Resources
Documents to assist you in running a school council election.
The Principals guide to school council elections
Interactive online training
To support the conduct of school council elections, principals and members of the school community seeking election to school council can access an interactive online training program relating to running school council elections.
School council members can self-register to access the interactive online training through the school council learning management system and complete this module in sections, in their own time and pace.
Two case studies have been developed as examples of how school council elections are conducted for the student membership category and describing the benefits school council membership can provide to students. The case studies are based on feedback created from interviews and focus groups from a number of schools.
Translated documents and resources
Translations of selected forms in 5 community languages (Arabic, Dari, Traditional and Simplified Chinese and Vietnamese) are provided below. When the school provides translated factsheets to the school community, these documents must be accompanied by the relevant factsheet in English.
Form 1: Notice of first school council election and call for nominations – This form is for new schools conducting their first school council election. Please ensure a copy of the English version is provided together with the translation.
- Arabic
- Arabic
- Chinese – Simplified
- Chinese – Simplified
- Chinese – Traditional
- Chinese – Traditional
- Dari
- Dari
- Vietnamese
- Vietnamese
Form 2: Notice of election and call for nominations – This form is for existing schools. Please ensure a copy of the English version is provided together with the translation.
- Arabic
- Arabic
- Chinese – Simplified
- Chinese – Simplified
- Chinese – Traditional
- Chinese – Traditional
- Dari
- Dari
- Vietnamese
- Vietnamese
Other factsheets and forms relating to school council elections
The following documents can be found in the Principal’s guide to school council elections :
- Fact sheet 1: school council elections – information for parents
- Fact sheet 2: information for students seeking election to council
- Fact sheet 3: information for parents of children seeking election to school council
- Form 1: new schools – notice of first school council election and call for nominations
- Form 2: notice of election and calls for nominations
- Form 3: self-nomination form for parent member category
- Form 5: self-nomination form for school employee member category
- Form 7: self-nomination form for student member category
- Form 9: candidate nomination form receipt
- Form 10: Parent ballot paper (Ordinary)
- Form 11: School employee ballot paper
- Form 13: Student ballot paper Form 14: Nomination notification form
- Form 15: Co-option to a community member position on school council
- Form 16: Co-option to a casual vacancy on school council
Application to change the size or composition of school council (Schedule 5)
Application to change the size or composition of school council (Schedule 5)
Further department advice
The School Council Self-Assessment Tool provides support to school councils in evaluating their effectiveness annually, as a group and in identifying areas for improvement. The self-assessment tool is also available online in the School Council Portal (principal login .
The school council induction video provides a summary of the purpose and responsibilities of school councils as well as the roles and responsibilities of school council members. The video can be viewed at School Council – Training and Good Governance.
Contact
The School Operations and Governance Unit (SOGU) provides advice and guidance on the election process. Principals and school councils can contact SOGU at school.council@education.vic.gov.au or 03 7022 5666.
Reviewed 11 February 2026