The objective of this survey was to explore the issues surrounding capacity building in rural‐remote and indigenous councils.

This survey was distributed to the Chief Executive Officers of councils in Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia that have been identified as rural, remote, indigenous. This survey will inform the Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government (ACELG) strategy aimed at addressing the capacity needs of small rural‐remote and indigenous local governments.

There were 29 responses to the survey with the majority of these being officers from Queensland councils. There are a number of recurring themes that have been expressed through this survey in relation to current issues facing councils, training and professional development and staff attraction and retention. The local governments surveyed are supportive of ACELG in undertaking this survey and have expressed an interest in the development and implementation of strategies to address the issue of capacity building in rural‐remote and indigenous councils.