their community based on a values-based assessment framework. This lesson will provide councils with a practical tool that will allow them to assess events based on a set of metrics that are aligned to council and community values and objectives and ensure that events are supporting the objectives of community and council. This tool becomes a valuable decision-making tool.
Template: assessment tool
Lesson 3: Streamlined procedures and improving efficiencies
This lesson focuses on breaking down the barriers between council departments and creating a streamlined event approval process that positions council as an event friendly council to event organisers and creates efficiencies internally. As one of the primary frustrations amongst councils across the country this lesson will offer insights into best practice systems and processes that will smooth out the pathway and create a whole of council approach to events.
Template: approval process pathway map
Lesson 4: Gaining maximum value from events
The final lesson will explore the many ways that councils can support and enable events rather than simply offering sponsorship or cash support. The lesson will also look at the role of leveraging events and how councils can be smart with events to support their organisational objectives. Using best practice case studies, we will consider how to ensure that council is gaining maximum social, economic and environmental value from events.
Tool: checklist on how councils can support, enable and leverage events
-
The program will require the following time commitment from each participating council.
Onboarding session
This one-hour onboarding session with an event specialist will give an overview of the program and allow you the opportunity to share your desired outcomes from the program. This will be scheduled approximately a week prior to your first session.
Group sessions
Each week there will be a two-hour group session via Teams with all participating councils coming together to workshop the topic and learn new techniques and strategies.
These weekly sessions will be held from 10am - 12pm AEST / 11am - 1pm AEDT.
Exact dates and times are listed below for each program:
19 August - 9 September 2026
10am - 12pm AEST
Wednesday 19th August 2026
Wednesday 26th August 2026
Wednesday 2nd September 2026
Wednesday 9th September 2026
4 - 25 November 2026
10am - 12pm AEST / 11am - 1pm AEDT
Wednesday 4th November 2026
Wednesday 11th November 2026
Wednesday 18th November 2026
Wednesday 25th November 2026
-
$4,999 + GST
Councils can have up to 3 staff participating in the program
Includes:
Tools & templates
Certificate of completion
Strictly 10 councils only.
Payments are available via invoice or credit card.
ACRE are the experts in supporting local government in the regional event space; their sessions are always engaging, inspiring and informative. Both Linda and Cathy are terrific facilitators, they provide best practice and applicable case studies, resources and new ways to approach challenges in a fun and inclusive manner. Our attendees were from different departments at council, so the sessions helped us to step out from our own silos and collaborate in a way we haven't before. Thank you for the opportunity and the means, to break down some of those barriers. We're all looking forward to working together closer in future.
Impact in action
Through the Regional Event Leadership Program, Baw Baw Shire Council gained greater clarity around its event priorities and a more consistent, strategic approach to planning and support. The program also helped build stronger internal alignment across council, reinforcing the value of events and their role in delivering meaningful outcomes for organisers, communities and the broader region.
Impact in action
Through the Regional Event Leadership Program and Eventfolk support, Alice Springs Town Council developed a more strategic, values-led approach to event planning, assessment and community support. The work helped strengthen internal processes, improve transparency and consistency for organisers, and shift Council’s role towards building long-term community capacity rather than ongoing operational delivery.