School council elections will take place in Term 1, 2026 and parents/carers will be given the opportunity to nominate for a position on their child/children’s school council.
What impact do school councils have?
School councils play a key role in governing Victorian government schools. As the governing body of a school (and a legal entity under the Education and Training Reform Act), a high performing school council positively influences the quality of education provided to students in their school.
What is the role of school council?
School councils are groups that make decisions that set the direction of the school. They:
- help create and check the school’s budget
- contribute to the school strategic plan
- make decisions on policies like investments, payments by parents, dress code.
Councils usually have between 6 and 15 members and include:
- the principal, who is the executive officer
- parents who are chosen through an election
- a school or department staff member
- a student, if the school has year 7 students and above.
How do I join school council?
Parents and carers are given the opportunity to nominate for a position on school council in term 1 of each year. The principal will communicate when nominations are being accepted in term 1 and will provide nomination forms.
If you’re elected, you will be a school council member for 2 years.
The process
- The principal will announce an election in late February or early March. They will provide a form or other way to nominate.
- Complete the form or reply to the principal by the deadline.
- If there are more nominations than vacant positions, a vote will happen.
- The principal will run the vote and announce the outcome.
You can also read the guidelines given to schools on council elections.